My Favorite Free Fonts
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I get many emails and comments asking me what font I used in a certain post or in my DIY projects. Most readers want to know about the handwriting fonts. I decided to create an image with 12 of my favorite fonts on it to share with you.
If you want to start adding free fonts to your computer, you may also like the fonts I gathered for My Favorite Fonts 2 and Monogram Fonts.
Click on the links below to go to the site where you can then download the font to your computer.
1. Monterey BT 2. EcuyerDAX 3. CK Ali’s Hand 4. Traveling Typewriter 5. Peas Our Best Bites 6. Handwriting Draft 7. Cursif 8. Niagara Engraved 9. Modern No. 20 10. Precious 11. Rechtman 12. Pottery Barn
One of my favorite courses in college was a Type class where we learned all about fonts and type and how to make up our own the old fashioned way… with pen and ink. I use to address all of my letters to friends and family in fancy scripts I made. I wish I still had all the lettering books I created the fonts in. I would frame the pages now – instant art.
I remember when I first discovered the world of free fonts. I was like a kid in a candy store. You have to remember I am a child of the 70’s – you know way back in the stone age. When I was in college the personal computer wasn’t invented yet.
Now it is as easy as 1. 2. 3… to have whatever font you desire downloaded to your computer in minutes.
The sites I go to most are: A-Z Fonts, DaFont, Fonts for Peas, Fontspace,
The nice thing about downloading them to your computer – they will show up in all of your computer programs – Word, Photoshop, etc.
How To Install a Font on Your Computer
If you are new to downloading and installing fonts on your computer – Here is a step-by-step to walk you through it. It is very easy – so easy you will find yourself downloading many. I use Windows 7, if you have a different operating system, it may be slightly different. I included a few directions at the end of the post. for Window Vista – directions for installing are at the end of this post.
1. Once you get to one of the font sites. I am using dafont .com for this tutorial. Every font site looks different, but the steps are the same. Find the font, click, install, and then follow your computers prompts.
There will be a main page where you can choose and click on what type of font you are looking for – Fancy, Script, Handwriting, Block , Gothic, etc.
If you click on one of 12 links to the fonts I use – you will be taken directly to that font, not the main page(shown above)
The page you will land on will look like this-
2. I am going to download the font – Stitch It. Click the download button on the right hand side of the page.
3. A window will open up from your computer asking if you want to Open with or Save File. Click on the Open with. I leave it in the default.
4. A new window will open and you will see the font listed. Sometimes there may be a read me file and a few other files, but you want to click on the file that says – True Type or Open Type Font File. Most of the freebies are one of these.
A new window will pop up with the font and all of its sizes. Click the install button. Your font will now be installed.
To check if it installed correctly, open up your Word processor and pull down the font box and search for the font. If you don’t see it, you may have to download it again. If you had your word processor open when you downloaded you will have to close it and reopen to refresh. Then check again.
Unzip the files you have downloaded, then:
- Windows XP: Put the font files into C:\Windows\Fonts
- Mac OS X: Double-click the font file > “Install font” button
Whoa! I finally succeeded in downloading a free font! That was awesome, I’ve never had any luck before, thanks!!
you are a gift for me… :D thank YOU !
This worked like charm and was so helpful. I feel like I read endless articles online that end up not being as promised (or, maybe more accurately, as I expected.) Not the case here! What a useful post. THANK YOU.
A joyous new year to you!
Thank very much for this invaluable information !
I would like to enquire about something, before I start downloading any fonts;
Can I use any of the fonts that I download for commercial purposes (my poetry, cards, gifts, writing,stories, resumes……), or are these fonts for home use only?
God bless!
Hi Lucinda – Each font is created by different people. Each has the terms of use in the noted so you can see before you download if it is for personal or commercial use only. As long as you don’t use the fonts on something you sell and make a profit from – you can use them.
I just created my first ever monogram on MS Word, using your instructions. You made it so easy to follow, with detailed instructions and pictures! Thank you very much! Without the tutorial I doubt that I would ever have figured it out. I have pinned inmyownstyle to my board. I’m making sure I won’t lose it! You have great tutorials!
Anna
Thanks Anna – I wanted to find a way that most readers who don’t have Photoshop installed on their computers could still create a monogram for themselves. It took a little trial and error to figure it out on Word, but I was so happy to find out that it could be done.
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DEAR DIANE,
I AM VERY NEW AT THIS
COULD YOU POSSIBLEY EXPLAIN H0W I MAKE A MONOGRAM WITH MY LETTERS WITH SOMETHING LIKE THE WHEAT AROUND IT
I AM AN INTERIOR DECORATOR AND WANT TO DO A MONOGRAM AND PUDT IT ON FABRIC FOR A
CHAIR FOR MY OFFICE.
I SAW IT ON PINTREST BUT IT DID’T SAY HOW , THEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS A FONT. I READ YOUR INSTRUCTIONS BUT STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW TO GET MY INTICILES TOGETHER LIKE YOU DID ND PRINT THEM OUT.
YOUR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRICATED.
THANK YOU
BOBBI
I use Photoshop Elements to create the monograms. You can also use Microsoft Word, but it is takes a bit more time. In these programs you need to create separate layers or text boxes around each letter/item and then move them into position. I wrote a post on how to make a monogram in Microsoft Word in this post: https://inmyownstyle.com/2013/03/how-to-create-a-monogram-using-microsoft-word.html
Hi Bobbi –
To add wheat to your monogram- you need to find the art and then download it to your computer. Once the image is on your computer and the font you want to use, you make a layer (separate canvas/text box) for each letter and image. You would place the wheat image in a transparent layer under the monogram letter layers in your computer program. Did you see the post I did on how to create a monogram in Microsoft Word? If not you can find it here: https://inmyownstyle.com/2013/03/how-to-create-a-monogram-using-microsoft-word.html
I use Photoshop to make mine, but not many readers have this, so I wrote how to do it in Word. In both programs – you have to put each letter and image in its own layer so that you can move them around freely and place each where you want. If you add them all to the same layer – then you can’t move them where you want. If you are not familiar with these programs, it is not very easy to explain.
I have a question…When I download a font from one of the free websites you mentioned above, will it go directly into my SCAL library or do I have to do something to get it in there?
Hi Patrice –
I am not sure what a SCAL library is, but if it is a design program, it should. I have Silhouette Digital cutter software on my computer and when I download fonts they automatically show up in my font library. Every computer and program is different in the downloading process – you may have to look around your files to figure it out, if they don’t show up automatically for you.
I am using Window 8.1 and need help downloading kkmonogram from dafont.com. Could you help with directions?
Hi Sharon – I am not familiar with that version of Windows, but take a look at this YouTube Video. It should help you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7c4gLwxCG4
Exactly what I was looking for! Thank you so much for all the info!
Thank you very much for sharing these fonts, they are great!
You really have a beautiful blog I love every single one of your posts!
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I found your blog when I Googled “free monogram fonts”. Your bio about how you can’t add to save your life made me laugh. I think we may have been cut from the same cloth. I dream about and think about making pretty things all the time and if I would probably spend hours messing with letters on my computer to make a monogram font. I don’t have that time today so I am using your method to cheat! Thank you for your tips! I’m excited to have found your blog and I know I will love following it! Fun stuff!!
Hi Diane, I’ve just come accross your post, I love Da Font and I’ve found pently of great fonts to use for my blog. Thanks for sharing. Rachel
thank u uploading
Hi-
Love your site. I’m trying to make stationary for my daughter. I downloaded the font I wanted but I don’t know how to make the letters overlap. Is there a way to do this?
Thanks!
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer – If you have Microsoft Word, MS Publisher, Photoshop or most publishing programs. Each letter needs to be placed in it’s own text box or layer so you can move them around separately on the page. I wrote a post about hoe to do in using MS Word here : https://inmyownstyle.com/2013/03/how-to-create-a-monogram-using-microsoft-word.html
First of all, I LOVE your site!! I have spent a few hours just browsing around and will be back again!!
I will admit that I have a problem….I’m a fontaholic!!! The problem started many years ago when I first started teaching and wanted to make the heading of my third grade newsletters interesting and fun!! I’ve tried to quit collecting but just can’t seem to stop! :)
I thought you might want to know that the link to the first font, Monterey BT, links to an error message. I read through the comments and didn’t see that any one has written. The font is on the A-Z website after I did a search for it. I also figured out that “Monterey” is misspelled in the link…(thought I’d help solve the mystery).
Your font list had beautiful fonts on it. I’m looking forward to looking at your other lists.
Wishing you a great day,
Donna
Hi Donna – Thanks for taking the time to tell me the link is broken. I will get it fixed. I am a fontaholic, too!
Love your tutorial and it’s worked on every font I have downloaded except for the one I really, really want!! I cannot get Monogram KK to download. I have Windows 7. Anyone else having the same problem?
Hi Robyn – I have Windows 7 and just tried to download it again, it worked fine. Not sure what is causing the problem for you. Could be a million different things. Are you clicking Open when the Open or Save box appears in your browser? What happens when you click download?
Wondering if you know where i can make online, a font of my own handwriting that is a safe site?
Hi Sona – KevinandAmanda.com/fonts may still do it, but I am not sure. They have a page called Fonts for Peas. It is totally safe. I think you can submit your handwriting there. If not, Amanda might know of a safe site.
Thanks for the fonts. I added them to my collection.
I pinned this a long time ago and just now realized my own handwriting font is on there! lol Fun to see it in a favorites list :)
Hi Sara – I love your handwriting! Your font was the first font I ever downloaded. I saw today that Amanda posted a bunch of new handwriting fonts. It is so cool how she can make them.
Are there different instructions for downloading a font onto a computer with Windows 8?
really very nice web side its different .magic touch of pure artist .it worth looking to it .
Holy moly you have made my day!
Hi! I’m yet another Pinterest addict that made my way here and I just have to say, “Thank You!” I’m am sooooo excited to download fonts and experiment with some of my projects!
Nice fonts, they are beautiful! I went and got Travelling Typewriter and the Pottery Barn one, thanks to your tutorial! I have this linked to my fonts post as well today, rounding up the best free fonts!
Thank you!!!
I just downloaded the font KK Monogram. Is there a trick to being able to do the middle initial large and the two on each side smaller but “centered” beside the middle larger initial? I can do all level on the same line but not like in the picture example of the fonts.
Thank you for the great Fonts! Just wanted to say that the Niagara Engraved is not free anymore it is $40. If you find a way to get it free again please let me know. Thanks!!
Just found this on Pinterest! Thank you so much I am in love with Ecuyer
Dax. So glad I found it!!
Thanks so much for including Vista directions. I’ve had problems downloading fonts because of the last step: right clicking to install. So happy to have this tutorial! Thanks again!
Hi ! I just bought an Ecraft personal cutter and i can cut with SVG files downloaded to my computer. How do I convert these to SCG files??
Hi, when I open it gives me the print option but not the download option. Any idea why?
Hi Meg- What browser are you using? Each one is configured differently as well as your individual computer. I use Firefox with Windows. Let me know and I will see if I can figure out what you need to do.
Hi. Thanks for this info. I scrapbook and these will help with my journaling. One question: I can’t get the Peas our Best Bites (5) link to work. It takes me to another blog and I can’t figure out how to download the font. Thanks!
Hi Kay – the link will take you to the sit – Kevin and Amanda. It is the right link. When you land on the page that the link takes you to – scroll down to the bottom – click on the round button that says download all. When the file window opens with a list of all the fonts – highlight and click on Our Best Bites to download the font. If you want to download all of the fonts that are included in the download then highlight all of them to install all.
Let me know if this helps.
Thank you so much! I’ll definitely try that :)
I have a question for you if I could. I have windows vista and when I click on one of the fonts and download it, the only file it is is the one with the fonts in different sizes but it only says done and print, not install. I tried what you said about vistas, and tried that but only the normal right-click list pops up. The file isn’t zipped either and I’m using google chrome, I wasn’t sure if either of those would be an issue. Thank you for your help. It’s very much appreciated :)
Hi Diana –
The browser you use may change the way you have to download the fonts. It could have something to do with Chrome and Vista. I just tried it on Chrome and Windows 7. On the font site, I hit download. Next I saw the download screen appear at the bottom left of my screen. I clicked on that and then a window with the file popped up. I right clicked on the file and a new screen opened and I clicked OPEN. Then install. I don’t have Vista, but I am sure you are so close. It is just a matter of right clicking when the file opens. Try it a few different ways until you get it. So sorry I am not an expert with computers. I wish I was. :) Perhaps do a Google search for downloading fonts using Chrome/Vista.
thanks I will try this when I have more time
I have such a hard time w/ my computer :( I download, open the document, but it only offers me the ‘print’ button, and not the ‘install’ button you show in your tutorial. Any suggestions?? Thank you!
Help!
hi Sarah – What operating system are you using? Windows 7, Vista, or a Mac?
Windows 7……I finally figured it out, but it was a hassle. For some reason I didn’t have that little ‘install’ button (still don’t), so I had to spend a long time figuring it out. Any tips?
Sarah, how did you end up being able to install the fonts? I have Windows XP and I’m only showing Print and Done but not Install.
Thanks!
Now I’ve lost my pottery barn font! It’s not giving me the option to open in my windows explorer.????
I’m trying to download Rechtman faunt but I can’t control to open in my windows default and it comes out as jibberish and isn’t on my font list at all. What am I doing wrong???
Thank you so much, again, for sharing your genius with us. I have a question, a bit embarressed to ask it. Do you have to have Microsoft Office to download these fonts? My old Microsoft Office 97 Professional Version will NOT install on this puter…… it will not accept the key. Guess it is just too blasted old…. lol. I so very much want to use these to make name tags. I have recently reconnected with a lot of high school classmates and we have a multi year luncheon every first Wednesday of each month and I would so love to make some and tell them about these free fonts. Help and thank you.
Thanks for sharing these places to go for fun fonts!! For Mac users: just download the font folder to your desktop and drag it into your Font Book (which is located in your Applications folder). Et voila! That easy! :-)
so how do I transfer the font to a design program like Gimp?
Hi Stephanie – I am no expert, but I think it has to do with your operating system. I have Window 7 on my computer. When I download a font the way I explain in the post, it goes into my the fonts file on my computer. All the fonts I have show up in every program I open – Word, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. I don’t have to do anything else. I am not familiar with Gimp so I am not sure if there is something different about it. Do the fonts not show up when you click on the font tab/dropdown in Gimp?
Thanks for the font suggestions – loved this post, I am a font freek and loved typography at uni, when I tell my kids we didn’t have a computer and that I drew everything by hand even all my lettering samples, they look at me like I just told them I walked the earth with the dinosaurs !!
My Mom still has some of my “type” drawings framed around her house
Hi Diane!
Thank you so much for the great free fonts and the instructions. I attempted to download them tonight, but when I click on the “true type,” the new window that opens only says “Print.” There is not an “Install” button. Would you mind helping me with that, please? Thank you so much! Have a wonderful day!
Thank you!
Erin
Yea, I did it. Never thought I was “techy” enough to do that. Thanks
Wow! Thank you so much for the information! I was always the type to become disgruntled if I couldn’t find a font I liked already loaded in Word, so this is a true treasure to find tonight!
Hi Carrie – Thanks so much. XO I love fonts and am so happy to share the ones that I have found and use often. Once you download one successfully you will be addicted -to fonts :)
What a stylish list of free fonts you have complied…and then to go above and beyond to show the novice how to download them. Thanks for a great tutorial and giving my boring fonts a bit more excitement!
I love fonts – i just downloaded them.
I love a good font and am always looking for more (they’re kind of like accessories for your computer!) Thank you for sharing some of your favourites!
Claire
Hi Claire – Accessories for your computer – I like that – cute!
Hi Diane –
Wow – pintrest led me here – what a great find. AND I got the fonts…AND I found other great places. So amazing. I’m looking forward to a good wonder around at your place. Thank you!!
Thanks for the fonts AND how to get them! I’ve struggled a few times with getting them to show in MS Word, but now I’ve got it – thanks to you!
Thank you! Pinning!
I was really wanted to download free fonts, but I have a new Mac and was afraid of viruses. Have you ever had any trouble after a download? Any sites I should avoid? Thanks.
HI MJ –
I have never has a problem downloading a virus with a font from the sites I use. I have been downloading them for about 2 years now and have downloaded approx 50. On another note – I thought Macs didn’t get viruses? That is what I have always been told – is that just a rumor?
I found you via pinterest and I’m glad I did! I don’t know how to unzip a file, though so it’s not working for me :(. Think you can write a post explaining the process?? Thanks you!
“font” caught my eye and what a surprise to land on your blog. You were one of the first I followed when I discovered Pinterest, yet I have never been to your blog. I love your concrete columns.
So as soon as the followers widget corrects itself, I will be following you here too!
Thank-you so much for this!
Love these fonts Diane – thanks for sharing! xo Jenna
Thank you SO MUCH for not only sharing where you find neat fonts, but also how to install them!!!
Diane, thank you so much for all the fonts! I really appreciated the tutorial on how to download them…. I wasn’t clicking on ‘install’ after I opened the document, so they weren’t installing (I guess it helps to pay attention to what I’m doing!)
Anyway, thanks a million!
Great info. Thanks! I’m definitely saving this.
Help me celebrate moving to wordpress. Come on over and enter giveaway for Cutting Edge stencil.
Yeah! Thanks so much for sharing. Great info.
Merci pour ce beau travail.
Cela m’a permis de télécharger deux nouvelles polices.
A bientôt, Miette
Thanks so much for this, found you through Pinterest and I am repinning this on my boards. Great tutorial and love the fonts that are your faves.
hugs….
AWESOME!!! Thank you:):)
Thanks for the sites and the tutorial, Diane! I’ve been wanting to search these out. I’m so tired of seeing the same old fonts in my Word and Live Writer programs. I like a lot of the ones you’ve shown above. This post gets saved to my Favorites so I can do it!
Hi Kathy – I love finding new ones. I have only installed free ones, but there are a lot of sites where you can purchase very beautiful fonts. Someday I will splurge.
It’s a very useful information, Diane. Thank you so much!!
Thanks so much for sharing your favorite fonts ans where to find them. Love the idea of outlining which fonts they are and how they look. And a BIG thank you for sharing your talent.
I love FONTS! Thanks so much for sharing the resources. http://www.NikrisDesigns.com