Embroidery Fit Guide
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Guide · checked Nov 10

Embroidery file formats, in plain words

An embroidery design is a file of stitch instructions, and each brand reads its own formats. Check that your designs and your machine speak the same one before you buy either.

Facts checked Nov 10, 2026 · How we pick · How we make money

Two embroidered motifs, grapes and a poinsettia, shown on rows of thread spools Photo: Markus Schertenleib · CC BY-SA 3.0 · modified

The formats you'll see

.pes

Brother and Baby Lock. The main design format of Brother's home machines; Baby Lock lists it for the Flare and Bloom.1, 4

.phc

Brother and Baby Lock. Brother's manual: when the machine saves a file, it is saved as a .phc file.1

.dst

Tajima, read by many brands. A common commercial format. Brother: it "does not contain specific thread color information", so the machine shows it in default colors.1

.pen

Brother. Also on the list of formats Brother's PE545, PE900 and SE2000 manuals give.1, 2, 3

.jef / .jef+

Janome. Janome's own formats; the shop lists .jef for the MC400E and .jef/.jef+ (plus .jpx on some models) for others.6, 7, 8

.vp3

Husqvarna Viking and Singer. Singer: import your own designs "in .VP3 format via a USB stick" on the SE9180; the shop lists .vp3 for the Viking Quartz 29.9, 10

Rule of thumb: buy designs in your machine's own format when the seller offers it. Converting is possible with software (below), but a .dst file brings no colors with it.

Which machine reads what, and how files get in

MachineFormatsGetting designs in
Brother PE545.pes .phc .dst .pen1Wireless LAN (Design Database Transfer, Artspira app) and USB stick
Brother Skitch PP1designs come from the Artspira app19Bluetooth to the Artspira app on a phone or tablet; no screen, no USB
Brother PE900.pes .phc .dst .pen2Wireless LAN (Design Database Transfer, Artspira app) and USB stick
Janome Memory Craft 100E.jef .jef+ .jpx7USB stick
Janome Memory Craft 400E.jef6USB stick
Janome Memory Craft 550E.jef .jef+ .jpx21USB stick, PC port
Baby Lock Flare.pes .phc .dst4Wi-Fi (Design Database Transfer) and USB
Brother LB5500M Marvel.pes .phc .dst .pen22Wireless LAN and USB stick
Brother SE2000.pes .phc .dst .pen3Wireless LAN and USB stick
Janome Memory Craft 1000not stated on the pages we read23USB stick
Janome Memory Craft 9850.jef .jef+8USB stick
Husqvarna Viking Designer Quartz 29.vp310Wi-Fi (mySewnet/CREATIVATE) and USB stick
Baby Lock Bloom.pes .phc .dst5Wi-Fi (Design Database Transfer) and USB
Janome MB-4Senot stated on the shop's page24USB stick; the Remote Computer Screen is listed as an option
Brother Entrepreneur PR680W.pes .phc .phx .dst .pen25Wireless LAN and USB

Formats and connections as the makers' manuals and spec pages state them; for Janome the formats are from the shop's listings.

USB stick, Wi-Fi or an app?

  • USB stick works on every machine here except the Skitch PP1. Brother notes that "some USB flash drive may not be usable with this machine".1
  • Wi-Fi (Brother, Baby Lock and Husqvarna Viking): on Brother and Baby Lock machines, Design Database Transfer, a free PC application, sends designs to wireless-LAN machines; Brother lists Windows 8.1, 10 and 11, not Mac.11, 12 The Viking Quartz 29 connects through Husqvarna Viking's mySewnet/CREATIVATE service.10, 20
  • Phone app: Brother's Artspira app sends designs to its Wi-Fi machines; the Skitch PP1 is run entirely from it over Bluetooth.19

Software, from free to about USD 2,000

SoftwareWhat it doesPrice
Design Database Transfer (Brother)Manages and sends designs to Brother's Wi-Fi machines; WindowsFree11, 12
Artspira (Brother app)Designs to download, drawing your own line designs; Artspira+ adds more designs and fontsFree standard plan; Artspira+ USD 12.99 a month by the shop's table, with a one-month free trial by Brother13, 14
Ink/Stitch"An open-source machine embroidery design platform based on Inkscape"Free18
Embrilliance EssentialsEdits, letters and converts; writes .pes, .jef, .dst, .vp3 and more; Mac and WindowsAbout USD 159 (Embrilliance's regular price, seen Nov 10, 2026)17
Janome Artistic DigitizerJanome's digitizing software; a Junior version existsUSD 999 (Junior USD 599) at the shop16
Brother PE-DESIGN 11Brother's digitizing softwareUSD 1,957.99 at the shop15

You don't need any of it to start: every machine here has built-in designs and fonts, except the PP1, which takes its designs from the app. Digitizing (turning artwork into stitches) is a skill of its own; most beginners start with ready-made designs.

Brother's and Janome's US websites blocked automated reading on Nov 10, 2026; Brother figures come from its US manuals and support pages, software prices from the shop.

Find the machine that fits what you make

Sources (25) · checked Nov 10, 2026
  1. Brother: Brother PE545 Operation Manual (US) (seen 2026-11-09)
  2. Brother: Brother PE900 Operation Manual (seen 2026-11-09)
  3. Brother: Brother SE2000 Operation Manual (seen 2026-11-09)
  4. Baby Lock: Baby Lock Flare (seen 2026-11-09)
  5. Baby Lock: Baby Lock Bloom (seen 2026-11-09)
  6. Sewing Machines Plus: Janome MC400E, product page at Sewing Machines Plus (seen 2026-11-10)
  7. Sewing Machines Plus: Janome MC100E, product page at Sewing Machines Plus (seen 2026-11-10)
  8. Sewing Machines Plus: Janome MC9850, product page at Sewing Machines Plus (seen 2026-11-10)
  9. Singer: SINGER SE9180 (maker store) (seen 2026-11-09)
  10. Sewing Machines Plus: Viking Designer Quartz 29, product page at Sewing Machines Plus (seen 2026-11-10)
  11. Brother: Brother Design Database Transfer (seen 2026-11-09)
  12. Baby Lock: Baby Lock Design Database Transfer (seen 2026-11-09)
  13. Brother: Artspira+ subscription information (Brother global) (seen 2026-11-09)
  14. Sewing Machines Plus: Brother Skitch PP1, product page at Sewing Machines Plus (seen 2026-11-10)
  15. Sewing Machines Plus: PE-Design 11 Full (SMP) (seen 2026-11-10)
  16. Sewing Machines Plus: Janome Artistic Digitizer 2.0 (SMP) (seen 2026-11-10)
  17. Embrilliance: Embrilliance Essentials (seen 2026-11-10)
  18. Ink/Stitch: Ink/Stitch (seen 2026-11-09)
  19. Brother: Brother PP1 Operation Manual (seen 2026-11-09)
  20. Husqvarna Viking: HUSQVARNA VIKING DESIGNER QUARTZ 29 (maker store) (seen 2026-11-10)
  21. Sewing Machines Plus: Janome MC550E, product page at Sewing Machines Plus (seen 2026-11-10)
  22. Brother: Brother SE700 / LB5500 Operation Manual (seen 2026-11-09)
  23. Janome Australia: Janome AU Memory Craft 1000 (seen 2026-11-09)
  24. Sewing Machines Plus: Janome MB-4Se, product page at Sewing Machines Plus (seen 2026-11-10)
  25. Brother: Brother PR680W Operation Manual (seen 2026-11-09)