Show HN: My $300 embroidery machine needed a subscription, so I built my own app

ZigZag is a free, open-source embroidery design program created in response to a $300 embroidery machine that required a subscription. Available for Mac and Windows, it converts SVG artwork into machine-readable stitches, lets users edit designs visually, and exports widely used formats including PES, DST, EXP, JEF, and VP3. It can also send designs directly to Brother Skitch machines over Bluetooth. The software includes a command-line tool and support for MCP, allowing AI agents to create and modify designs alongside a user.

The editor offers numerous stitch types, including fills, satin, running, contour, appliqué, cross-stitch, and quilting-style meander. Users can adjust stitch settings and fabric presets, while automatic planning handles issues such as hidden overlaps, sewing order, travel paths, trims, and thread changes. Checks flag potential problems with lettering, stitch widths, tiny gaps, and hoop fit. Built in Rust, ZigZag combines vector drawing tools with embroidery-specific controls; its underlying engine also supports workflows outside the graphical editor. The project aims to provide a complete alternative to subscription-dependent design software, from importing artwork through preparing and transferring a finished machine design.