June is officially Pride Month, and I designed a few (free!) Pride embroidery patterns especially for it. When Charlie, from the slow living & craft blog Charlingual , asked if I wanted to organize something with her for Pride Month, I was immediately enthusiastic. We quickly came up with simple hearts in the colors of various Pride flags. They're not too big (4 x 3.3 cm), so they're also perfect for embroidering on a bag or shirt . And because you only use full cross stitches, they're quick and easy to embroider. Perfect for beginners.
Why Pride embroidery patterns are more than just a hobby project
Embroidery has always been a very personal art form. Embroiderers told their stories through thread and fabric. If you'd like to delve deeper into this, I recommend the book "Threads of Life ." These free embroidery patterns in Pride colors are a way to show your support for the LGBTQ+ community, but also to participate in a long tradition of activism through crafts. The rainbow colors of the Pride flag symbolize diversity, acceptance, and love in all its forms. By embroidering these colors, you create not only something beautiful but also something meaningful! Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community yourself or an ally, these embroidered hearts are a creative way to celebrate Pride. By wearing them on your clothing, you can also show others that you offer a "safe space." The video below is a great example:
The perfect beginner-friendly free embroidery patterns
What makes these Pride embroidery patterns so great is that they're a very accessible project. If you're just starting to embroider, complex patterns can feel overwhelming. These hearts use only full cross stitches: the foundation of cross-stitch embroidery. Each cross stitch consists of two diagonal lines that form a perfect cross, and that's all you need!
Why these patterns are perfect for beginners:
- Small size: Each heart is 4 x 3.3 cm, so you can finish them relatively quickly.
- Simple technique: You only use whole cross stitches
- Color blocks: You don't have to keep switching between all the different shades, the color blocks make embroidery very relaxing.
- Fast results: In just a few hours, you'll have a great final result, which is incredibly motivating if you're a beginner embroiderer, in my experience!
- Versatile: Perfect for various projects
The small size also means you don't need a lot of material, which is ideal if you're new to embroidery and don't have a lot of different materials and supplies at home yet.
Where can I find the free Pride embroidery patterns?
You can find the download link to the patterns in Charlingual's blog post and in this blog post . They're free to download, but if you'd like to give something back in the form of a donation, you can donate a small amount to a good cause. Charlie chose Bi+ as his charity, and you can make a one-time donation through their website . Thank you!
This collaboration between Charlie and me stemmed from our shared love of crafts and our desire to do something fun for Pride. By sharing these Pride embroidery patterns , we hope to inspire as many people as possible to participate in Pride month in their own creative way. And if this also generates some extra donations for Bi+, or another charity of your choice, that's a bonus!
Creative ways to use your Pride embroidery pattern
Embroidered hearts are wonderfully versatile. Here are a few creative ideas for your Pride embroidery pattern :
On clothing and accessories
- Denim jacket: Embroider multiple hearts on the back of a denim jacket for a real statement piece.
- Canvas bags: embroider a subtle heart on a cotton tote bag, or embroider it all over so your bag really stands out
- T-shirts and hoodies: Use water-soluble canvas for a smooth result
- Cap or hat: This is often a bit stiffer to embroider through, so make sure you use an extra strong, sharp needle
- Socks: A rainbow heart on the ankle looks nice!
As decoration
- Embroidery hoops on the wall: Nice as part of a gallery wall where you hang different embroidery works
- Keychains: Embroider on plastic canvas , cut out and attach a key ring
- Magnets: Use plastic canvas as a base to embroider on, and stick a piece of magnetic sheet behind it, ideal for the refrigerator
- Patches: Make them as sewable patches for friends and family
- Cards: Embroider on cardboard for original greeting cards
For special occasions
- Pride Events: Wear Your Heart with Pride!
- Gifts: A personally embroidered bag or shirt as a gift
- Solidarity actions: Organize an embroidery gathering in your neighborhood or group of friends, you are also free to sell the hearts for charity
What do I need to make them?
You'll find the DMC color numbers in the Pride embroidery pattern PDFs. All colors are available in the shop. Use the search bar to easily find them one by one and add them to your cart. You'll also need a needle and embroidery fabric. Depending on where you want to embroider your heart, you'll find the specific supplies below:
To frame one heart in an embroidery hoop:
- small embroidery hoop ø 7.5 cm or 10 cm.
- Aida 14 count embroidery fabric (a piece of approximately 15 x 15 cm and a heart is sufficient)
- DMC embroidery thread in the correct colours, see pattern
- embroidery needle with round point ( size 24 )
- if necessary,double-sided tape to neatly conceal the fabric at the back
To embroider on a bag or garment:
- water-soluble canvas
- DMC embroidery thread
- embroidery needle with a sharp point (e.g. the set of needles in size 3-9)
- if necessary, adhesive fleece to iron on the back of your embroidery
Tips for embroidering your Pride hearts
Color advice: You can use your own leftover yarn, but the Pride flags have specific colors that are important for their symbolism. So, try to stay as close as possible to the recommended DMC colors for the best results.
Thread length: Use lengths of thread approximately 30 cm long. Longer threads are more likely to get tangled. You can embroider the patterns with two lengths of thread, or you can use one length of thread (60 cm) and fold it in half.
Embroidery Direction: Always begin your cross stitches in the same direction for the finest, most even result. The bottom stitch runs from bottom left to top right, and the top stitch runs from bottom right to top left.
Tension: Don't hold your thread too tight, or you'll see too much white fabric showing through your stitches. A very light tension gives the best result.
The meaning behind the colors
Each Pride embroidery pattern tells a story through its colors. The original rainbow flag, designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978, originally had eight colors, each with its own meaning:
- Pink: Sexuality
- Red: Life
- Orange: Healing
- Yellow: Sunlight
- Green: Nature
- Turquoise: Art
- Indigo: Harmony
- Purple: Ghost
The current Pride flag has six colors, which you'll also see in our embroidery patterns. And, of course, there are additional variations of the flag, such as the bisexual, transgender, and non-binary Pride flags.
Is your flag not there?
Have fun embroidering! And if your Pride heart isn't there, please let me know in the comments. The pattern colors are easy to adapt to a different flag. I can help you find the color numbers you need.
Download your free Pride embroidery patterns now and embroider something beautiful. Because love is love, and that deserves to be celebrated.
