stixiva
Who is it for?
Make, edit and reuse charts, from photo to PDF pattern.
Free during the public beta, with an account, no credit card.
Comparison · checked on October 16, 2026
stixiva vs Stitch Fiddle ?
Stitch Fiddle is an online chart editor for cross stitch, knitting and crochet. stixiva is an online cross stitch studio, made in France. Here’s what sets them apart, criterion by criterion.
- 12 more criteria with stixiva
- Official, dated sources
Stitch Fiddle
Who is it for?
Draw simple charts in the browser, for cross stitch as well as knitting or crochet.
Free version (charts up to 300 × 300); paid Premium plan, price listed on stitchfiddle.com.
Side by side
stixiva and Stitch Fiddle, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | stixiva | Stitch Fiddle |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free during the public beta, with an account, no credit card | Free version (charts up to 300 × 300); paid Premium plan, price listed on stitchfiddle.com |
| Devices | Browser (computer, tablet, phone) and Windows 10 and 11 | Browser (computer, tablet, phone) |
| Thread and bead brands | 26: 8 floss brands (DMC, Anchor, Madeira, Sullivans, Gamma, PNK Kirov, Splendor and Mandarin Floss), 15 fuse bead brands (Perler, Hama, Artkal S, Hama Mini, Hama Maxi, Perler Mini, Perler Caps, Nabbi, Artkal A, Artkal C, Artkal M, Artkal R, Yant, Mard and Mill Hill), 2 diamond painting brands (Diamond Dotz and Diamond Painting) and one yarn brand (Red Heart) | 51 ranges from about 14 manufacturers (DMC, Anchor, Madeira, Sullivans, Cosmo…) |
| Maximum size | 512 × 512 stitches | 300 × 300 stitches free, 1,000 × 1,000 with Premium |
| Free PDF patternPrint or download your pattern as a PDF without paying. | Yes: Free during the public beta. | Not stated: PDF export exists; the site doesn’t say whether it’s part of the free version. |
| No account to get startedTry it without creating an account. | Partly: The site’s 44 free tools work without an account; the studio needs a free account. | Partly: An account is required for most features. |
| In the browserNothing to install: it opens in a browser. | Yes | Yes |
| Windows softwareSoftware to install on Windows. | Yes | No |
| Mac softwareSoftware to install on a Mac. | No: On a Mac, the studio opens in the browser. | No |
| iPhone, iPad or Android appAn app to install from an app store. | No: On tablets and phones, the studio opens in the browser. | Not stated |
| French interfaceThe interface is available in French. | Yes | Not stated |
| Photo to patternTurn a photo into a cross stitch chart. | Yes | Yes |
| Isolated stitch cleanupFind and merge isolated stitches (“confetti”). | Yes | No: The help suggests fixing squares by hand after importing a photo. |
| LayersWork on several layers. | Yes | Not stated |
| Fractionals and backstitchHalf, quarter and three-quarter stitches and backstitch. | Yes | Partly: Lines can draw half and quarter stitches; French knots not documented. |
| BeadsPlace embroidery beads on the chart. | Yes | Yes: Mill Hill beads in the palettes. |
| SymmetryDraw in mirror or radial symmetry. | Yes | Yes: Horizontal or vertical mirror of a selection, on computer and tablet. |
| 3D or realistic previewSee the stitched piece before you start. | Yes | Not stated |
| Opens .pat, .xsd, .oxsOpen patterns from PCStitch, Pattern Maker or in OXS format. | Yes | No: Opens images, no documented .pat, .xsd or .oxs file. |
| Paper or scanned patternDigitize a photo, scan or PDF of a symbol chart. | Yes | No |
| Embroidery machine filesOpen machine embroidery files (PES, DST, JEF…). | Yes | No |
| Switch thread brandsSwitch a whole project from one thread brand to another. | Yes | Not stated |
| Thread stashKeep track of the skeins you already own. | Yes | Not stated |
| Stitch trackingCheck off your stitches as you go. | Yes | No: Progress tracking doesn’t work for cross stitch yet, according to its help. |
✓ yes½ partly✕ no? not stated on the official website
What stixiva adds
- Free PDF pattern. The PDF pattern (A4, Letter or A3, symbols and thread key) is free during the public beta, like the whole studio.
- Windows software. There is also a Windows 10 and 11 app (64-bit).
- In French. The site, the studio and its guides are written in French.
- Isolated stitch cleanup. The studio finds isolated stitches; you choose which to merge and which shades to protect, with before and after side by side.
- Layers. Up to 32 layers per project.
- 3D or realistic preview. The preview shows your piece stitched in a hoop, in 3D, which you can rotate.
- Opens .pat, .xsd, .oxs. stixiva opens PCStitch (.pat), Pattern Maker (.xsd), OXS and Super Point de Croix Deluxe (.wxs) patterns.
- Paper or scanned pattern. The assistant reads a photo, scan or PDF page of a symbol chart, square by square, and turns it into an editable project.
- Embroidery machine files. stixiva opens PES, DST, JEF, EXP, VP3, HUS and XXX machine embroidery files.
- Switch thread brands. A whole project switches from one brand to another in one click, among 26 brands: 8 floss brands (DMC, Anchor, Madeira, Sullivans, Gamma, PNK Kirov, Splendor and Mandarin Floss), 15 fuse bead brands (Perler, Hama, Artkal S, Hama Mini, Hama Maxi, Perler Mini, Perler Caps, Nabbi, Artkal A, Artkal C, Artkal M, Artkal R, Yant, Mard and Mill Hill), 2 diamond painting brands (Diamond Dotz and Diamond Painting) and one yarn brand (Red Heart).
- Thread stash. Note the skeins you already own, and build the list of the ones you’re missing.
- Stitch tracking. Stitching mode checks off your stitches on a tablet or phone, and picks up where you left off from one device to another.
What Stitch Fiddle does well
- One editor for cross stitch, knitting and crochet, in the browser.
- A large catalog of threads and beads, and many export formats (PDF, SVG, XLSX, DOCX…).
- Highly rated by Lord Libidan (10/10).
Stitch Fiddle details
- Free PDF pattern : PDF export exists; the site doesn’t say whether it’s part of the free version.
- No account to get started : An account is required for most features.
- Isolated stitch cleanup : The help suggests fixing squares by hand after importing a photo.
- Fractionals and backstitch : Lines can draw half and quarter stitches; French knots not documented.
- Beads : Mill Hill beads in the palettes.
- Symmetry : Horizontal or vertical mirror of a selection, on computer and tablet.
- Opens .pat, .xsd, .oxs : Opens images, no documented .pat, .xsd or .oxs file.
- Stitch tracking : Progress tracking doesn’t work for cross stitch yet, according to its help.
Switching from Stitch Fiddle to stixiva
Stitch Fiddle exports to PDF and images: a pattern exported as a symbol PDF can be digitized by stixiva’s assistant.
No sign-up
Try it before you leave Stitch Fiddle
stixiva’s free tools run in your browser, no account needed: enough to judge for yourself.
Photo to pattern
A preview of your photo as a cross stitch chart, threads included.
Cross stitch name generator
Type a name, get its chart to stitch.
Small free motifs
Hearts, flowers, animals, borders: ready-to-stitch charts, with their threads.
Floss converter
DMC, Anchor, Madeira, Sullivans: the official and the closest equivalent.
Skein calculator
How many skeins to buy, for your fabric and strand count.
DMC color chart
All 482 Mouliné Spécial colors, by number or name.
Sources
This comparison is published by stixiva, one of the programs compared. The other programs’ listings are taken from their official websites, linked below, on October 16, 2026. The names mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners; stixiva is not affiliated with any of them. Has something changed? Email contact@stixiva.com and we’ll correct the listing.
- stitchfiddle.com, help: chart size
- stitchfiddle.com, help: importing an image
- stitchfiddle.com, help: mirror
- stitchfiddle.com, help: account
- stitchfiddle.com, help: progress tracking
- stitchfiddle.com, Premium pricing
Other comparisons
Is stixiva a free alternative to Stitch Fiddle?
During its public beta, the whole stixiva studio is free with an account, PDF pattern included. Stitch Fiddle: Free version (charts up to 300 × 300); paid Premium plan, price listed on stitchfiddle.com.
Can I bring my Stitch Fiddle patterns into stixiva?
Stitch Fiddle exports to PDF and images: a pattern exported as a symbol PDF can be digitized by stixiva’s assistant.
Is this comparison impartial?
It is published by stixiva: that’s why each cell comes from Stitch Fiddle’s official website, cited at the bottom of the page and checked on October 16, 2026, and why the page also says what Stitch Fiddle does that stixiva doesn’t.
Try stixiva alongside Stitch Fiddle
Open one of your patterns or drop in a photo: the whole studio is free during the public beta.
Create my free accountFree during the beta, no credit card.