Help & Support
Getting Started
Creating Your Family
When you first set up Family Stitch, you'll create a family and verify your phone number. You become the admin and can add other family members.
Adding Family Members
Admins can text the Family Stitch number something like 'add Monica 509-555-1234'. Or go to the Members tab and click '+ Add Member'. Either way they get a welcome text and can start texting right away.
Roles: Admin vs Member
Admins can add/remove members, edit member details, and manage family settings. Members can view and create events but can't manage other members.
Events & Calendar
Creating Events
Click on any day in the calendar to add an event. Set the title, time, and optionally choose which family members the event is for.
Editing & Deleting Events
Click on any event to view details. For your own events, you can edit or delete them. Shared events from linked families are read-only.
Recurring Events
When creating an event, you can set it to repeat daily, weekly, or monthly. The event will automatically appear on future dates.
Linked Families
What are Linked Families?
Link your family with another (like grandparents) to share events between families. Great for coordinating across households.
Linking Families
Go to the Linked Families tab and generate an invite code. Share this code with the other family's admin, who can enter it to accept the link.
Sharing Events
When creating an event, you can choose to share it with linked families. They'll see the event on their calendar (read-only).
Lists
Shared Lists
Keep as many lists as you like: groceries, Costco, packing, gift ideas. Everyone in the family sees the same lists, and changes show up for everyone right away.
Adding Items by Text
Text things like 'add milk, eggs and bread to groceries' or 'put sunscreen on the packing list'. If the list doesn't exist yet, it's created. If you don't name a list, items go on Groceries.
Checking Things Off
At the store, text 'got the milk and eggs' or 'check off bread'. Ask 'what's on the grocery list?' to see what's left. On the website, open the Lists tab and tap the circle next to an item.
Managing Lists on the Website
In the Lists tab you can create, rename and delete lists, edit items, paste several items at once (one per line or separated by commas), and clear everything that's been checked off.
Chores
Assigning Chores
Text 'Sam takes the trash out every Thursday at 8pm' or 'Emma unloads the dishwasher every day'. Chores can be one-time, daily, weekly on certain days, or monthly, and can go to one person, several people, or anyone.
Seeing Who Has What
Text 'what are my chores?' or 'what does Emma have this week?'. In the Chores tab on the website, filter by person to see their chores grouped by overdue, today, this week and later.
Marking Chores Done
Text 'I took the trash out' or 'Sam did the dishes', or reply 'done' to a chore reminder. On the website, tap the circle next to a chore (you can undo it). Repeating chores move on to their next date, and each chore keeps a history of who did it and when.
Chore Reminders
Assigned chores can send a reminder text when they're due: at the due time, or 9am if there's no time set. Several chores due together arrive as one text, and reminders only go out between 7am and 9pm. You can turn reminders off for any chore. Reminders count toward your plan's monthly texts.
Polls
Creating a Poll
Go to the Polls tab and click 'Create Poll'. Add a question and at least 2 options. You can also set an optional deadline for voting.
Who Can Vote
Choose which family members can vote on your poll. You can also include members from linked families to get input from grandparents, cousins, etc.
Voting on Polls
Click on any active poll to see the options and cast your vote. You can change your vote anytime before the poll closes.
Viewing Results
Poll results are visible to all participants. See who voted for what and the total vote counts for each option.
Closing a Poll
The poll creator can close voting at any time. Polls also close automatically when their deadline passes.
SMS & Notifications
Text Message Commands
Family members can text the Family Stitch number to ask about upcoming events, add events, manage lists and chores, or get reminders. Just text naturally!
Group Chats
Each family member texts the Family Stitch number directly from their own phone. Group chats don't work: messages sent to a group that includes the number may not arrive, and they can't be tied to a family member. Anyone texting the number needs to be added as a family member first: text 'add [name] [number]', or use the Members tab.
Opting Out
Reply STOP to any Family Stitch message to stop receiving texts. Reply START to opt back in.
Daily Reminders
Family Stitch can send daily reminders about upcoming events. Set your preferred reminder time in family settings.
Your Account
Multiple Families
You can be a member of multiple families. When logging in, you'll be able to choose which family to view. Switch families anytime from the dashboard.
Updating Your Name
Go to Account settings to update your display name.
Leaving a Family
In Account settings, you can leave a family you're a member of (unless it's your only family).
Privacy & Security
Your Messages
All text messages are encrypted at rest. Privacy built in.
Need More Help?
Have questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.
Email us at support@familystitch.com