Convert DST files to PES, JEF, EXP and more
Drop a .dst file, pick the format your machine reads, check the preview, download. Free, in your browser, nothing uploaded.
Drop your .dst file here
DST, PES, JEF, EXP, VP3, HUS, XXX, PEC or U01
Or try a sample: , ,
Your file stays on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
- 01
Open your DST file
Drop it on the tool or choose it. It's read on your device, never uploaded.
- 02
Pick your machine's format
See the preview of the converted design and what, if anything, changes.
- 03
Download and stitch
Copy the new file to a USB stick or your machine's app.
Converting DST for a home machine
Most people converting a DST have a home machine that wants its own format: PES for Brother and Baby Lock, JEF for Janome, VP3 for Pfaff and Husqvarna Viking, XXX for Singer. DST stores no thread colours, so the converter gives each colour block a starting colour. Set the real colours in the File info tab before you download; they carry into PES, VP3 and XXX files. JEF uses Janome's own thread numbers, so each colour becomes the nearest Janome thread.
Which format does my machine need?
| Machine | File it needs |
|---|---|
| Brother home machines (SE, PE, NQ, Innov-is, Luminaire, Stellaire) | PESSome recent models also accept DST |
| Baby Lock | PES |
| Brother and Baby Lock multi-needle (PR series) | PES or DST |
| Janome, Elna | JEF |
| Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff | VP3Older Viking machines: HUS or VIP |
| Singer | XXX |
| Bernina | EXP |
| Melco | EXP or DST |
| Tajima, Barudan, SWF, Happy, Ricoma, ZSK and most commercial machines | DSTBarudan also uses U01 |
What each conversion keeps
The stitches themselves always carry over exactly: same positions, same order, same trims and colour changes. What can change is how colours are stored:
| DST to | Machines | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| PES | Brother, Baby Lock | Tajima DST files don't store thread colours, so the colours in your Brother PES file are our guess. Pick the right threads before you download, or change them on the machine. |
| JEF | Janome, Elna | Tajima DST files don't store thread colours, so the colours in your Janome JEF file are our guess. Pick the right threads before you download, or change them on the machine. |
| EXP | Melco, Bernina | Nothing is lost. |
| VP3 | Pfaff, Husqvarna Viking | Tajima DST files don't store thread colours, so the colours in your Pfaff / Viking VP3 file are our guess. Pick the right threads before you download, or change them on the machine. |
| XXX | Singer, Compucon | Tajima DST files don't store thread colours, so the colours in your Singer XXX file are our guess. Pick the right threads before you download, or change them on the machine. |
Before you stitch the converted file
- Check the size against your hoop. Converting doesn't change the size. Use Hoop fit in the File info tab, or see hoop sizes by brand.
- Run the Check tab. It flags very short and very long stitches and dense areas, with what to do about each.
- Stitch a test on scrap fabric with the same stabiliser before using a garment.
Questions
How do I convert DST to PES?
Drop your DST file on the converter, choose PES (it's selected by default), check the preview and click Download. Set the thread colours in File info first if you want them saved in the PES file.
Will I lose stitches converting DST?
No. Every stitch, jump, trim and colour change carries over. The only thing a DST can't pass on is colour, because it never had any.
Why are the colours in my converted file not the designer's colours?
DST only marks where to change thread, not which thread. Use the design's colour chart and set each colour in the File info tab before downloading.
Can I convert several DST files at once?
Not yet: the free converter handles one file at a time, as many times as you like.
Is this DST converter free?
Yes. Viewing and converting single files is free, with no account and no watermark.
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