Do all those file extensions seem like some crazy alphabet soup? What do they mean? How do they work? What the heck are they anyway?

File extensions are those characters (usually 3) following the period (“dot”) at the end of a file name which designate which programs can read the file. Windows programs may not read a file without an extension.

Not normally in use on Macintosh prior to OS X but now we Mac users have extensions too. (They were there previously, we just didn’t see them.) To read them, we say “dot PDF” (naming out each letter) or just “PDF.”

In the past, home embroidery software often only recognized their own preferred format; embroidery machines the same. Today’s machines and embroidery programs are more “multi-lingual” and can read many formats in addition to their native format.

On the subject of “native files,” it’s important to understand that many programs have a “working” file format and another one that is used by the machine.

For example, .BE is the working file format for Embrilliance and Embroidery Works. Even though no machine can sew this format, you still want to keep it because it has special, magical properties (all native files do).

When you’re ready to sew a design you’ve made or modified, simply save it out in your machine’s preferred format. I usually just save in DST because I know it will work on all my machines.

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Fine Print: Lindee G Embroidery is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Lindee G Embroidery is also an affiliate for Embroidery.com, Nancy’s Notions, Embrilliance, and Craftsy. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, which helps to offset the cost of running this site. 🙂

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

For the bare bones basics, you need to know:

• What format your machine sews (see your manual or the list below)
• How to convert a design in another format to your machine’s preferred format if your machine can’t read it (see your software manual or if you don’t have software, I recommend Embrilliance Essentials)
• How to unzip a downloaded file (see this YouTube video if you need help with that: How to Unzip Embroidery Designs using Windows Explorer
• How to transfer a design to your machine (see your manual)

Obviously there are many other things you need to know to use an embroidery file and fortunately that info is easy to find these days!

HOW TO UNZIP EMBROIDERY DESIGNS USING WINDOWS EXPLORER

OTHER IMPORTANT FORMATS TO KNOW

Two other formats you need to know about are .zip and .pdf. Neither of these are embroidery file formats. The .zip format is commonly used to compress files and make them easier to download.

Some browsers will automatically extract files during the download process, but most will not. You must extract the files before you can sew them.

PDF files are commonly used for any documentations or instructions. Most computers and mobile devices can read a PDF.

A third format, BX, is a new kid on the block. This is a revolutionary keyboard font format that works EXCLUSIVELY with Embrilliance and Embroidery Works.

Think of it as a stitch version relative of TrueType font that only works in those programs and no others (embroidery programs or not). They’re well worth learning about because they infinitely expand your embroidery font choices and they’re so much easier to use than manually aligning individual characters. Just search this site for “fonts” to learn more!

ABOUT THESE LISTS

This post only provides a reference list of embroidery formats. This list was started over 20 years and I update it when I remember to do so and I’m aware of some new format out there.

Note: This information has been compiled from many sources. If there is an error, please let me know!

• Home embroidery file formats
• Cross Stitch embroidery file formats
• Commercial embroidery file formats
  • Non-DOS embroidery file formats

HOME FORMATS

Ext	For	Disk Format	File Format
Poem Designer Mac	Mac	Stitch
AY!	Adorable You!	DOS	Object
ART	Bernina Artista & OESD	DOS	Object
BE	Embrilliance & EmbroideryWorks	DOS & Mac	Object
BX	Embrilliance & EmbroideryWorks	DOS & Mac	Keyboard font file
BLF	Master Works	DOS	Object
CAN	Viking digitizing file	DOS	Object
EMD	Elna Xpressive	DOS
EOF	Vector embroidery format	DOS	Object
GEN	Object	DOS	Object
GNC	Great Notions variant of Melco DOS Condensed	DOS	Object
HUS	Viking #1 Plus, Rose	DOS	Stitch
JEF	Janome 1000, Kenmore ergo3 19010	DOS	Stitch
JEF+	Janome 1100	DOS	Stitch
OEF	OESD Condensed	DOS	Object
PCD	Pfaff 9mm	DOS	Stitch
PCM	Mac Pfaff format	Mac	Stitch
PCQ	Pfaff Maxi stitch	DOS	Stitch
PCS	Pfaff 7570	DOS	Stitch
PEC	Bernina Deco, Babylock, Brother, Simplicity (created when files saved from card to computer)	DOS	Stitch
PEL	Bernina Deco, Babylock, Brother, Simplicity (Line drawing made in stage two of the Design Center)	DOS
PEM	Bernina Deco, Babylock, Brother, Simplicity (Map of stitching lines (both outlines and fills) created in stages 3 & r of the Design Center)	DOS	Object
PES	Bernina Deco, Babylock, Brotherher, Simplicity (format required for card or floppy)	DOS	Stitch
PHC	Machine format	DOS
PMD*	Mac Pfaff	Mac	Stitch
PMU	Brother	DOS	Utility
SEW	Janome, Elna, Kenmore, Simplicity	DOS	Stitch
SHV	Viking Designer 1 & II, Platinum Plus—special disk structure for machine	DOS	Stitch
SPX	9mm & Maxi Pfaff C-V	DOS	Stitch
SSP	Stitch Shop Pro	DOS
VIP	Pfaff 2140, 2144 & Viking Designer series	DOS	Stitch
VP3	Emnet	DOS	Stitch
XXX	Singer XL 1000 & 5000	DOS	Stitch

CROSS STITCH FORMATS

Ext	For	Disk Format	File Format
ARX	Artista Cross stitch add-on	DOS
CSE	Win Stitch (Cross Stitch)	DOS	Stitch
ECF	Cross stitch format	DOS
KRZ	Viking Cross Stitcher, Kreuz, Uli’s Cross Stitcher	DOS	Stitch
PAT	PatternMaker Cross Stitch, PC-Stitch	DOS	Stitch
SCW	Stitch Crafts Gold (Cross Stitch)ch)	DOS	Stitch
TBX	Turbo Cross (Cross Stitch)	DOS
WBX	Easy Cross (Cross Stitch)	DOS

COMMERCIAL FORMATS

Ext	For	Disk Format	File Format
10O	Toyota	DOS
ASD	Melco	DOS	Stitch
BDF	BE-100	DOS	Object
BRO	Bits & Volts	DOS	Stitch
CND	Melco	DOS	Object
DAT	Barudan	DOS	Stitch
DS2	Barudan	DOS	Stitch (Beat 900)
DSB	Tajima	DOS	Stitch
DST	Tajima	DOS	Stitch
DSZ	Tajima	DOS	Stitch
DSZ	ZSK	DOS
E01	Eltac	DOS	Stitch
~ E36	Eltac	DOS	Stitch
ELA	Gemini	DOS	Stitch
EMB	Wilcom	DOS	Object
EMT	Wilcom template file	DOS
EMX	Wilcom Cross Stitch File	DOS
ESD	Wilcom (old)	DOS
EXP	Melco	DOS	Stitch
EXY	Eltac	DOS	Stitch
F01	Fortron	DOS	Stitch
~ F36	Fortron	DOS	Stitch
FDR 1.44	Barudan	DOS	Stitch
FXY	Fortron	DOS	Stitch
KSM	Pfaff	DOS	Stitch
KWK	Brother	DOS	Object
M3	Juki	DOS	Stitch
OFM	Object format (Bernina Artista, Melco, Wilcom)a)	DOS	Object
PCH	versions may vary for readabilityilty	DOS	Object
PDC	Punto	DOS & Mac	Object
PMU	Proel	DOS	Stitch
POF	Pulse Signature outline file	DOS	Object
PSF	Pulse Signature stitch file	DOS	Stitch
PUM	Proel	DOS	Stitch
REF	Compucon	DOS	Object
SST	SWF	DOS
STC	Gunold APS	DOS	Stitch
STI	Capitol Automation	DOS	Object
STX	Data Stitch	DOS	Stitch
T01	Wilcom (old)	DOS	Stitch
T03	Wilcom (old)	DOS	Stitch
T0O	Toyota	DOS	Stitch
TAP	Happy	DOS	Stitch
WCN	Pulse Signature art file	DOS
XXX	Compucon	DOS	Stitch

NON-DOS FORMATS (REQUIRES SPECIAL DISK FORMATTING SOFTWARE)

Ext	For	Disk Format	File Format
CND	Old Melco CND (non-DOS)	Non-DOS	Object
FDR	Barudan	CPM	Stitch
FMC	Barudan	CPM	Stitch

RELATED ARTICLES

• Getting Down to Basics: Not Just for Newbies!
• Are You Using the Wrong Embroidery Format?