StitchKeep

StitchKeep Privacy Policy

Effective date: 19 October 2026

StitchKeep is a free app for cross stitchers and hand embroiderers: a floss stash, projects, a shopping list, a PDF chart marker, a stitching timer and free patterns. The short version: your data is yours, and we never see it.

What we collect

Nothing. StitchKeep has:

We run no servers that receive data from the app, and we have no copy of anything you enter.

Where your data lives

Everything you enter or create (threads and partial skeins, supplies, projects, notes, target dates, stitching sessions, pattern images and PDFs, progress photos, chart marks, your owned-pattern library and your statistics) is stored on your device, in the app's own storage. Widgets and the Lock Screen timer read the same on-device storage.

This version of StitchKeep does not sync to iCloud. If we add iCloud sync in a later version, it will use your own private iCloud account (Apple's CloudKit private database), which we cannot read, and we will update this policy before it ships.

Photos

StitchKeep only accesses photos that you choose with the system photo picker (for pattern images, pattern covers and progress photos). It does not ask for permission to your photo library and cannot browse it. Chosen images are copied into the app's storage. Progress timelapses and the "Year in Stitches" card are created on your device and only leave it if you share them with the system share sheet.

Camera (scanning thread labels)

If you use Scan Labels in the Threads tab, StitchKeep asks for permission to use the camera. The camera picture is read on your device by Apple's VisionKit and Vision frameworks to find the color number and barcode printed on a thread label. No photo or video is saved, and nothing is sent to us or to anyone else. You can also choose a label photo with the system photo picker instead; it is read the same way and not kept.

The only thing scanning stores is a small barcode memory: when a label's barcode is seen together with a color number you added, StitchKeep remembers "this barcode is DMC 310" so the next scan of that barcode is instant. It is a list of barcode numbers and color codes, kept on your device in the app's storage; it is not synced, not in backups, and contains no images. Deleting the app deletes it. You can turn camera access off at any time in Settings › Apps › StitchKeep › Camera; typing a code and choosing a photo keep working.

Scanning a pattern's color key. In a project's threads, Import Color Key can read the key from a document-camera scan, a photo you choose, or a scanned PDF you choose (Kit It Up does the same for a pattern PDF that has no text). The pages are read on your device by Apple's Vision framework; the scan images are not saved and nothing is sent to us or anyone else. Only the recognized text is shown, for you to check and edit, and only the threads you confirm are added to the project.

Reminders

If you use Add to Reminders on the shopping list, StitchKeep asks for permission to access your Reminders. With your permission it creates a list called "StitchKeep" in the Reminders app on your device, adds the threads you need to buy, and reads that one list only to avoid adding the same thread twice. Apple's Reminders does not offer a write-only permission, which is why the system prompt says "full access". StitchKeep does not read your other lists, and nothing from Reminders is sent to us. You can turn this permission off at any time in Settings › Apps › StitchKeep › Reminders; the feature then simply does nothing.

Siri, Shortcuts and Spotlight

Siri and Shortcuts actions (checking your stash, adding skeins, starting the timer, reading the shopping list) run on your device and read only the app's own data. Your project names are indexed on-device so Spotlight can find them. When you talk to Siri, your speech is handled by Apple under Apple's privacy policy, not by us.

Files you import and export

Free patterns

The Patterns tab shows patterns published by the developer. The app ships with a bundled copy and, when online, downloads the current catalog, chart PDFs and preview images from our pattern website at https://stitchkeep.app/patterns/, which is hosted by Cloudflare. Like any website, the hosting provider can see the IP address of the device making the request and may keep standard server logs under its own privacy policy. The request contains nothing about you or your stash. Downloaded patterns are cached on your device. Nobody can upload patterns from the app, so there is no user-submitted content. The same way, the app downloads two small lists from that site: the Featured Designers list and the shop catalog used by Add to Cart. Those requests also contain nothing about you.

Tips

StitchKeep is free, with every feature available to everyone. If you choose to leave a tip, it is an in-app purchase processed entirely by Apple. We do not see or store your payment details, name or Apple Account. Tips do not unlock anything. The app remembers only a count of tips on your device, to say thank you. Apple provides us with aggregate sales reports only.

Children

StitchKeep collects no personal information from anyone, including children.

Your choices

Because your data is only on your device, you control it completely: delete the app to delete all of its data, or use Settings › Backups or Settings › Import & Export to export it first. Permissions (Camera, Reminders) can be revoked in iOS Settings at any time.

Changes

If this policy changes, we will update this page and the effective date. Because we collect no data, we expect changes to be rare.

Contact

Questions? Email support@stitchkeep.app.