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.pes file

What is a PES embroidery file?

A PES file is the embroidery file that Brother and Baby Lock machines read. It holds the stitches, the jumps and trims, and the color stops. In a PES file from Stitch and Threads, each color is the nearest match from Brother's thread chart, so your machine shows a color for every step.

Last updated · The Stitch and Threads team

Real results, on real products

  • Mockup: the tiger mascot sample, stitched in Classic, on a capSample

    Tiger mascot

    Classic

    9,273 stitches · 5 threads · 50 mm wide

  • Mockup: the surf sunset badge sample, stitched in Bold Outline, on a t-shirtSample

    Surf sunset badge

    Bold Outline

    14,105 stitches · 5 threads · 90 mm wide

  • Mockup: the happy bee sample, stitched in Soft & Light, on a toteSample

    Happy bee

    Soft & Light

    4,567 stitches · 5 threads · 90 mm wide

  • Mockup: the rose monogram sample, stitched in Classic, on a poloSample

    Rose monogram

    Classic

    7,515 stitches · 3 threads · 90 mm wide

Mockup: our rendered stitches on a product photo, at true size. Sample designs, not customer work.

Which machines use PES files?

PES is the format Brother and Baby Lock machines read. Many home embroiderers and small home businesses sew on these single-needle machines.

On a single-needle machine, the machine stops at each color change and waits for you to rethread. The PES file tells it where to stop and which color to show you.

Brand names only show which machines read each format. Check your machine's manual for the formats it reads.

What's inside a PES file?

Like every embroidery file, a PES file holds the stitches, the jumps and trims between areas, and the color stops where the machine pauses.

A PES file can also carry a color for each stop. In the PES files we make, that color is the nearest color from Brother's thread chart. Your machine's screen can then show which thread to load next.

"Nearest" matters: the color in the file is the closest chart color to your art, not always the exact shade. If you match threads by eye, compare the chart color with the spools you own.

Thread colors in our PES file: The nearest color from Brother's thread chart.

  • StitchesEach needle move, as a short step from the last one.
  • Jumps and trimsWhere the needle travels without sewing, and where the thread is cut.
  • Color stopsWhere the machine pauses or changes needle.
  • ColorsNearest chart color

How do I turn my art into a PES file?

Three steps, in the browser. No software to learn.
  1. 01

    Upload your art

    A PNG or JPG, up to 25 MB. Logos, lettering, clip art and line drawings work best.

  2. 02

    Pick a style and size

    See it stitched in 4 styles, for most designs in about a minute. Choose a width from 10 to 400 mm.

    Sample
  3. 03

    Download PES

    Pick a style. Downloading uses one of your 5 free designs.

Tips for sewing PES files

  • Use the screen colors as a guide.

    The colors in our PES file come from Brother's thread chart. If you use another thread brand, pick the spool that looks closest to each color on the screen.

  • Choose a width that fits your hoop.

    Common home hoops are about 4×4 in (100×100 mm), 5×7 in (130×180 mm) and 6×10 in (160×260 mm). Set the width in Stitch and Threads, from 10 to 400 mm, so it fits yours. Check your machine's manual for its exact hoop sizes.

  • Pick the right stabilizer.

    Usually: cut-away for knits like t-shirts and polos, tear-away for stable woven fabrics, and a water-soluble topping on towels and fleece so stitches don't sink.

  • Try Soft & Light on t-shirts.

    Soft & Light has lighter density and fewer stitches. It's softer on t-shirts and faster to sew.

What does a design look like before you save it as PES?

Two real results from our digitizer, with their numbers.
  • Stitched render on fabric of a green fill cactus with a pink flower, a small stitched face and a terracotta pot
    Rendered preview from the stitch file. Not a photo.

    Cactus · Classic · 50 × 90 mm

    4,625 stitches · 7 threads · ~9 min · Polo, left chest

  • Stitched render on fabric of a flower sprig sewn as dark green satin lines in one color
    Rendered preview from the stitch file. Not a photo.

    Botanical sprig · Classic · 45 × 107 mm

    2,468 stitches · 1 thread · ~5 min · Tote

A render shows exactly what's in the stitch file. Fabric, stabilizer and your machine still shape the final result, so always run a test stitch first.

These artworks are our own fictional designs, not customer work.

PES file questions

Which machines read PES files?

Brother and Baby Lock embroidery machines read PES files.

Does a PES file have colors?

Yes. In a PES file from Stitch and Threads, each color is the nearest color from Brother's thread chart.

How do I turn a JPG into a PES file?

Upload the JPG to Stitch and Threads, pick one of the 4 styles, and download it as PES. Digitizing needs a free account; every account gets 5 free designs, no card.

Will my design fit a 4×4 hoop?

It will if you choose a width that fits. A 4×4 in hoop is about 100×100 mm, so pick a width under that.

Do I need embroidery software to make a PES file?

No. Stitch and Threads works in the browser on Mac, PC, iPad and phones. There is no software to learn.

Your AI digitizer

Drop your art. Download PES.

Try 5 designs free · Free account, no card.

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