I can't draw, so how fudged am I?

What you can do, is take a charcoal pencil or art supply, print out a photo, rub charcoal on the back of the photo, place it on fabric (preferably lighter colored) and trace the image with a pen or something like that

I use both methods outlined by the others here. You cna also tape a pattern in a bright sunny window if you dont have a light box. I can't draw to save my life, and I rarely purchase patterns. You should be able to find many free things online, or just use Google images for outlines of what you want to do. I like needlenthread.com. She has lots of free patterns and links to many more

This is extremely helpful, thank you Pooh bear, Regal Magnus, and Tara!

So go back to when I was a kid, tracing and rubbing etc to transfer to material, awesome.

If not free patterns online, that's great.

You can also look online for patterns that artists have made for stitching and embroidery. A lot of embroidery artists make free and purchasable patterns. Also, DMC embroidery makes a set of patterns that you can wash away the pattern because it’s on water soluble paper!

As Poohbear said, a light box is very helpful. If you don't want to trace onto fabric, you can use carbon/graphite transfer paper.

You can also use the "prick and pounce" method of transfer (see link). Do NOT feel like this is "cheating". It's a widespread practice that goes back hundreds of years.

I'm going to be embarking on an absolutely mammoth embroidery project using expensive materials. I WILL be transferring my patterns over (using the method outlined in the link), as it'd be lunacy not to! :joy:

https://www.needlenthread.com/2011/05/prick-pounce-embroidery-design-transfer.html