Free Stunning Folk Art Embroidery Patterns from the Past

Discover 28 timeless folk embroidery patterns. Download he beautiful designs for crafting, printing, and decorating.

These vintage folk embroidery patterns are perfect if you love combining history with design. They are beautiful examples of traditional craftsmanship and offer many creative possibilities, whether you’re into stitching, designing prints, or decorating your home.

Initially meant for hand embroidery, these patterns go beyond needle and thread. The stunning designs, intricate lines, and delicate motifs can be used in various modern projects. I stumbled upon these beautiful patterns while browsing some vintage books. I’ve featured my favourites here because I plan to use them for future craft ideas!

Whether you’re looking for something to stitch or appreciate the design and history behind them, these patterns offer so much versatility.

The Beauty of Folk Embroidery

Folk embroidery is unique because it represents the culture and traditions of the region. These patterns often tell stories through symbols, shapes, and colours passed down through generations. You’ll find floral motifs, geometric designs, and borders that simultaneously feel classic and fresh.

From the elegant curves of traditional Hungarian embroidery to the bold, geometric shapes found in Slavic patterns, these designs carry a sense of history that adds depth to your chosen project.

If you’re a fan of traditional patterns, you might also enjoy exploring my collection of kimono art or the beautiful traditional Japanese patterns that similarly blend history with design.

How To Download Folk Embroidery Patterns

These patterns come from regions all over Europe, from Slovakia to Hungary and beyond. Each design is a beautiful piece of history, ready to enjoy. Click on the title above the pattern you want. A new, higher-resolution image will open in a new tab. You can then click on that image to print or save it.

Floral Folk Motifs

These patterns have a floral or plant theme, with many curves and bloom shapes.

The first collection of designs is from the Czech book “Study of Folk Embroidery from Bohemia, Moravia and Hungary Slovakia: A Collection of Drawings to Learn about Our Folk Embroidery Designs” by Šíma, Josef 1909.

Pattern 1: Simple Colourful Floral Motifs

flower motifs for embroidery with red green and yellow

Pattern 2: Floral Borders

A collection of floral border patterns in different colourways. One side of the print shows the design, and the other, the embroidered stitches.

four different flora embroidery borders showing pattern design and stitches

Pattern 3: Red Corner Floral Folk Embroidery

red flora embroidery motif one side showing pattern the other showing the stitches

Pattern 4: Multicoloured Corner On Black

multicoloured Czech embroidery floral border pattern on black

Folk Pattern 5: Multicolour Floral Corner on Black 2

Pattern 6: Multicolour Floral on White

Again, it shows the embroidery pattern on one side and the textured stitches on the other, with a border design at the bottom.

Czech floral embroidery pattern in colour with border

Pattern 7: Black Stitches on White

black folk embroidery pattern and stitches floral pattern on white

Pattern 8: Simple Red & Black Border Design

simple red and black Czech folk embroidery patterns

Folk Pattern 9: White On Red

White florals with hearts corner border motif.

folk corner border embroidery pattern flowers and hearts white stiches on red

Pattern 10: Simple Flower Motifs

Pattern 11: Thistle Like Motif

folk embroidery motif of thistle like flowers in yellow

Folk Art Pattern 12: Orange Flower Motif

Vintage folk art pattern of orange motif

Geometric Designs

The following collection of folk patterns is geometric ones from the “Osztják Himzések” (1921). This book is a treasure trove of traditional embroidery patterns from the Ostyak (Khanty) people of Western Siberia. It highlights intricate geometric motifs and decorative borders commonly used in folk textiles and garments, reflecting the rich craftsmanship of this unique culture.

Though not Scandinavian, the patterns share similarities with European folk art, making them perfect for anyone interested in traditional embroidery. The beautiful designs are ideal for modern crafting or inspiration for home decor and DIY projects.

Pattern 13: Red Blue Diamond

East European folk embroidery pattern geometric in red and blue

Pattern 14: Four border designs

East European folk embroidery pattern geometric in red and blue four borders

Folk Pattern 15: Diamond With Border

East European folk embroidery pattern geometric in red and blue diamond with border

Pattern 16: Blue Yellow Four Pattern

Pattern 17: Various Border Designs

East European folk embroidery pattern geometric in red and blue various border designs

Folk Pattern 18: Large Geometirc Pattern

Slavic Geometric Embroidery

The following folk patterns are from “Die Verbreitung und Cultur der Südslaven“ by Felix Lay and Friedrich Fischbach. It is a fascinating look at South Slavic culture through the lens of their traditional folk embroidery. The book highlights beautiful, detailed patterns and the vital role these designs played in the region’s cultural identity. With vibrant, colourful illustrations, it’s an excellent resource for anyone interested in folk art, embroidery, or the history of South Slavic traditions.

Pattern 19: Multi-Coloured Stripes

South Slavic embroidery patterns in bold coloured stripes of oranges greens and blues

Pattern 20: Reindeer On Green

The animals on the border look like reindeer to me, but they may be goats!

Slovak folk embroidery pattern of reindeer motif on green

Pattern 21: Blue Cross

South slavic geometric embroidery pattern blue cross black star

Pattern 22: Multi-Coloured Diamonds

South Slavic folk pattern multicoloured diamonds

Embroidery Pattern 23: Red

South Slavic embroidery pattern with red motif

Slovak Shirt Embroidery Patterns

The following patterns are from “Slovenské ľudové vzory zo štyroch krajov Slovenska” by Drahotína Križko-Kardošsová is a beautifully detailed exploration of traditional folk patterns used on shirts from four distinct regions of Slovakia. This book dives into the rich cultural heritage of Slovak embroidery, showcasing how different areas have their unique motifs and techniques.

Pattern 24: Little Red Flowers

Slovac Shirt embroidery pattern with red flowers

Pattern 25: Many Flowers

black and white Slovac shirt pattern of many little flowers

Folk Pattern 26: Little Red Hearts

Slovak shirt folk embroidery pattern hearts and swirls

Pattern 27: Leaves & Checkerboards

Slovak Shirt pattern of folk embroidery in black and white with leaves and checkerboards

Pattern 28: Cross Stitch In Black and Red

slovak folk cross stitch shirt pattern in black and red

For more beautiful vintage designs, check out my Christopher Dresser print collection and vintage floral pattern designs—both feature timeless patterns that can be used for various projects.

Creative Ways to Use These Patterns

These folk embroidery patterns aren’t just for crafters! If you’re a design fan or love adding a vintage touch to your home decor, you’ll find plenty of inspiration here. The patterns can create beautiful wall art, pillows, or even wrapping paper for special occasions. Print them out, frame them, or experiment with different materials like fabric or paper.

Here are a few ideas:

Framed Prints—Choose your favourite pattern, print it on high-quality paper, and pop it in a frame for instant art celebrating heritage and design.
Textile Projects—These patterns were originally meant for embroidery, so why not bring them back to life on a piece of linen, a throw pillow, or even a table runner?
Digital Art – If you’re into graphic design, these patterns could be great for incorporating into digital artwork, invitations, or cards.

Whatever you decide to do with these folk embroidery patterns, their beauty and history will add a special touch to your projects.

For even more accessible design resources, don’t miss my colour and pattern charts collection, where you’ll find plenty of inspiration to mix and match these embroidery designs. Also, check out the wonderful collection of William Morris textile patterns.

a collage of nine colourful vintage folk embroidery patterns with text overlay

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