For crafters and hobbyists in the United States, the pursuit of free, high-quality project materials is a common and rewarding endeavor. Notforgotten Farm, a cross-stitch designer, provides a selection of free digital patterns that can be downloaded and used for personal projects, gifts, or limited profit. This article outlines the available free patterns, the terms of use, and the process for accessing them, based solely on the provided source materials.
The free patterns offered by Notforgotten Farm are distributed through the designer's blog and shared via platforms like Pinterest. These patterns are presented as digital files, typically including a color chart, a symbol chart, and a floss legend, which users can save to their computer and print. The designs often feature whimsical, country-themed characters and seasonal motifs. For example, one pattern features "Little Sam Snowman," which can be used to create a flat-stuffed pillow or a decorative jar topper. Another pattern is described as a "small sampling" of a seasonal series, with the first in a series of four projects being "Little Farmhouse - Spring." Additional free patterns are mentioned, including a "little" farmer and his wife, Betty, who is depicted with chickens and scrambled eggs, and a farmer who is "enjoying his slow-paced country life." These patterns are designed to be quick to stitch and easy to finish, with suggested methods including framing or making into pillows.
Terms of Use for Free Patterns
Notforgotten Farm specifies clear guidelines for the use of their free patterns. These terms are important for users to understand before downloading and stitching. The designer grants permission for users to stitch the patterns for personal use, as gifts, or for "minimal profit." However, there are restrictions. Users are kindly asked to mention Notforgotten Farm as the actual designer when sharing or presenting the finished work. The most critical restriction is that users must refrain from copying and selling the actual chart or graph. The provided materials state, "PLEASE remember these are free for you to use, but kindly refrain from ever copying and selling the actual chart/graph... ~ that just wouldn't be nice." This means while the stitched product can be sold, the digital pattern itself cannot be reproduced and sold.
Accessing and Downloading the Free Patterns
The process for obtaining these free patterns is straightforward. According to the source materials, users can access the patterns by clicking on the chart they wish to stitch, saving it to their computer, and then printing it out. The patterns are available directly from the Notforgotten Farm blog. For instance, the "Little Sam Snowman" pattern is available on the blog post dated November 2023. The post directs users to "click on each photo below, save to your computer and print them out." The pattern includes all necessary components: the color chart, the symbol chart, and the symbol/floss legend. The blog post also encourages users to share their finished projects by tagging the designer on Instagram.
While the provided sources mention several other patterns—such as "Chris Mouse," "Cheerful Giver," "Priscilla," "John," "Matilda Hornbuckle," "Pumpkin Playtime," "Betsy," "Lamby Pie," "Maggie O'Greene," "Little Valentino," "Teeny Halloweenies," "Words To Live By," "Witch Hazel," and "Boo Berries"—these are primarily listed as available for purchase on a retailer's website (123stitch.com) and are not explicitly identified as free downloads in the source materials. The free patterns are specifically those shared on the Notforgotten Farm blog and Pinterest.
Project Ideas and Finishing Techniques
The source materials provide examples of how these free patterns can be used to create finished projects. The "Little Sam Snowman" pattern is shown as an example of a finished item. The creator describes making it into a flat-stuffed pillow backed with old cotton fabric. Alternatively, it was incorporated into a jar topper. The instructions for the jar topper involved placing buttons in the bottom of a jar, adding a circle of batting for a snowy effect, and then placing the stitched snowman inside alongside tiny white sisal trees and a garland of shiny silver stars. This demonstrates the creative versatility of the free patterns.
Another pattern, "Little Farmhouse - Spring," is described as a small project that is quick to stitch. It is intended to be the first in a series of four seasonal projects (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter). The finished item can be framed or made into a pillow, making it suitable for an "in between" project. The designs often tell a small story, like the farmer and his wife Betty, who enjoys puttering with her chickens and fixing scrambled eggs. These narrative elements add to the appeal of the patterns for crafters who enjoy storytelling through their work.
Evaluating Source Reliability
The information about free patterns is drawn from a primary source: the Notforgotten Farm blog. This is the designer's own platform, which makes it an authoritative source for the patterns, their terms of use, and the creative ideas presented. The blog post is dated, and the instructions are direct from the designer, providing a high level of reliability for the facts about the free pattern availability and usage guidelines.
The Pinterest link (Source 1) is a secondary source that appears to reference or link to the free patterns, but the content provided is a general statement about sharing freebies, not a specific pattern. The retailer site (123stitch.com) is a reliable source for pricing and availability of purchase patterns but is not a source for free pattern claims. Therefore, the primary basis for the free pattern information is the Notforgotten Farm blog.
Conclusion
Notforgotten Farm provides a selection of free cross-stitch patterns for personal use, gifts, or minimal profit. These patterns, such as "Little Sam Snowman" and "Little Farmhouse - Spring," are available as downloadable PDFs from the designer's blog. Users can save and print the charts, which include color and symbol guides. The terms of use allow for the sale of the finished stitched item but prohibit the copying and resale of the digital pattern itself. The patterns often feature country and seasonal themes and can be finished as framed art, pillows, or incorporated into other craft projects like jar toppers. While other patterns are listed for sale on retailer sites, the free offerings are specifically shared through the designer's blog and associated social media.