.dmg · Apple silicon and Intel
Download for MacFree to try. PDF export needs a lifetime pass.
Cross-stitch software for Mac
Design counted cross-stitch charts on macOS — from a photo or from a blank grid — and print them as real pattern PDFs. Runs fully offline, and your patterns stay in files on your own Mac.
4.3/5from 681 stitchers“I love the PDFs it creates.” — Vermont Stitchy Co
What you can do with it
- Turn a photo into a chart. Pick a thread brand and a stitch count and it converts the image, with control over how many colors it is allowed to use.
- Draw from scratch. A full grid editor with fractional stitches, backstitch, French knots, shapes, text and motifs.
- Use real thread numbers. DMC, Anchor, Madeira, Cosmo and 40+ other brands, with conversions between them and a shopping list with skein counts.
- Print a proper pattern. Paged PDF with symbols, a legend, stitch counts and overlap, plus a Pattern Keeper–compatible export.
Installing on macOS
The download is a .dmg. Open it and drag Stitchmate to your Applications folder. The app is signed and notarized by Apple, so it opens normally — no right-click-to-open workaround, no Gatekeeper warning to click past.
- macOS: 12 Monterey or later
- Chips: Apple silicon and Intel, in one universal download
- Updates: the app updates itself when a new version ships
Also available for Windows, or use the web version with nothing to install at all.
Questions
Does it run on Apple silicon?
Yes. One download covers both Apple silicon (M1 through M4) and older Intel Macs — it is a universal build, so there is no wrong version to pick.
Do I need to be online to use it?
No. Designing, editing and PDF export all work with the wifi off. An internet connection is used only for updates and optional account sync.
Can I use it for counted cross-stitch charts?
Yes — counted cross-stitch is what it is built for. Full and fractional stitches, backstitch, French knots, symbols, a thread legend and stitch counts all export to a printable PDF.
Where do my patterns live?
In .stitchmate files, in whatever folder you choose. Double-click one to open it. Nothing is uploaded and no account is required.
Is there a free version?
The app is free to download and you can design and export PNGs without paying. PDF export is unlocked by a one-time lifetime pass, which also covers the website.
Download for Mac
Free to download. PDF export needs a lifetime pass — see pricing.