Using the Loom for Banner Patterns in Minecraft

Key Takeaways

Point	Details
The loom applies banner	The loom applies banner patterns using one banner, one dye, and one pattern item.
Banner patterns are not	Banner patterns are not consumed when used, making them infinitely reusable.
There are 10 banner	There are 10 banner pattern items; 6 can be crafted and 4 must be found or traded.
You can layer multiple	You can layer multiple patterns on a banner, and wash off the last layer in a cauldron.
The loom was added	The loom was added in the Village & Pillage update (Java 1.14 / Bedrock 1.10).

The loom is the dedicated workstation for adding custom designs to banners. Introduced in the Village & Pillage update, it makes banner customization straightforward and efficient.

How the Loom Works

The loom is a job site block used by the Shepherd villager profession. To use it, you need three items:

• 1 Banner (any color)
• 1 Dye (any color)
• 1 Banner Pattern item

Place the banner in the top-left slot, the dye in the top-right, and the pattern in the bottom slot. The loom will show a preview of the resulting design. Click the output slot to apply the pattern.

The pattern must be combined with 1 banner and 1 dye.

Banner patterns are a set of 10 items used to apply unique designs to banners using a loom, and are freely reusable.

Banner patterns are a set of 10 items used to apply unique designs to banners using a loom, and are freely reusable.

Upon usage in the loom, the banner pattern is not consumed.

Upon usage in the loom, the banner pattern is not consumed.

This means you can use the same pattern item on as many banners as you like, making it a one-time investment.

All Banner Patterns and How to Get Them

There are 10 banner pattern items in the game. Six can be crafted, and the remaining four must be found or traded.

It is possible to craft all but 4 of the banner patterns.

Pattern	How to Obtain
Creeper Charge	Craft with paper + creeper head
Flower Charge	Craft with paper + oxeye daisy
Skull Charge	Craft with paper + wither skeleton skull
Thing	Craft with paper + enchanted golden apple
Field Masoned	Craft with paper + bricks
Bordure Indented	Craft with paper + vine
Globe	Trade with master-level shepherd (Java only)
Snout	Craft with paper + netherite ingot
Piglin	Found in bastion remnant chests
Flow	Found in trial chamber chests (1.21+)

Most can be crafted, but some are only found in structures or through other means.

Layering Patterns on a Banner

You can add multiple patterns to a single banner by repeating the loom process. Each new pattern is layered on top of the previous ones, allowing for complex designs.

If you make a mistake or want to start over, you can remove the last applied layer by using the banner on a cauldron filled with water. This washes off only the most recent pattern, leaving earlier layers intact.

Copying a Banner

To duplicate a finished banner, place it in a crafting grid with a blank banner of the same base color. This copies the entire design, including all layers, to the new banner.

What the Loom Is Not

The loom is only for applying banner pattern items. You cannot use it to:

• Create basic patterns like stripes or gradients (those are done in the crafting table)
• Copy banners (use the crafting table for that)
• Remove patterns (use a cauldron)

For creating simple patterns without pattern items, the crafting table is still your tool. The loom is specifically for the unique designs that require a banner pattern item.

Why Use the Loom?

The loom offers two major advantages over the crafting table:

1. Reusability – Pattern items are not consumed, so you can use them forever.
2. Preview – The loom shows the resulting design before you commit, reducing waste.

This makes the loom the go-to tool for any serious banner customization project.

For more on how banners fit into decoration, see our Minecraft Structures: A Reference Guide to Generated Formations.