How to Plot Stitches When Making Custom Machine Embroidery

Digitizing an image and transforming it into an embroidery design begins with scanning an image into your program. You must then prepare the image for digitizing with your particular program. Once you become familiar with your program's functions, you can begin plotting your stitches and designing your custom embroidery design. Although every program is different, you'll follow a few basic steps when digitizing most designs.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Begin digitizing by placing an underlay stitch, beginning at the center of your design. The underlay is a foundation, which gives your embroidery stability and dimension. Some programs offer preset underlay selections, but you can create your own as dense or sparse as your design requires.

2. Become familiar with the tools which are available with your embroidery program and how to utilize them to maneuver around your design. The running stitch is a good way to get from one area of the design to another without interruption.

3. Review all of the fill designs your program offers. If you have a large area that's one color, you may want to use an automatic fill instead of digitizing each individual stitch. This option is available with most embroidery programs, and you can usually select from several different patterns for these fill patterns.

4. Learn how to use your computer's mouse to plot the stitches in your design. Each click of the mouse indicates a needle penetration by your embroidery machine. The edit and design features on most software programs allow you to create, alter or duplicate designs with your mouse.

Tips & Warnings

• Take advantage of lessons when you purchase an embroidery program. There's a learning curve and continuing product support is important no matter what level you purchase.
• Poorly designed embroidery may cause frequent needle and thread breaks, so it's important to take your time and lay out your design so it sews out as smoothly as possible.