Same stitches. Different format.

Taking an embroidery file that already contains stitches, such as a DST or PES, and providing it in another machine format after a compatibility review. It is a service handled by a person, not an automatic online converter: we check what the target format can and cannot carry before you sew.

Yes. DST does not store thread colors, so colors are assigned for the PES from your artwork or color sheet if you have one. PES has several versions, and older Brother machines and software may need an older one, so tell us your machine model. Our DST vs PES guide explains how the two formats differ.

Yes. This is common when moving a design to a commercial machine. Thread colors do not carry into a DST, so keep the color sequence. DST also has no dedicated trim command: machines read a trim from a run of jump stitches, and the number they expect varies, so we check that trims and color stops carried over for your machine.

Usually. Upload the JEF and tell us the target machine; we check that trims and color stops carried over.

Usually, yes. Tell us the machine or software model; compatibility can depend on the model, not just the file extension. Shops running a mix of machines will find more on our embroidery shops page.

No. The same stitches go into the new format. If the design sews badly, it needs digitizing, not conversion.

No. A JPG has no stitches to convert. Turning an image into an embroidery file is image to embroidery digitizing.

Tell us the machine brand and model, or the software you use, and we help identify the right format.

Not always. Formats store color information differently, and some, like DST, store none. We review colors and assign them where needed.

Only a little. A stitch file keeps the same number of stitches when it is scaled, so density and stitch length change with the size; Wilcom and Hatch recommend staying within about 10% up or down for stitch-only files. Larger changes should be rebuilt from an editable working file or re-digitized at the new size.

Not by conversion. A DST stores stitches, not the editable objects an EMB working file holds, so converting cannot recreate them. An editable file comes from digitizing the design.

No. Each machine format has its own internal structure: a DST, for example, starts with a fixed 512-byte header followed by 3-byte stitch records, while a PES contains a separate machine section with color and preview data. Renaming a file only changes its label, so the machine will reject it or misread it. Our upload form checks the file contents, not just the extension. See what is inside a DST file.

Some information can be lost or reinterpreted, because formats store different things. Converting to DST drops thread colors; hoop settings stored in formats such as PES, JEF or VP3 may not carry over; trims can be read differently from one machine to another; and no machine file contains the editable objects of the original design. We review these points for your target machine and tell you what to expect.

Converting it will not fix that. Send the file and a photo of the sew-out and we review whether it needs re-digitizing.

Each conversion is quoted before any work starts. The quote depends on the source and target formats and on what the review finds, for example colors that need assigning or trims that need checking. If the file itself sews badly, conversion will not fix it; that needs embroidery digitizing, quoted separately. See pricing and policies.

You can request DST, PES, JEF, EXP, VP3, XXX or HUS, and the target format is confirmed for your file and machine in the quote. DST, PES, JEF and VP3 files can be uploaded directly; for EXP, XXX or HUS, mention the format in your request.