| Feature | Preserved |
|---|---|
| Full cross stitches | Yes |
| Half stitches (top, bottom, left, right) | Yes |
| Quarter stitches (all four corners) | Yes |
| Three-quarter stitches (all four corners) | Yes |
| Diagonal line stitches | Yes |
| Backstitch, as connected paths | Yes |
| French knots | Yes |
| Beads (Mill Hill codes) | Yes, kept distinct from thread |
| DMC color codes | Yes, matched to the real catalog |
| Pattern name, fabric count, strand count | Yes |
Open Stitchly files online
Drop a .stitchly file to preview your pattern on any device, check its quality score, and export as PDF or OXS — free, no iPad required.
Open a Stitchly pattern without an iPad
Stitchly is a well-regarded cross stitch design app — but it only runs on iPad and iPhone, and its .stitchly files only open in the app. If you want to look at a pattern on your laptop, print it properly, or move it into desktop software, you normally can't.
This tool reads .stitchly files directly in the browser. Drop one in and you get the full pattern: a realistic stitch preview, the complete thread list with per-color counts, a quality analysis, and one-click export to PDF or OXS.
Nothing is uploaded. The file is parsed on your own machine.
What gets preserved
.stitchly files store considerably more than a grid of colors, and all of it survives the round trip:
Stitchly's fractional stitch model happens to line up exactly with Stitchmate's — twelve fractional types, three shapes in four orientations each — so fractional stitches transfer without approximation. That's unusual; most format conversions lose something here.
How to get the file off your iPad
Stitchly keeps patterns inside the app, so you need to export one first:
- Open the pattern in Stitchly on your iPad or iPhone.
- Use the share or export action and choose to save the
.stitchlyfile. - Send it to Files, iCloud Drive, AirDrop or email — whatever gets it to the machine you're on.
- Drop it on this page.
If you're reading this on the iPad itself, you can drag the file straight out of the Files app onto the drop zone.
What you can do once it's open
- Preview it properly — realistic stitch rendering, chart view with symbols, or a framed mockup.
- Check the thread list — every color with its DMC code, name and exact stitch count.
- See the quality score — FLOW rates how practical the pattern actually is to stitch.
- Find the confetti — the heat map shows where isolated single stitches cluster, before you commit an evening to them.
- Swap thread brands — remap the whole palette to Anchor, Madeira, Cosmo or any of 50+ brands.
- Export a PDF — full symbol chart, legend and thread list, ready to print.
- Export OXS — continue editing in MacStitch, WinStitch or Cross Stitch Pro.
- Keep editing — open it in the Stitchmate editor to change stitches, clean up confetti, or add text.
Other formats
Stitchmate also opens PCStitch .pat files, Pattern Maker .xsd files and OXS files — so if your patterns are spread across several apps, they can all end up in one place.
Related Guides & Tools
Open PCStitch .pat files
View and convert PCStitch patterns in the browser, versions 3 through 10.
Open Pattern Maker .xsd files
Read Pattern Maker files without a Windows license.
Open OXS files
The open interchange format used by MacStitch, WinStitch and Cross Stitch Pro.
Pattern editor
Edit any imported pattern — stitches, colors, text and backstitch.
What is confetti in cross stitch?
Why scattered single stitches slow you down, and how to reduce them.
Cross stitch software compared
How the major pattern design apps stack up on features, price and platform.
Stitchmate vs Stitchly
The full comparison — and no, they are not the same app.
FAQ
Can I open a Stitchly file on a computer?
Yes. Stitchly is an iPad and iPhone app, so its files normally only open there. Drop a .stitchly file on this page and it opens instantly in any desktop browser — Mac, Windows, or Linux — with no app, account, or Apple device needed.
What is a .stitchly file?
STITCHLY is the native pattern format for Stitchly, a cross stitch design app for iPad and iPhone. Under the hood it's an Apple property list wrapping the full pattern: the stitch grid, the color codes, fractional stitches, backstitch, French knots and beads. It's an Apple-specific container, which is why other cross stitch software generally can't read it.
Which stitch types are preserved?
All of them. Full crosses, all four orientations each of half, quarter and three-quarter stitches, diagonal line stitches, backstitch, French knots and beads. Stitchly's fractional stitch model maps exactly onto Stitchmate's, so nothing is approximated or dropped.
How do I get a .stitchly file off my iPad?
In Stitchly, open the pattern and use the share or export option to save the .stitchly file to Files, iCloud Drive, AirDrop or email. Then open it here from wherever you saved it. You can also drop it straight from the Files app if you're reading this on the iPad itself.
Can I print my Stitchly pattern without the app?
Yes. Open your .stitchly file here and export it as a PDF with a full symbol chart, color legend and thread list — ready to print, or to load into Pattern Keeper.
Are the DMC colors preserved exactly?
Yes. Stitchly stores real DMC codes, and this tool resolves each one against Stitchmate's DMC catalog so you get the canonical shade and name rather than an approximation. Beads stored as Mill Hill codes are recognized as beads rather than being mislabeled as thread.
What is the FLOW Score?
FLOW stands for Fragmentation, Locality, Optimization, and Workability — four metrics that measure how practical a pattern is to actually stitch. A high FLOW Score means fewer confetti stitches, better color clustering, an efficient palette, and a manageable difficulty level.
What is confetti in cross stitch?
Confetti refers to isolated single stitches scattered across the pattern — stitches surrounded by different colors on all sides. They require constant thread changes and slow you down significantly. The ConfettiScope overlay highlights exactly where confetti concentrates so you can decide whether to clean it up before stitching.
Can I switch my pattern to a different thread brand?
Yes. The tool can remap your entire palette to any of 50+ supported thread brands using perceptual color matching. You'll see the remapped colors instantly in the preview.
Can I edit the pattern after opening it?
Yes — click Open in Stitchmate to load the pattern into the full editor, where you can modify stitches, clean up confetti, add text, and re-export as PDF.
What is OXS?
OXS is an open cross-stitch format supported by MacStitch, WinStitch, and Cross Stitch Pro. Converting to OXS lets you continue editing your Stitchly pattern in desktop software.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read entirely in your browser — nothing is sent to a server, and nothing is stored. Close the tab and it's gone.
Is there a file size limit?
No hard limit. Since everything runs in your browser, very large patterns may take a few extra seconds to load.