Cross stitch pattern software...for sellers who'd stitch their own patternsPattern Keeper exports that work the first time
Import your .PAT and .OXS files from PCStitch or WinStitch — your catalog doesn't start over. ConfettiScope finds scattered stitches instantly; the confetti brush fixes them in seconds. Export Pattern Keeper compatible PDFs with print-optimized symbols and your custom branding. From $99/year.
One-click Pattern Keeper export. No font workarounds. No installation.
Multi-page · Symbols + Floss Legend · Print-ready · No signup.
.PAT, .OXS & Aseprite import
Pattern Keeper export
Commercial license
Mac, Windows, iPad
See what your customers will receive
The export uses vector rendering with embedded symbol fonts — patterns stay crisp at any zoom level, no pixelated symbols when customers print at home. File sizes stay reasonable for email delivery and Etsy's instant download system.
Every PDF export includes:
- Symbol chart (color or black & white options)
- Complete thread legend with DMC, Anchor, Madeira, or Cosmo codes
- Stitch count per color
- Thread usage estimate in skeins
- Pattern preview image
- Dedicated backstitch legend (separate from full-stitch legend)
Pro tier adds:
- Custom cover page with your logo and shop name
- Brandless PDFs (no Stitchmate branding)
- Patterns up to 2000×2000 stitches
- Commercial use license
Catch problems before your customers do
Spot confetti in seconds
ConfettiScope highlights every scattered single stitch across your entire pattern — the isolated stitches that cause constant thread changes and one-star reviews. The confetti brush cleans them up in a few strokes.
What used to take 2–6 hours of stitch-by-stitch replacement is now a 30-second pass. Run ConfettiScope, see the problem areas, brush them clean, done.
A stitchability score for every pattern you sell
The FLOW Score (0–100) measures confetti density, color clustering, palette efficiency, and overall workability. Patterns scoring 85+ stitch smoothly — your buyers will notice the difference. Below 60 means frustration ahead: fix it before it becomes a support email or a review that mentions "tedious."
PDF exports built for selling
Print-optimized symbols that work with Pattern Keeper
Every symbol in the library is designed for balanced legibility at print size — no marks that dominate the chart or vanish when printed small. Pattern Keeper compatibility is built into the export format by default: embedded fonts, proper Unicode mapping, clean grid structure, page breaks aligned to grid boundaries.
No font selection dialogs. No third-party PDF printers. No "export and pray." Your customers load the PDF into Pattern Keeper and it works.
Backstitches that are actually readable — even in black and white
Most software treats backstitch as an afterthought — thin lines that vanish in a black-and-white printout. Stitchmate gives backstitches a dedicated legend with clear, distinct symbols. Your buyers can follow backstitch paths even on a B&W chart printed at home. A pattern with 15 backstitch colors gets its own clean legend — not entries buried in the main thread list where they get lost.
Partial stitches (half, quarter, three-quarter) render cleanly in the chart with proper positioning and clear visual distinction between stitch types — no ambiguity about which quarter of the cell is filled.
Color or black-and-white, your tile size, your overlap
Export in color, B&W, or both — many sellers offer both formats in their listings. Configure tile size and page overlap so charts align perfectly when your customer tapes printed pages together. No more misaligned grid lines at page breaks, no symbols cut in half at the edge of a page.
A legend you control
Drag thread colors into any order — group by usage, by color family, or however your customers prefer to work. Add per-thread comments: "blend with 3371 for shadow areas" or "substitute 3799 if unavailable." Your pattern instructions, built into the chart — not scattered across a separate PDF page.
Your patterns, your brand, any thread
Bring your entire pattern collection
Import .PAT files from PCStitch. Import .OXS from WinStitch or any compatible cross stitch software. Even import .aseprite files directly — if you're designing pixel-art-based patterns, your sprites convert without an intermediate step.
Your existing catalog migrates without recreation. Colors map to the original thread codes. Palette work is preserved. You're not starting from zero.
One design, every thread brand
Design once in DMC, then remap to Anchor, Cosmo, Madeira, or any of 20+ floss brands with one click. Each color matched perceptually using CIEDE2000 — against thread colors sampled directly from official DMC and Anchor catalog cards, not approximated from screen colors. When your pattern says DMC 3371, the on-screen color is as close to the real skein as a monitor can get.
Sell the same pattern to buyers in every market. One design, five thread brands, five Etsy listings.
Your brand on every page
Custom cover page with your logo and shop name. Pro tier removes all Stitchmate branding — your customers see your shop, not our software. What they receive looks like it came from a professional design studio, because it did.
Built by a developer who actually listens
Stitchmate is built and maintained by a solo developer. Feature requests get read. Bug reports get fixed — usually within days, not years. The tool is actively improving because one person's reputation is directly attached to every export.
Coming next: A native desktop app for Mac and Windows — included free with any lifetime pass. Same editor, same features, offline access, no browser dependency. Currently in active development.
PCStitch hasn't shipped an update since 2016. When Pattern Keeper compatibility became essential for sellers, PCStitch users were left with forum workarounds and font hacks. That's what happens when software stops being someone's priority.
Stitchmate's development is public and ongoing. If something doesn't work the way you need it to, say so — the person who can fix it is the person who reads the message.
You can request and vote for new features, report bugs or share your feedback and ideas on this public portal or send me a private message with the contact form or via email at [email protected]. For general product questions, the frequently asked questions page covers pricing, unlocks, and PDF export in detail.
Commercial license for selling cross-stitch patterns
The Hobby tier is for personal projects — stitching gifts, designing for yourself, learning the tools. It doesn't include commercial rights.
$99/year or $149 lifetime
- Commercial use license — sell patterns on Etsy, your own website, craft fairs, anywhere
- Brandless PDF exports — no Stitchmate mention on your products
- Custom branding — add your logo and shop name to exports
- Patterns up to 2000×2000 stitches — full coverage and large designs, with smooth editing performance even at maximum size
- Priority support
- Desktop app (coming soon) — native Mac and Windows app, included free with lifetime pass
The commercial license is straightforward: patterns you create with Pro are yours to sell. No royalties, no per-pattern fees, no reporting requirements.
Selling weekly? That's under $2 per pattern for the year — or go lifetime at $149 and never think about it again. See all pricing plans.
For a detailed comparison with PCStitch and WinStitch pricing, features, and workflows: see the full comparison → Or read all 12 cross stitch programs reviewed.
The workflow that's costing you hours
Design a pattern in PCStitch. Export to PDF. Load it into Pattern Keeper to test — and half the symbols are missing. Wrong fonts. Broken page breaks. Back to the software. Change the font. Re-export. Test again. Still broken.
Meanwhile, your customers expect Pattern Keeper compatibility. The reviews that mention it aren't kind when it doesn't work.
PCStitch hasn't had a major update since 2016. WinStitch works better, but you're still tied to a desktop app — transferring files between machines, no iPad option, no working from a coffee shop without syncing headaches.
If you're selling patterns on Etsy, you need software that keeps up with what buyers expect in 2026.
Cross stitch pattern software workflow: before and after
Before: Export → test → fix fonts → re-export → test again
With Stitchmate: Export → test → done
Before: Select each stitch, replace one at a time
With Stitchmate: ConfettiScope finds them; brush fixes in seconds
Before: Print to PDF, check fonts, adjust margins
With Stitchmate: One-click export with configurable tiles and overlap
Before: Manually recreate for each brand
With Stitchmate: One-click remap to 20+ brands
Before: .PAT only (PCStitch) or start over
With Stitchmate: .PAT, .OXS, Aseprite import
Before: Transfer files between computers
With Stitchmate: Open in any browser, pick up where you left off
Before: PCStitch: No. WinStitch: Yes.
With Stitchmate: Yes — Mac, Windows, iPad, Chromebook
| Task | Desktop software | With Stitchmate |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern Keeper test | Export → test → fix fonts → re-export → test again | Export → test → done |
| Confetti cleanup | Select each stitch, replace one at a time | ConfettiScope finds them; brush fixes in seconds |
| PDF formatting | Print to PDF, check fonts, adjust margins | One-click export with configurable tiles and overlap |
| Thread brand variants | Manually recreate for each brand | One-click remap to 20+ brands |
| Import existing work | .PAT only (PCStitch) or start over | .PAT, .OXS, Aseprite import |
| Work on multiple devices | Transfer files between computers | Open in any browser, pick up where you left off |
| Mac compatibility | PCStitch: No. WinStitch: Yes. | Yes — Mac, Windows, iPad, Chromebook |
How to sell cross stitch patterns on Etsy
The workflow from design to Etsy listing is straightforward:
Design your pattern in the editor — from scratch or by converting a photo. Use the confetti cleanup tool to ensure your patterns are stitchable. Check the FLOW Score — buyers notice the difference between a clean pattern and one full of scattered single stitches.
Export as PDF with symbols, thread legend, and stitch counts. Stitchmate's PDF export is Pattern Keeper compatible by default — no font workarounds, no special settings. This matters: Pattern Keeper users are among the most active buyers, and they specifically look for compatible patterns.
Run ConfettiScope before you export. Even a well-designed pattern can have a few scattered stitches you missed. ConfettiScope highlights them across the entire pattern — fix them in seconds, check the FLOW Score, then export with confidence. Your buyers notice the difference between a pattern that scores 85 and one that scores 60, even if they can't name why.
List on Etsy as an instant digital download. Include the finished size, stitch count, color count, and thread brand in your listing. Mention Pattern Keeper compatibility — it's a meaningful selling point.
Stitchmate's commercial license is included in the Pro tier — design and sell unlimited patterns with no per-pattern fees.
FAQ: Cross Stitch Pattern Software for Sellers
What's the best cross stitch software for selling patterns?
For Etsy pattern sellers, the key requirements are Pattern Keeper compatible PDF exports, confetti cleanup tools, and a commercial license. Stitchmate Pro ($99/year or $149 lifetime) includes all three — plus ConfettiScope, brandless PDF output, and custom branding. PCStitch ($50–80 lifetime) is the industry standard on Windows but requires manual font configuration for Pattern Keeper compatibility. WinStitch ($30–50 lifetime) has one-click Pattern Keeper export but fewer confetti tools. Compare all cross stitch software →
Can I import my existing PCStitch or WinStitch patterns?
Yes. Stitchmate imports .PAT files (PCStitch), .OXS files (WinStitch and other cross stitch software), and .aseprite files for pixel-art-based designs. Your existing pattern collection transfers without recreation. Colors map to the original thread codes — you don't lose your palette work.
How do I start selling cross stitch patterns on Etsy?
Design your pattern, export as PDF (Pattern Keeper compatible), and list as a digital download on Etsy. Include finished size, stitch count, color count, and thread brand in your listing. Use the fabric calculator to get exact dimensions for each Aida count. Mention Pattern Keeper compatibility — it's a meaningful selling point. You'll need software with a commercial license — Stitchmate Pro ($99/year or $149 lifetime) includes commercial rights, Pattern Keeper export, and ConfettiScope for quality checking.
What is ConfettiScope?
ConfettiScope is Stitchmate's pattern analysis tool that highlights every scattered single stitch across your entire pattern at a glance. Combined with the confetti brush tool, it lets you find and fix confetti in seconds — what used to take 2–6 hours of stitch-by-stitch replacement. Sellers use it as a quality gate before listing patterns.
How do I make my patterns Pattern Keeper compatible?
Pattern Keeper requires PDFs with specific formatting — embedded fonts, proper grid structure, and accurate color information. Our pattern PDF quality guide explains each requirement in detail. With PCStitch, this often requires workarounds like using specific fonts and third-party PDF printers. Stitchmate and WinStitch both offer one-click exports that produce Pattern Keeper compatible files without manual configuration.
Can I export cross stitch patterns in both color and black-and-white?
Yes. Stitchmate exports in color, black-and-white, or both. You can configure tile size and page overlap for multi-page patterns, and the export handles backstitch with a dedicated legend that stays readable even in B&W. Many sellers include both formats in their Etsy listings.
What software do Etsy pattern sellers use?
Most Etsy cross-stitch sellers use PCStitch or WinStitch/MacStitch. PCStitch is the most established but hasn't been updated since 2016 and has Pattern Keeper compatibility issues. WinStitch/MacStitch is more current and has one-click Pattern Keeper export. Stitchmate is a newer alternative — browser-based, works on any device, and includes Pattern Keeper compatible exports by default.
How do I remove confetti from cross-stitch patterns?
Confetti — scattered single stitches — is the most common complaint about photo-converted patterns. Most software requires selecting and replacing each stitch individually. Stitchmate has ConfettiScope, which highlights every confetti stitch across the entire pattern at a glance. Then use the confetti brush to clean them up in seconds — what used to take 2–6 hours. Learn more about confetti in cross stitch →
Is Stitchmate actively maintained?
Yes. Stitchmate is built by a solo developer and receives regular updates. The next major milestone is a native desktop app for Mac and Windows, included free with any lifetime pass. PCStitch hasn't been updated since 2016. WinStitch's last major update was in 2023. Feature requests and bug reports are read and typically addressed within days.
Do I need a commercial license to sell cross-stitch patterns?
It depends on the software. PCStitch and WinStitch include commercial rights in their standard pricing. With Stitchmate, the free and Hobby tiers are for personal use only — you need Pro ($99/year or $149 lifetime) to sell patterns commercially.
Can I convert photos to cross-stitch patterns to sell?
Yes, but the quality matters. Raw photo conversions often have too many colors and excessive confetti. You'll need to reduce colors (15–35 usually works for portraits — see pet portrait tips for animal-specific ranges), clean up confetti with ConfettiScope, and possibly add backstitch for definition. Stitchmate shows a FLOW Score during conversion — a quality metric that predicts how satisfying the pattern will be to stitch.
What thread brands should I design for?
DMC is the most widely available and what most buyers expect. Anchor and Madeira are common alternatives. Stitchmate supports DMC, Anchor, Madeira, Cosmo, and 20+ other floss brands. With one-click thread brand remapping, you can sell the same pattern designed for multiple brands. Read our DMC vs Anchor comparison to understand the differences.
How much does cross-stitch pattern software cost?
Pricing varies: Free options include Stitchmate free tier (personal use, limited features). One-time purchase options include PCStitch ($50–80) and WinStitch/MacStitch (~$52). Stitchmate offers Hobby ($59/year or $99 lifetime, personal use) and Pro ($99/year or $149 lifetime, commercial use with .PAT import, ConfettiScope, and brandless exports).
What's the best cross-stitch software for Mac?
PCStitch is Windows-only. WinStitch has a Mac version (MacStitch, ~$52). Stitchmate runs in any browser, so it works on Mac, Windows, iPad, and Chromebook without installation. All features including .PAT import, ConfettiScope, and Pattern Keeper export work identically across platforms.
Test the export with your own pattern
Import a .PAT or .OXS file, run ConfettiScope, export the PDF, load it in Pattern Keeper. See exactly what your customers will see — before you commit to anything.
Import a pattern and test itFree tier includes full editing, ConfettiScope, and PDF preview. Pro tier required for commercial use and brandless exports.