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While it’s easy to find free embroidery designs for almost anything, finding free machine embroidery fonts is another story.
And if you don’t like the built-in fonts on your machine (mine, at least, are not great for monogramming) and don’t have embroidery software with fonts, you might want to collect more.
While you can purchase many fonts for a fairly inexpensive price, I’m a deal-hunter and squeal with glee when I find a bargain or freebie.
As such, I searched high and low and came up with this compilation of where to download free embroidery machine fonts.
These fonts are good quality and cute, so I hope you enjoy collecting them as much as I did!
Table of Contents
Computer Fonts vs. Embroidery Fonts
When you type on your computer, for instance, in Microsoft Word, you use either a .otf (Open Type Font) or .ttf (True Type Font) font.
TTF files of OTF files cannot be downloaded to or used directly on an embroidery machine.
This is because specialized embroidery font files include extra information directing your machine where and when to put different types of stitches to create letters.
Thus, your options for increasing your embroidery machine’s font stash are to purchase or download free embroidery fonts. Or, invest in embroidery software that converts .ttf fonts to embroidery font files.
BX Fonts, ESA Fonts, and Stitch Files
If you’re new to embroidery, you may notice that some fonts include .bx or .esa files, and some include only machine file formats like .pes, .jef, .xxx, or .art.
So, what format do you need to download for your machine?
1. Machine File Format Fonts
Fonts are frequently digitized letter by letter, with each letter saved as a separate stitch file (.jef, .pes, .dst, .hus, etc.)
Thus, for an entire uppercase alphabet embroidery font, you’d download 26 different files.
If you want to use embroidery fonts on your Brother, Janome, Husqvarna, etc. embroidery machine and don’t want to deal with software, download embroidery fonts in your machine’s file format. (Here’s where to learn which file format to use with your machine.)
With machine files, each font character is also digitized at a set size, which is why digitizers offer various sizes of fonts. Since shrinking or enlarging font files results in less than desirable results, don’t expect to use a font digitized to be 1″ at a 4″ size and be happy with the result!
The major drawback of letter stitch files (besides resizing woes) is that you must add each letter file to your machine workspace one at a time.
And, unless you’ve mapped your font, you can’t use your keyboard when using software to combine files to make words. This is very time-consuming and why I prefer to NOT download stitch files (.pes fonts) when downloading free embroidery fonts for my Brother embroidery machine.
2. BX Fonts
BX fonts work with the Embrilliance embroidery software suite and are genius.
Instead of having multiple stitch files per font, you download one .bx file that contains all the information needed for that font.
Then, with the free Embrilliance Express software, you use your keyboard to type words and combine letters and numbers. (You must have a computer to use BX fonts. Bonus: Embrilliance runs natively on Mac computers.)
After you’re done with your design, simply save it in your machine’s file format (ex. .pes, .jef, etc.) and transfer it to your machine.
Note that you cannot transfer a .bx embroidery font to your machine like you can the letters of machine file format fonts.
3. ESA Fonts
ESA fonts are my preferred choice because they work with my Hatch embroidery software. They are similar to .bx fonts (Lindee G has an awesome comparison of the two types if you want to learn more) in that you can use your keyboard to type them.
However, they’re a little more customizable (in terms of resizing, etc.) than .bx fonts.
However, the ESA file format may not be worth downloading as you can’t transfer it directly to your machine, and it only works with products that read Wilcom native file formats.
The Best Free Embroidery Fonts
To access the websites where you can download these free fonts for your embroidery machine, click on the blue, underlined font names as you see them.
Then, remember to download the fonts in your preferred file format.
And, if you love what a digitizer offers for free, bookmark them to purchase from in the future!
Lastly, if you plan to use these fonts for anything you sell, check if the digitizer provides these for commercial use or personal use only.
1. Embrilliance’s Free BX Fonts
Almost Fancy, Blockish, and Textured are three free .bx fonts straight from Embrilliance.
These are a fun brush script font, a thin block font, and a textured surface block font.
I haven’t stitched any of these stitch-based BX fonts yet, but being offered by Embrilliance, you know they will be some of the best fonts.
2. FontBundles.Net
FontBundles, sister to the behemoth DesignBundles website, also offers lots of freebies, especially when it comes to fonts.
While the freebies page is rotating, there are currently 20 free fonts, most of which have a swirly and trendy modern style.
There are no BX files included, but most fonts include symbols, numbers, and individual letters.
3. Five Star Fonts Free Embroidery Machine Fonts
Fonts come in both .bx format and the various file formats for popular machines.
- The Free RinTin Skin-ny Applique Font is one of my favorite finds! Appliques are fun, easy, take up less stitching time, and allow for more color pop on outfits if you add fun fabrics. (For more info, read: how to machine applique if you’re still learning!)
- The Fun n Funky Font is a 3.85″ capital letter font. It has two outline options and would look cute when personalizing baby gifts.
- The Teachers Pet Font is a catch in that it comes in five different sizes from .55″ to 1.20″. It’s a simple capital letter font that’s not a script and has a more playful vibe.
- These free Racing Numbers aren’t a font per se, but this free download includes the numbers 0-9. Many free fonts you’ll download will have alphabet letters only, so grabbing some basic free embroidery number files is a good idea, too!
- The Freaky Embroidery Font is interesting. I’m not sure I’m in love with it, as it’s a little weirder than what I’m used to as a Mom of two cutesy girls! However, you never know when you may need a free Halloween font.
- The Stacked Embroidery Machine Font comes in lowercase letters only, but if you pair it with a free font with capitals, you’re in luck!
4. Bunnycup Embroidery Free Fonts
Bunnycup Embroidery (one of my favorite places to buy cute appliques for baby gifts) also has a nice selection of free embroidery lettering fonts. None of their free embroidery fonts include .bx formats, which is unfortunate.
- The Cheri Alphabet Font is cute and perfect for embroidering a name on a blanket for a baby! This is my favorite of the three free fonts they offer.
- The Countryside Alphabet Font includes capital letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a couple of characters. It comes in one size slightly less than 1″.
- The free Flores Alphabet Font is a fun block font with little flowers helping to shape the letters. It comes in one size and has both capital letters and numbers and then rectangular blocks enclosing these same characters.
5. GG Designs Embroidery
The free Scary Font from GG Designs Embroidery is spooky and Halloween-like. It has a little bit of a Harry Potter feel to it as well!
Unfortunately, it comes in uppercase letters only.
This fill-stitch font comes in three sizes, though: 1 inch, 1.5 inches, and 2 inches, and includes numbers. You can download it in .bx or several other embroidery file formats.
6. CindesEmbroideryDesigns
There are close to 20 incredibly creative fonts on this website.
I had some issues downloading fonts from them in the past, but it looks like the issue is fixed now.
7. Oma’s Place Free Embroidery Fonts
Oma’s Place offers many great designs, including:
- The Anna BX font from Oma’s Place is cute and swirly. It comes in uppercase and lowercase and would be perfect for adding a child’s name to a lunchbox or blanket.
- The Kids Applique Alphabet is an applique embroidery font with capital letters and one size. As such, there are no lowercase letters and no numbers. But, finding a free applique font is great!
8. Kreative Kiwi Embroidery
Kreative Kiwi is one of my absolute favorite places to buy embroidery designs thanks to their large in-the-hoop applique method.
In terms of fonts, though, here’s what you’ll find:
- This cute free redwork baby alphabet will be perfect for embroidering something for a baby shower!
- Check out this running stitch small alphabet that comes in at around 20mm in height and includes both upper and lower case letters.
- The Autumn Alphabet is sized for 4×4 hoops and adds festive fall motifs to the alphabet letters.
- The Pirate Alphabet is another 4×4 single letter font file with precious little pirates adorning each letter.
9. Creative Fabrica
Freebies are constantly changing on this site, and it’s worth sifting through their selection.
However, Creative Fabrica right nowoffers this free script monogram font that comes in one large size for machines with bigger embroidery hoops.
10. Apex Embroidery
- The Gift Embroidery Font is, well, a gift for signing up for this digitizer’s free newsletter. It does not include a free .bx font file but offers most other machine font files. Sizes include 1.5″, 2″, and 2.5″.
- There’s also a free “Mystery Font”, which comes in sizes 2″, 3″, and 5″.
- The Zumba font is also a bit of a mystery, as my screen doesn’t show a picture, and I have not yet downloaded or stitched the font.
11. Designs By Juju
I buy many of my in-the-hoop projects and most of my FSL designs from Designs by Juju.
If you want to check out her style, you can download her no-cost Marker Embroidery Font, which includes a BX file.
12. Lindee G Embroidery
Lindee G offers the 1-inch size of her neon lights font for free in .bx format.She’s a great digitizer and educator as well.
I recommend checking out the rest of her .bx fonts, as they’re very well-digitized.
13. Embroideres
On Embroideres, you can find free embroidery letter designs (included if you purchase any paid design) that can be used for monogramming. There’s a wooden font, back-to-school font, and an iris letter embroidery font.
When downloading, you will only receive single letters rather than the entire alphabet.
14. Planet Applique
Sign up for Planet Applique’s email, and every few months, the owner will send a link to a free font download.
Her paid fonts are absolutely some of the best embroidery fonts I’ve downloaded, and they’re perfect when embroidering for kids.
15. SWAK Alphabet
SWAKEmbroidery offers lots of no-cost or low-cost designs, and their Alphabet 91 is an example.
It’s a floral, swirl monogram font with a few color changes that comes in two 4×4 hoop sizes.
Built-In Embroidery Fonts on Your Machine
Of course, modern computerized embroidery machines include a small selection of fonts loaded onto the machine. Unfortunately, these fonts aren’t always the most attractive.
No wonder I started looking for free Brother embroidery fonts for my machine, right?
Furthermore, there are limitations to how big and small you can make the built-in fonts on your embroidery sewing machine. (This is yet another reason to have a variety of fonts.)
For instance, I needed extra-small letters for embroidering sleeve cuffs, and my machine would not shrink its fonts that much. Ultimately, I ended up finding a font digitized to be used for small lettering in my embroidery software.
Speaking of built-in fonts, if you have a combination sewing and embroidery machine, one other place to look for free embroidery alphabets is within your sewing stitches!
To use these, keep your embroidered item in its hoop, switch your machine to sew, snap on your monogramming foot, and program the letters you want to sew. Then, stitch out the words!
Sources for Cheap Embroidery Machine Fonts
If you don’t like any of the above free embroidery fonts but are on a strict budget, here are other affordable ways to build up your font stash.
1. Consider inexpensive embroidery software programs like SewWhat-Pro or SewWrite.
Here, you can (with varied results) convert .ttf computer fonts to embroidery fonts. The end results aren’t always perfect, but this is worth considering if you have many unique fonts on your computer.
(I have a SewWhat-Pro review and tutorial and a tutorial on how to create a monogram in Sew What Pro if you want to learn more about the program!)
Of course, more expensive software options have a full suite of built-in fonts that can be edited happily for a wide range of sizes.
2. Embroidery Super Deal is a fun website where you can buy a 200+ embroidery fonts package for less than $10. (You can shop their fonts on Etsy as well.) Many fonts include .bx formats.
You can also buy their entire website for $40, which includes hundreds of design packs and many more fonts. (Read more in my Embroidery Super Deal review. I’ve previously bought the entire site deal and loved it!)
Free Fonts for Husqvarna and Pfaff Machine Users
If you have a mySewnet-compatible Husqvarna Viking of Pfaff embroidery machine, you can use mySewnet’s free Quick Font software to convert any computer fonts to embroidery designs.
Since I’m a Brother machine owner, I can’t try the function to provide a detailed review.
How to Download Free Embroidery Fonts
For those not technologically inclined, simply click on the font files on each digitizer’s website to download them to your computer. Each website should have exact detailed download instructions if you are having issues.
Often, these embroidery designers offer their files in zipped format. Since most embroidery machines cannot read zipped files, follow these instructions to unzip the files.
I’m always in the market for free goodies for my embroidery machine, so I’d love to hear if you know any other places that offer free fonts!
And, if you’re a deal-lover like me, check out some of my other freebies-related posts to get you inspired for your next project:
- Free Embroidery Machine Designs: My Favorite Websites
- Where to Find Free and Paid In-the-Hoop Designs
- Christmas Embroidery Machine Design Freebies
- Free Embroidery Applique Designs to Download
