Octostitch

What Octostitch is

Octostitch is desktop embroidery digitising software for craft businesses and hobbyists, with tools for drawing, editing and preparing designs for machine embroidery. Stitches appear as you work, and a sew-out playback lets you review the full design. Stitch options include satin with automatic underlay, tatami and guided fills, appliqué, bean stitch and cut lines. Guided auto-digitising turns artwork into stitches through steps for cropping, choosing threads, clearing the background and assigning stitch types.

The software includes thread selections from Madeira, Isacord, Robison-Anton, Sulky, Gunold and Brother. You can create custom fonts, decorative patterns and tatami fills, then save, reuse and share them. Octostitch imports and exports PES, DST, JEF, VP3, EXP, XXX, HUS and TAP files. It runs on Linux, macOS and Windows. A free trial covers the digitising workflow, while saving projects and exporting machine formats require a licence. The one-time £40 purchase includes commercial use, free lifetime updates and a 30-day money-back guarantee; commercial work has no additional licence or per-design fees.

Who it suits

Octostitch suits craft businesses and hobbyists who want desktop tools for creating embroidery designs and exporting machine files. Its reusable libraries and included commercial use may suit people making designs for commercial work.

Limits

The free trial allows exploration of the digitising workflow, but saving projects and exporting machine formats require a licence. The paid plan is a one-time £40 payment and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Getting started

1. Visit the Octostitch website.
2. Choose the Octostitch plan for a £40 one-time payment, or start with the free trial.
3. Use the desktop software on Linux, macOS or Windows.
4. Follow the documentation for getting started, drawing tools, stitch types, lettering or artwork imports.
5. Create or digitise a design, then obtain a licence to save projects or export machine formats.

Verdict

Choose Octostitch if you need embroidery digitising tools across Linux, macOS or Windows, or want commercial use without additional per-design fees. Look elsewhere if saving projects and exporting machine formats during a free plan are essential; the trial requires a licence for those actions.