Creating a banner from wool and a crafting table
A custom banner in Minecraft PC starts with six blocks of wool in the same color, arranged in a specific pattern on a crafting table. Place the wool in the top two rows—six blocks total—leaving the bottom row empty. This creates a blank banner of that color. You can then add patterns and designs to it using dyes and a loom.
The banner itself is just the base. Once you have it in your inventory, you take it to a loom (a block that looks like a wooden frame with a banner hanging from it) to add the actual patterns. The loom is where the real customization happens, and it's where you'll spend most of your time if you want a detailed design.
You can make banners in any of the 16 wool colors available in the game: white, orange, magenta, light blue, yellow, lime, pink, gray, light gray, cyan, purple, blue, brown, green, red, and black. Each color creates a banner with that as the base, and you layer patterns on top of it.
Key Takeaways
- A blank banner requires six wool blocks of the same color placed in the top two rows of a crafting table.
- You add patterns to banners using a loom and dyes, not the crafting table.
- A single banner can have up to six layers of patterns stacked on top of each other.
- Banner patterns are created by combining a banner, a dye, and a pattern item (like a creeper head or brick block) in the loom.
How to use a loom to add patterns
Place your blank banner in the left slot of the loom interface. In the middle slot, put the dye color you want to use for the pattern. In the right slot, place a pattern item—this is what determines the shape of the pattern that appears on the banner. Common pattern items include a creeper head, a wither skeleton skull, a brick block, a flower pot, or a globe banner pattern (a crafted item).
Once all three items are in the loom, the preview window on the right shows you exactly what the banner will look like. Click the result to add that pattern layer to your banner. The banner goes back into your inventory with the new pattern applied. You can repeat this process up to six times on the same banner, layering different patterns and colors on top of each other.
The order matters visually—the first pattern you add sits on top of the base color, and each new pattern layers on top of the previous one. If you want a specific look, plan your layers before you start, because you cannot remove a pattern once it's applied. You have to start over with a new blank banner if you make a mistake.
What pattern items create which designs
Different items in the right slot of the loom produce different pattern shapes. A creeper head creates a creeper face on the banner. A wither skeleton skull makes a skull and crossbones. A brick block produces a brick pattern. A flower pot creates a flower design. A globe banner pattern (which you craft from paper and a banner) makes a globe shape.
There are also pattern items for specific designs: a mojang banner pattern (the Mojang logo), a piglin banner pattern, and others. You can find some of these pattern items as loot in structures like bastions, or you can craft them. The crafting recipes vary—for example, a globe banner pattern is made from eight paper blocks and one banner in a specific arrangement on the crafting table.
If you do not have the pattern item you want, you can find many of them in the creative mode inventory, or you can look up the crafting recipe for the specific pattern you need. Some patterns are only available through loot chests in certain structures, so if you want a complete set, you may need to explore the world or use creative mode to gather them.
Layering multiple patterns on one banner
Once you add a pattern to a banner, you can add another one on top of it by returning to the loom with the patterned banner, a new dye color, and a new pattern item. The new pattern appears as a layer above the previous one. You can see in the preview exactly how the layers will look together before you confirm.
The maximum number of pattern layers is six, not counting the base color. This means you can create very detailed designs if you plan carefully. For example, you could add a creeper face in black, then a stripe in white, then a small flower in red, and so on. Each layer adds visual complexity to the banner.
Keep in mind that patterns stack visually, so a large pattern like a creeper head will cover smaller details underneath it. If you want fine detail, add smaller patterns last, or use them as a base and build larger patterns on top. Experiment in creative mode first if you want to see how different combinations look before committing to them in survival mode.
Where to find looms and pattern items
A loom can be found in villages—specifically in the houses of shepherds (the villagers who work with wool). You can also craft a loom yourself using two sticks and two planks on a crafting table: place the sticks in the middle column and the planks on either side of them. Looms are common enough that you should find one in most villages, or you can make one quickly if you have basic materials.
Pattern items are scattered throughout the world. Creeper heads and wither skeleton skulls drop from those mobs when they die. Brick blocks are found in structures and can be mined or crafted. Flower pots are in villages and other structures. Specialized pattern items like the Mojang banner pattern or piglin banner pattern are found in specific loot chests—the Mojang pattern is in the End, and piglin patterns are in bastions.
If you are playing in creative mode, you can access all pattern items directly from the creative inventory, so you do not need to hunt for them. In survival mode, if you cannot find a specific pattern item, check the crafting recipes for that item or look up which structure contains it as loot.
Naming and using your custom banner
You can rename a banner using an anvil, just like any other item. Place the banner in the left slot of the anvil and type a new name in the text field. This is useful if you are making banners for a specific purpose—like team banners, house banners, or decorative banners for a build. The name appears when you hover over the banner in your inventory.
Custom banners can be placed on walls, on poles, or on shields. To place a banner on a wall, right-click the wall where you want it. To attach a banner to a shield, put both the banner and the shield in a crafting table with the banner in the center and the shield surrounding it. This creates a shield with the banner's design on it, which you can then equip and use in combat or for decoration.
Banners are purely decorative unless you put them on a shield. On a shield, they serve both as decoration and as a way to identify yourself or your team in multiplayer. Many players use custom banners to mark their territory, decorate their bases, or create team insignia for multiplayer servers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo a pattern I added to a banner?
No, patterns cannot be removed once applied. If you make a mistake, you have to start over with a new blank banner. This is why it helps to plan your design in creative mode first, or to test it on a spare banner before committing to your final version.
How many different patterns can I put on one banner?
You can layer up to six patterns on a single banner, not counting the base color. This allows for detailed and complex designs if you plan your layers carefully and use different dyes and pattern items.
What if I do not have a pattern item for the design I want?
Some pattern items are only found as loot in specific structures, and others must be crafted. Check the crafting recipe for the pattern item you need, or look up which structure contains it. In creative mode, all pattern items are available in the inventory.
Can I put a banner design on a shield?
Yes. Place the banner and shield in a crafting table with the banner in the center and the shield surrounding it in the other eight slots. This transfers the banner's design to the shield, which you can then equip and use.
Do I need a specific type of wool to make a banner?
No, any color of wool works. The color of the wool you use becomes the base color of the banner. You can then add patterns in different colors on top of it using the loom.