Free Stained Glass Patterns

The World of Free Stained Glass Patterns

People who don't work with stained glass might not know that there are many different kinds of free stained glass patterns out there. Most of us think of windows when we think of stained glass, but there are also projects available for stained glass Tiffany-style lampshades, candle holders, suncatchers, mirrors, tissue box holders and much more.

This is important because if you are looking for a particular motif, say, a flower, you might find the perfect image in a pattern for a tissue box that you could convert into a mirror border or whatever kind of project you'd like to make. Don't be limited by what the pattern says on the description.

Where to Find Free Stained Glass Patterns

There are many sites that include free stained glass patterns, usually alongside stained glass patterns that can be purchased. Patterns are usually color-coded or otherwise distinguished from each other, so it's not too hard to find the free ones.

• Find Stained Glass Patterns has online stained glass patterns separated in categories, making them easy to find.
• The Stained Glass Pattern Directory has the most up-to-date and complete listing of websites offering patterns.
• Chantal's Stained Glass has an amazing selection of free stained glass patterns, from religious imagery to Celtic knots, fairies to flowers. More of her patterns can be found on Chantal's Stained Glass Patterns #2 and ART:ERY Stained Glass Patterns. Free Stained Glass Patterns has over 150 free patterns.
• The Pattern Resizer website offers original patterns and others from around the web, as well as software that helps you quickly resize patterns (with a 14-day free trial).
• Warner-Crivellaro has a collection of 173 free stained glass patterns to choose from.
• Alpine Glass has many beautiful seasonal free stained glass patterns.
• Stained Glass Patterns 'dot org' explains how to make your own patterns.
• Down East Stained Glass Has a nice collection of seasonal stained glass patterns from their pattern club.
• Paned Expressions Offers free stained glass patterns and many beautiful patterns from their cd collection each month.

Using Free Stained Glass Patterns

Even if you're not a crafter who likes working with stained glass, these patterns can provide inspiration for you in other crafts.

You could take the patterns directly and use them as a kind of paint-by-number pattern to paint a similar design onto a canvas or as part of a craft project.

Simple designs could be converted to quilt patterns very easily; just use the stained glass pattern as a pattern to cut out your fabric pieces. Similarly, you could use the lines of the pattern to make a mosaic (with tiles or even cut up paper) or trace the pattern onto a grid and convert it into a cross stitch pattern.

If there are kids in your house, free stained glass patterns make wonderful coloring pages, and kids can make their own "stained glass" windows by cutting up little bits of construction paper, card stock, junk mail and wrapping paper and gluing them onto the pattern, making their own mosaic collages.