Pattern Maker for Cross Stitch vs Knytstudio: What to Use in 2026
HobbyWare's Pattern Maker was the industry standard for cross stitch design for two decades — and it was discontinued in December 2019. There is no official place to buy it, no updates, and no support. If you are searching for it today, you are either trying to keep an old copy alive or looking for its replacement. Here is an honest guide to both.
The short version
Choose Pattern Maker if you...
- You already own a licensed copy and it still does everything you need
- Your pattern library lives in Pattern Maker's .xsd format and you want to keep editing those files directly
- You rely on its deep specialty-stitch and blended-thread features for professional chart design
- You work offline on a Windows PC and prefer software that never changes
Choose Knytstudio if you...
- You want software that is actively maintained, not abandoned
- You want to design in the browser on any device — Windows, Mac, tablet, or phone
- You want to try the full editor free before paying anything
- You also chart knitting, crochet, beading, or pixel art
- You want your patterns saved to an account instead of files on one PC
Availability and pricing
This is the deciding factor: Pattern Maker cannot be bought new anymore. Remaining copies circulate through third-party sellers, and unofficial download sites are a malware risk.
| Feature | Knytstudio | Pattern Maker |
|---|---|---|
| Still sold and updated | Discontinued December 2019 | |
| Price | Free tier; Pro 4 euros/month | No official channel; leftover boxed copies via resellers |
| Support | Active | None |
| Platform | Any browser: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, tablet, phone | Windows desktop only |
| Free version | Full editor, 3 saved patterns, PNG export | No |
Designing patterns
In its day Pattern Maker earned its reputation: version 4 handled specialty stitches, blends, and beads at a professional level. Knytstudio covers the tools most patterns actually use, in a modern editor.
| Feature | Knytstudio | Pattern Maker |
|---|---|---|
| Full cross stitch and backstitch | ||
| Specialty stitches, blends, and beads | 50+ specialty stitches, blended threads, beads | |
| Photo to pattern | ||
| Confetti cleanup tool | One-click tool | Manual |
| Max pattern size | 1000 x 1000 | 999 x 999 |
| Floss colors | 489 colors with DMC, Anchor, Sullivans, J&P Coats, and Maxi codes | Up to 240 colors per design, multiple brands |
| Craft types beyond cross stitch | Knitting, crochet, beading, pixel art | |
| Progress tracking while stitching |
Export and file formats
| Feature | Knytstudio | Pattern Maker |
|---|---|---|
| PDF chart export | Pro plan (symbols and color blocks, floss legend) | |
| Native file format | Cloud-saved patterns, OXS export | .xsd (opens only in Pattern Maker) |
| Patterns synced across devices | ||
| Community pattern gallery |
The end of an era
For roughly two decades, HobbyWare’s Pattern Maker was what serious cross stitch designers used. Version 4 supported more than fifty specialty stitches, blended threads, beads, French knots, and up to 240 floss colors in a single design. A large share of the professional charts sold today were made in it. That reputation is why people still search for it — years after it quietly disappeared.
In December 2019 HobbyWare discontinued Pattern Maker. There have been no updates and no support since, and no official way to buy it. Existing copies still run, but every year that passes makes an installed copy harder to keep alive and a lost license impossible to replace.
What to do if you own it
If Pattern Maker still covers your needs, there is no urgency to leave — your installation does not stop working because the company did. The sensible precautions: keep your installer and license key backed up, and export finished charts to PDF so your work is readable outside the .xsd format. Treat any “free Pattern Maker download” site with suspicion; that is where abandoned software and malware meet.
What replaced it
No single tool inherited Pattern Maker’s full specialty-stitch depth — stitchers who need that tend to move to veteran desktop apps like WinStitch or MacStitch. But most people searching for Pattern Maker today do not need fifty specialty stitches; they need a reliable way to design charts and convert photos to patterns.
That is what Knytstudio is built for: the full editor runs free in your browser on any device, converts photos to patterns, handles backstitch and confetti cleanup, and saves your patterns to an account so they follow you between laptop, tablet, and phone. When you want print-ready PDF charts with symbols and a floss legend, Pro costs 4 euros a month — no boxed software, no license keys to lose. Try the editor free and see if it covers your workflow before paying anything.
Try Knytstudio for free
The full editor is free to use — design up to three patterns without paying anything, right in your browser.
Start designingFrequently asked questions
Can you still buy Pattern Maker for cross stitch?
Not officially. HobbyWare discontinued Pattern Maker in December 2019 and its website is no longer active. Occasional boxed copies show up through third-party sellers, but there is no official download, license service, or support behind them.
Is there a safe free download of Pattern Maker?
No. Any site offering a free Pattern Maker download today is unofficial, and installers from such sites are a real malware risk. If you want genuinely free pattern software, use a tool that is free by design instead — Knytstudio's free tier gives you the complete editor in the browser with nothing to install.
What happens to my .xsd Pattern Maker files?
.xsd files only open in Pattern Maker itself, so keep your installed copy if you need to edit old charts. A practical migration path: export finished charts to PDF or images from your existing installation, and rebuild active designs in a modern tool — if the pattern came from a photo, re-importing the original photo into Knytstudio is the fastest way.
Does an old copy of Pattern Maker still run on Windows 11?
Generally yes — existing installations tend to keep working on modern Windows. The risk is the day it does not: a new PC, a lost installer, or a license issue has no official fix anymore, which is why many long-time users are moving their workflow to maintained software now, on their own schedule.
Facts about both products last reviewed August 23, 2026. Spotted something outdated? Email us at [email protected].