Earlier this year, we shared 13 Embroidery Patterns + Inspiring Projects to Celebrate Summer. We hoped to inspire stitchers to explore the EGA Free Projects Library, the Petite Projects Library (join us to gain free access!), and EGA’s many online needlework galleries filled with beautiful embroidered works of art stitched by our community.
Now that the seasons have turned, we’re back with more patterns and projects to inspire you. This time, we’re celebrating fall! Click through to learn more about the featured galleries and to access the free embroidery patterns!
Free Embroidered Mushroom Stamp Brooch
MyaCreates’ free Embroidered Mushroom Stamp Brooch features simple surface embroidery stitches and layered felt to create a piece of handmade wearable art. This is a great project for adventurous beginners looking to expand their creativity and skills!
Lamppost and Autumn Leaves
Lamppost and Autumn Leaves is a juried work from Fiber Forum 2022. Made by Karen Schueler, Lamppost and Leaves showcases shadow embroidery stitched on painted silk organza. The textured stitches combined with the vivid dyed silk are quintessentially autumnal. Karen has a way with light and trees—check out her piece, Beech Grove at Sunset, from Fiber Forum 2026, for another piece that feels inspired by cooler weather.
Free Stumpwork Ginkgo Leaf Earrings
Native to East Asia and Japan, Ginkgo trees turn a brilliant golden color in the fall. The free Stumpwork Ginkgo Leaf Earrings by MCreativeJ are a great introduction to stumpwork embroidery, and a beautiful way to subtly spotlight your love of fall.
Autumn Leaves Must Fall
Sally Olsen’s Autumn Leaves Must Fall is a juried work from 2023 Fiber Forum. An assortment of colorful leaves in a variety of techniques are artfully arranged around the canvas, evoking the leaf litter of late autumn.
Free Autumn Flowers Boots
The Autumn Flowers Boots by Subito Farms will inspire you to start embroidering thoughtful details into all of your clothing! Designer Meaghan Monroe smartly chose a pair of Blundstone Chelsea Boots for her autumnal bouquets, but any shoes with elastic or canvas sections will also work.
Continue reading to see more projects and inspiration.
Autumn Scarecrow and Harvest Vegetables
Each time you look at this piece from EGA’s Surface Embroidery Master Craftsman program, something new hits the eye. The varied finishes on the scarecrow’s clothing, the genius use of silk ribbon to capture the look of cornstalks and leaf litter, the beading on the harvest corn, the combination of long and short stitches and French knots to texture the gourds… It’s no wonder this is the final Step 6 in the Master Craftsman program! It’s a fantastic example of using the best of your embroidery skills. If you’re interested in showcasing your own embroidery skills, check out EGA’s Master Craftsman program!
Free Deconstructed Bargello Owl
The Deconstructed Bargello Owl was designed by EGA Stitch-a-Long admin Stephanie Murphy for the September 2024 Stitch-a-Long. The Bargello Owl uses perforated paper, embroidery floss, and a variety of Bargello motifs to create an owl you can hang from ribbon to add a little fall decor to your home.
Pumpkin Crazy
A juried work from 2017, Pumpkin Crazy by Robin Berry is another piece that reveals more fun details the longer you look at it. The velvet pumpkins are embellished with silk ribbons, beads and bead embroidery, charms, buttons, and more.
Free Overdyed Maple Leaf
Grab your overdyed floss and stitch the adorable Overdyed Maple Leaf by Stephanie Murphy. You can turn this simple stitched leaf made with mosaic and tent stitches into a scissors fob, ornament, or needleminder.
Honeycrisp Apple
Is there anything more autumnal than a honeycrisp apple? This expertly shaded Honeycrisp Apple was stitched by Patricia Fisher for 2017 Fiber Forum. We especially love the texture on the leaf!
Free Acorn Thread Painting Tutorial
If you’ve always wanted to try thread painting, start with The Crewel Ghoul’s Acorn Thread Painting Tutorial. She provides step by step instructions for each part of this acorn and leaf design—there’s even a full video tutorial if you want to stitch along with her!
Leaf and Cobweb Bowl
Katherine Andrew’s Leaf and Cobweb Bowl from 2019 Fiber Forum evokes “the combined detritus from the spiders and trees that live in our landscape.” Her piece is fascinating to consider—do the solid but loose leaves provide the structure, or could it be the delicate, fragile webbing? Is there no structure at all without the two combined?
Free Whimsical Doodle Pumpkin
The Whimsical Doodle Pumpkin was the October 2022 featured project in the EGA Stitch-a-Long group. Designed by Stitch-a-Long admin Dianne Stauber, it’s a great fall template for experimenting with surface embroidery stitches and stash diving for fun embellishments like buttons, sequins, and paillettes.
Are you feeling inspired to stitch something autumnal this season? Remember to visit the Free Projects Library, the Petite Projects Library, and our Needlework Galleries for even more inspiration.
