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Version History

Version History

This is an overview of all changes of StitchBuddy for macOS including its Preview / Thumbnail extensions and Spotlight plugin.

2026-03-02 (StitchBuddy 3.7.3)
  • Fixed canvas size (dynamic size was corrupting view when undoing changes)
2026-03-01 (StitchBuddy 3.7.2)
  • View sizes / visible areas were corrupted by version 3.7.1
2026-02-18 (StitchBuddy 3.7.1)
  • Memory leak of closed windows fixed
  • Minor visual corrections
2025-12-01 (StitchBuddy 3.7.0)
  • Enlarged canvas with floating design details
  • Collapsable thread list
  • Animated zoom
  • Harmonized menu and toolbar icons
  • Support of toolbar overflow menu
  • App-specific accent color
  • Updated app icon
2025-08-27 (StitchBuddy 3.6.0)
  • Lasso selection tool
  • Janome AQ hoop size corrected
  • Preview text color in Dark Mode corrected
  • Minor macOS 26 adjustments
2025-05-29 (StitchBuddy 3.5.0)
  • Formatting of news improved
  • Smart Threads Multitalent thread chart added
2025-03-21 (StitchBuddy 3.4.5)
  • Text shapes support „right-to-left" languages
2025-02-11 (StitchBuddy 3.4.4)
  • Internal App Store improvements
  • Legacy Quick Look plugin removed
  • Requires macOS 12.0 or higher
2024-11-15 (StitchBuddy 3.4.3)
  • Dragging shape control points identical to anchors fixed
2024-11-04 (StitchBuddy 3.4.2)
  • Stitch optimization is considering trim commands
  • Better visibility of stitches on dark backgrounds
2024-08-25 (StitchBuddy 3.4.0)
  • Background images
  • Improved 3D view
2024-07-31 (StitchBuddy 3.3.6)
  • StitchBuddy Creator: price info corrected
2024-07-30 (StitchBuddy 3.3.5)
  • System requirements updated to macOS 10.14
2024-07-27 (StitchBuddy 3.3.4)
  • Preview / Thumbnail extensions for macOS 12 and higher
  • SVG import corrected (quadratic Bézier curves)
  • This version crashes on macOS 10.13 and was withdrawn from the App Store
2024-05-23 (StitchBuddy 3.3.2)
  • Rulers are indicating dragged mouse positions
  • Context menu item to close all open subpaths
  • Open subpaths are handled when filling shapes
  • SVG paths with identical start / end points are closed
  • Feedback if no SVG path was imported
  • Quick Look plugin is reflecting thread numbers
2024-04-11 (StitchBuddy 3.2.6)
  • Detail printouts are reflecting thread numbers
2024-01-01 (StitchBuddy 3.2.4)
  • Janome RE36b hoop orientation corrected
  • Additional help menu item (User Forum)
2023-12-17 (StitchBuddy 3.2.3)
  • Reading VP3 designs fixed
2023-10-28 (StitchBuddy 3.2.2)
  • Gunold Poly thread chart added
  • Unintentional color changes fixed
  • Minor improvements and corrections
2023-05-08 (StitchBuddy 3.2)
  • Inserting lock stitches in shapes or selected stitches
  • Reverse stitch order of selected stitches
  • Rotate selected stitches by mouse
  • Minor improvements and corrections
2023-02-07 (StitchBuddy 3.1.2)
  • Filling order of shapes improved by considering connected areas, reducing jump stitches (video)
  • Purchase options more consistent: „StitchBuddy Pro" required to purchase „StitchBuddy Creator"
2023-01-13 (StitchBuddy 3.1.1)
  • JEF files were corrupted under rare conditions (12h time setting in a region with 24h default) - fixed
2022-12-09 (StitchBuddy 3.1)
  • Create shapes from typed text with all fonts and by importing SVG files (requires In-App purchase „StitchBuddy Creator")
  • Path operations lockable to horizontal / vertical / diagonal movements by holding the key
  • Supporting Janome Continental M17 (hoops RE20d, RE46d, SQ10d, SQ28d, ASQ27d / export option)
  • Minor bug fixes
  • Requires macOS 10.13 or higher
2022-07-01 (StitchBuddy 3.0)
  • Adding stitches as outlines or fills of vector shapes
  • Basting requires a loaded design (bugfix)
2022-06-12 (StitchBuddy 2.19.4)
  • In-App purchase further fixed and more robust
2022-06-08 (StitchBuddy 2.19.3)
  • In-App purchase fixed (re-purchase after a refund)
2022-05-15 (StitchBuddy 2.19.1)
  • Sulky Rayon threads added / corrected
  • News can be displayed from app menu
  • Support web page added to Help menu
  • macOS 10.12 or higher required
2022-02-11 (StitchBuddy 2.19)
  • Durak Poly-Soft thread chart added
  • News are shown at app launch (optional)
2021-04-14 (StitchBuddy 2.18.1)
  • Complete Madeira Polyneon thread chart
2021-01-05 (StitchBuddy 2.18)
  • Native support of Apple silicon (M1 processor)
  • Title bar / tool bar appearance updated to macOS 11 „Big Sur“
  • Flexible width of thread list
  • Thread information incorporated in design files (no „.threads“ files)
  • Automator Actions save operations in user folders fixed
  • macOS 10.11 or higher required
2020-08-05 (StitchBuddy 2.17.4)
  • Error handling when reading corrupted files fixed
2020-04-18 (StitchBuddy 2.17.2)
  • Janome hoop RE36b added
2019-09-21 (StitchBuddy 2.16.1)
  • Designs could not be saved under rare conditions, fixed
2019-02-17 (StitchBuddy 2.16)
  • Dark mode support for macOS 10.14 „Mojave“
  • „New“ menu item to create an empty design for merging
  • Designs can be merged by drag & drop files from the Finder
  • Touchpad support for zooming
  • Zoom behavior changed to a fix scale
  • Export procedure simplified
  • Brildor PB40 thread chart added
  • Minor improvements and corrections
  • macOS 10.10 or higher required
2017-11-30 (StitchBuddy 2.14)
  • Automator actions to convert design formats, change thread palette, and create PDFs
  • New mode to select all stitches of one thread
  • Template printouts with a second page for design details / thread colors
  • Madeira Rayon colors added (#1422, #1469)
  • Janome hoop ASQ18b added
2017-05-20 (StitchBuddy 2.13)
  • iCloud support
  • Only supported hoops listed in menu
  • Hoops added for PES 1.0 (only for alignment)
  • PES 1.0 supports 30,000 / 50,000 stitches (hoop M / L)
  • Import of PES v10.0 files
  • Fixed PES / PEC export with Umlaute in file names
  • Janome hoop RE18 support
2016-11-09 (StitchBuddy 2.12.1)
  • Bugfix: Quick Look preview corrected (was displaying always thumbnails)
2016-11-05 (StitchBuddy 2.12)
  • Enhanced installation and update experience through exclusive distribution via Apple’s Mac App Store
  • Free trial version only limited by saving 1,000 stitches; unlocked version available via In-App purchase
  • Option to delete hidden system files after USB export removed to comply with store guidelines
  • OS X 10.9 („Mavericks") or higher required
  • New startup behavior: „Welcome" design is shown if no file was opened / restored
  • Janome MC500e export option added
2016-06-17 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.11)
  • Support for Janome MC500e hoops (RE10b, RE20b, RE28b, SQ14b, SQ20b)
  • Flat-style toolbar
  • Full Retina / high resolution support
  • Hoop menu improved (hoop dimensions shown in gray)
  • Update check fixed (did not receive any information)
  • OS X 10.7 („Lion") or higher required
2015-12-14 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.10.4)
  • „Save as…" preselects the current file type (was broken since 2.9.3)
  • Identification of writable file types improved
2015-07-03 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.10.3)
  • Background colors can be printed (optional)
  • Stitch optimization improved
  • VP3 import fixed (for old files with thread offsets)
  • Context menus work with + left mouse click
  • Purchase button is disabled after a valid license was entered
2015-01-09 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.9.3)
  • Basting uses overlaps instead of locking stitches
  • Import of VP3 designs corrected
2014-10-10 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.9.1)
  • Template (real-size) printing fixed
  • Minor internal bugfixes
2014-09-19 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.9)
  • The thread list includes color indicators for easier identification
  • Compatibility with TruEmbroidery installed in parallel
  • DST export with national characters (“Umlaute”) fixed
  • Memory consumption improved
  • Graceful handling of corrupted JEF designs (with too many color changes)
  • Canvas size not smaller than 300 x 300 mm, improving the manipulation of combined designs
2014-06-20 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.8)
  • The color list includes previews for each thread’s usage
  • The stitch-order of threads can be changed
  • Threads can be split or combined, especially useful for monograms
  • The canvas size is fixed, so the display remains constant while resizing / moving stitches
  • Selections can be converted between regular and jump stitches
  • The scroll performance was enhanced
  • App and document icons updated
  • Stitch optimization improved
  • Open “Documents” folder by default
2014-03-15 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.7)
  • X-ray view shows underlays when selecting stitches
  • Madeira Rayon thread colors added
  • Support of JEF+ file format (read-only)
  • Support of Janome MC 9900 (new hoops)
  • 64-bit only (32-bit support is dropped)
2013-08-30 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.5.3)
  • Compatibility update for OS X 10.9 “Mavericks” (stitch simulator)
  • Bugfix: Some rare PES designs were corrupted during their import
2013-03-01 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.5.1)
  • Bugfix: Identification of jump stitches improved (PES import)
2013-01-20 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.4.6)
  • Bugfix: StitchBuddy crashed under Mac OS X 10.5.8 („Symbol not found: NSConcreteGlobalBlock")
2012-11-19 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.4.5)
  • Read support for Janome JPX files
  • Support of WonderFil Splendor thread charts.
  • Menu item „Start Dictation" removed in OS X 10.8 “Snow Leopard”
  • Minor enhancements
2012-07-31 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.4.4)
  • Support of Coats Rayon and Trilobal thread charts.
2012-07-07 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.4.3)
  • Application and plugins code signed to comply with Gatekeeper of OS X 10.8 “Mountain Lion”
2012-05-31 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.4.1)
  • Leading / trailing jump stitches are not included into selections.
  • Enhanced PES support (additional color codes).
2012-05-11 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.4)
  • Stitches can easier be identified in non-3D mode.
  • Minor internal improvements.
2011-12-22 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.3.1)
  • Bugfixes
    • StitchBuddy crashed on Mac OS X 10.5.x when opening any design. This was caused by using an internal function available since Mac OS X 10.6 (aka “Snow Leopard”), only.
    • By eliminating the title bar of the delay screen, it was impossible to enter a license code.
    • When the “Stitch Simulator” was closed after forwarding, but without running the simulation, the display showed an unfinished design.
2011-12-11 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.3)
  • Stitch simulator to virtually embroider designs
  • Full-Screen mode (requires OS X 10.7 “Lion” or above)
  • Resume of open windows (requires OS X 10.7 “Lion” or above)
  • Some minor Bugfixes
2011-11-19 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.2.3)
  • Enhanced compatibility with other installed embroidery software
2011-09-16 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.2.2)
  • Support for Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000:
    • Additional hoops: FA10 (100 x 40 mm), SQ14 (140 x 140 mm), SQ23 (230 x 230 mm), GR (230 x 300 mm), ASQ22 (220 x 220 mm)
    • USB export like the Memory Craft 11000
  • Some minor Bugfixes
2011-07-23 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.2.1)
  • The (obsolete) menu item „Special characters…" was removed
  • Bugfixes:
    • The update check did not identify minor release changes, e. g. from 2.2 to 2.2.1
    • The text color of StitchBuddy-QL was changed to black for OS X 10.7 (aka “Lion”): Apple changed the background color of Quick Loop plugins to white
    • In OS X 10.7 (aka “Lion”) the enabled / disabled state of toolbar items was not evaluated correctly after a printing operation was canceled
    • The application crashed if zoom factors were manually entered below or above their valid range
    • The version number was not correctly displayed after a design of a higher PES version had been saved as PES 1.0
2011-06-02 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.2)
  • Write support for Brother / Baby Lock / Bernina PES 1.0 files
  • Read support for Brother PES v9.0
  • Read / write support for Brother PEC files
  • Additional thread charts: Ackermann Isacord, Floriani Polyester, Fufu Rayon
  • Basting settings are persistent (stitch length, distance)
  • Bastings are started with locking stitches
  • 3D effects are disabled while dragging (performance enhancement)
  • Stitches are moved by the keyboard in 0.1 mm steps for more precise alignments
  • Tool tips for all toolbar items
  • Bugfixes:
    • Dragging a design to the Finder did not create a JPEG file if the file name contained special characters
    • Selected stitches could not be unselected using the key
    • Jump stitches were not optimized when pasting stitches
    • Too long stitches were not split properly if located after jump stitches
2011-02-10 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.1.2)
  • 3D effects improved (using gradients)
  • Jump stitches are ignored when marking the first stitch
  • JEF export: Handle color changes in combination with a jump stitch, which resulted in invalid files
  • Proper alignment of PES files
  • Export function supports MS-DOS (FAT12)
2011-01-27 (StitchBuddy / -QL / -MD 2.1.1)
  • Bug fixed reading PES files: some regular stitches were considered as jumps
  • Bug fixed displaying the toolbar: Sometimes the “Selection” control was sized too small
  • Bug fixed changing the zoom level manually to some specific values, e. g. 60%
  • Improved memory management when handling corrupted embroidery files
2010-12-21 (StitchBuddy 2.1, StitchBuddy-QL / -MD 2.1)
  • Support for different measurement units (millimeters, inches with decimals, inches with fractions)
  • Auto conversion of thread charts
  • Selected stitches can be moved by Drag’n’Drop
  • New function “Measure” to measure a distance in a design
  • Designs can be copied as images or text by Drag’n’Drop, even to Mac OS X Finder (creating JPEG files)
  • “Open” dialog reflects the application name to avoid confusions
  • Several internal improvements
2010-11-07 (StitchBuddy 2.0.2, StitchBuddy-QL / -MD 1.4.2)
  • Read support of PES files v5.5, v5.6, v7.1, v8.0
2010-04-16 (StitchBuddy 2.0.1, StitchBuddy-QL / -MD 1.4.1)
  • Janome’s MB-4 standard hoop M1 added
  • Janome’s new AcuFil Square Quilting Hoop (ASQ) added
  • Janome’s “any color” thread code is supported
  • Some minor adjustments to improve the usability when switching between color modifications and selection modes
2010-02-12 (StitchBuddy 2.0, StitchBuddy-QL / -MD 1.4)
  • Copy & paste, move, delete, flip, resize and rotate selected stitches
  • Baste the outline of a design
  • Undo / Redo of all modifications
  • 1:1 template printout
  • Enhanced color selector (highlights the selected color)
  • Additional color palettes (Marathon Rayon, Poly-X40 Polyester)
  • Selectable hoops
  • Enhanced display and print options (hoop, rulers, first / last stitch, design center, structure view, individual background color)
  • USB export for Janome embroidery machines
  • New toolbar style
  • Thread list scrollable
  • Minor GUI changes according to Apple Human Interface Guidelines
  • 64-bit enabled
  • Window size / position memorized
2009-09-01 (StitchBuddy 1.2.1)
  • Bug fixing of hidden scrollbars under Mac OS X 10.6 („Snow Leopard“).
2009-08-09 (StitchBuddy 1.2, StitchBuddy-QL / -MD 1.3)
  • Support of KSM, PCS, PCQ, PCD files.
2009-05-01 (StitchBuddy 1.1, StitchBuddy-QL / -MD 1.2)
  • Support of VP3 files
  • Variable rotations
  • Mac OS X color picker to select colors
  • Support of color palettes (Brother, Brother Country, Janome, Madeira PolyNeon, Madeira Rayon, Robison-Anton Poly, Sulky Rayon)
2009-01-31 (StitchBuddy 1.0, StitchBuddy-QL / -MD 1.1.1)
  • Color changes
  • Flipping, rotating, center design.
2008-12-26 (StitchBuddy-QL / -MD 1.1)
  • Support of SEW, DST and EXP files.
2008-09-27 (StitchBuddy-QL / -MD 1.0)
  • Support of JEF and PES files.
2008-03-31
  • First release of PESviewQL, a Quick Look plugin to view Brother PES embroideries (discontinued)
2008-01-04
  • First release of JEFview, a Quick Look plugin to view Janome JEF embroideries (discontinued).