.HUS embroidery files (Husqvarna Viking older embroidery stitch file)
HUS is the older Husqvarna Viking stitch format. VIP replaced it after the Husqvarna and Pfaff merger, and VP3 and VP4 followed. It keeps stitches and color data in a compressed file that free software can read but not write.
| Extension | .HUS |
|---|---|
| Comes from | Husqvarna Viking |
| Native on | Husqvarna Viking |
| Stores thread colours? | Yes |
| Editable outlines? | No: it is a stitch file (resizing a lot can spoil it) |
| Machines in our guide that read it | 10 |
About .HUS files
HUS is Husqvarna Viking's older embroidery file. Wilcom and mySewnet both list it for Husqvarna and Viking. The UK National Archives' format registry says VIP replaced HUS after Husqvarna and Pfaff merged in the late 1990s, with VP3 and VP4 coming later. For current machines the file to look for is VP3.
EduTechWiki describes a HUS file as a header with the stitch count and color count, a color table, and three packed blocks for stitch commands, X moves and Y moves. The blocks use a compression scheme from the mid-1990s that EduTechWiki calls defunct and proprietary, which makes HUS one of the harder formats for open-source tools.
On the software side, mySewnet and Embrilliance Essentials read and write HUS. Ink/Stitch can read HUS but not write it. Wilcom lists HUS among machine formats, which hold only stitch data and are not fully editable, and says scaling a machine file by more than about 10 percent lowers stitch quality.
How to convert .HUS files
- Use HUS only if the manual for an older Viking machine lists it. For newer machines take VP3.
- mySewnet and Embrilliance Essentials can write HUS. Ink/Stitch can open it but not save it.
- Export from your original editable file, and avoid scaling an exported file by more than about 10 percent.
- Check the colors on the machine screen. A converted file maps colors to Husqvarna's own table, so a shade can shift.
Machines that read .HUS files
Singer
- Singer Futura XL-400 (sewing and embroidery, 10 × 6 in field)
- Singer Futura XL-550 (sewing and embroidery, 10 × 6 in field)
- Singer Futura XL-580 (sewing and embroidery, 10 × 6 in field)
bernette
- bernette b79 (sewing and embroidery, 10 × 6 in field)
- bernette b70 DECO (embroidery only, 10 × 6 in field)
Husqvarna Viking
- Husqvarna Viking Designer Epic 2 (sewing and embroidery, 17.7 × 17.7 in field)
- Husqvarna Viking Designer Ruby 90 (sewing and embroidery, 14 × 13.8 in field)
- Husqvarna Viking Designer EPIC 3 (sewing and embroidery, 18.1 × 17.7 in field)
Pfaff
- Pfaff Creative Sensation Pro (sewing and embroidery, 14 × 13.8 in field)
- Pfaff creative 3.0 (sewing and embroidery, 10 × 8 in field)
Frequently asked questions
Which machines use HUS files?
Older Husqvarna Viking machines. VIP replaced HUS after the late-1990s merger with Pfaff, then VP3 and VP4 followed. The sources do not give a model list, so check your manual.
What is the difference between HUS and VP3?
They are successive Husqvarna stitch formats. HUS is the older one, and VP3 is the file used by current Husqvarna Viking and Pfaff machines.
Can free software save HUS files?
Ink/Stitch can read HUS but not write it. Embrilliance Essentials and mySewnet can write it. EduTechWiki says the old compression scheme makes HUS hard for open-source tools.
Does HUS keep thread colors?
Yes. The header holds a color count and the file uses a color table, so colors are stored as entries from a fixed Husqvarna list. Check the preview after converting.