StitchBuddy

I’m currently working on StitchBuddy to support Bernina EXP+ (often called Bernina USB EXP), a design format actually persisting of three different files:

1. A design file (*.exp) which is a standard Melco EXP design.
2. A thread file (*.inf) holding the thread colors not supported by Melco EXP.
3. A thumbnail file (*.bmp) for illustration on the embroidery machine.

The EXP part is well-known and supported by StitchBuddy for years, but I’m lacking any Bernina test environment to verify the others: The .inf and .bmp files seem to be correct when analyzed on my Mac, but there’s nothing like the real world.

I cut some corners when testing yesterday’s emergency fix (StitchBuddy 3.7.2), as it was correcting an error effecting all users. That’s a tough decision as it comes with some risks, and I was trading quality assurance for response time.

Today I ran further tests and still found some issues when undoing changes or reverting to the last saved version. All of these problems were related to changes of the design’s size, which was implicitly changing the canvas’ dynamic dimensions.

StitchBuddy’s last release had a serious bug regarding window positions and scrolling: I made a mistake when rewriting internal code managing windows and views, and the results were confusing: Visible areas were moved off the screen, windows grew to extreme sizes and more.

This bug was reported by two customers, providing detailed error descriptions including screen recordings. Here is the corresponding discussion in the forum. Fortunately, I could reproduce the behavior, identify and fix the root cause, and submit a corrective update.

StitchBuddy 3.7.0 wasn’t releasing memory when windows were closed, causing a continuously increasing RAM allocation. This bug was introduced with the new user interface in November last year, and it is corrected, now.

StitchBuddy’s updates for macOS and iOS / iPadOS are supporting Apple’s new “Liquid Glass” design.

After some weeks of intense work I’m proud to release StitchBuddy with a new, modern user interface:

A completely new design with larger workspace, collapsable thread list, and many other improvements: StitchBuddy’s next release will take advantage of new options in macOS 26.

Join the beta program if you want to test StitchBuddy 3.7.0 before its release.

StitchBuddy 3.6.0 was just released as a free update for macOS and iOS / iPadOS. Besides some minor corrections and adjustments, the macOS version is introducing a new selection tool: With a lasso you can easily select stitches of irregular objects - in my opinion a helpful improvement of the former rectangular selection tool, which was replaced.

These updates are rolled out in waves, and your device will install the new version automatically within a week, depending on system preferences (or you can update manually from the App Store). Don’t hesitate to contact me in case of any issues: I have tested this update very thoroughly, but you never know…

Creating designs is challenging StitchBuddy’s capabilities, which was never planned as an embroidery digitizer, but for editing existing stitch files.

Annual major updates of Apple’s operating systems are expected later this fall, but I already tested StitchBuddy with some early releases.

Every year Apple releases new major updates of macOS and iOS / iPadOS, this year jumping to version 26. Early beta testing has started for developers - the public beta is expected these days, and I took a first glance at StitchBuddy with macOS 26 “Tahoe” and iPadOS 26:

I just released StitchBuddy / StitchBuddy HD 3.5.0.

Both apps are now supporting a new thread chart, Smart Thread Multitalent, a multi-purpose thread produced in Germany. And I have worked on App News, which are presented at app launch.