The world of embroidery file formats can be confusing — there are over 20 different formats, each tied to specific machine brands or eras of technology. This guide covers the most important formats, who uses them, and how SewFlow can help you get the right file for your machine.
All Major Embroidery Formats at a Glance
| Format | Extension | Developer | Common Machines |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEF | .jef | Janome | Janome, Elna |
| DST | .dst | Tajima | Tajima, Barudan, ZSK, Happy, most commercial |
| PES | .pes | Brother | Brother, Babylock |
| HUS | .hus | Husqvarna Viking | Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff |
| EXP | .exp | Melco | Melco commercial machines |
| XXX | .xxx | Singer | Singer embroidery machines |
| SEW | .sew | Elna / Janome legacy | Older Elna machines |
| VIP | .vip | Husqvarna Viking / Pfaff | Newer Viking/Pfaff machines |
| JAN | .jan | Janome legacy | Older Janome models |
| EMB | .emb | Wilcom | Wilcom software (not machine-native) |
Which Formats Does SewFlow Support?
SewFlow currently outputs the three most widely used machine formats: JEF (Janome/Elna), DST (commercial/Tajima), and PES (Brother/Babylock). These three formats cover the vast majority of home and commercial embroidery machines worldwide.
What If My Machine Uses a Different Format?
If your machine uses HUS, VIP, XXX, or another format not directly output by SewFlow, the most common solution is to download the DST file (as the most universal stitch data format) and use a free conversion utility such as Embird or SewWhat-Pro to convert DST to your specific format. Most embroidery conversion tools can read DST and output any other format.
Download your design in JEF, DST, or PES:
Open Image to Embroidery →