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Tatami fills

Tatami fill stitch consists of rows of run stitches and is suitable for filling large, irregular shapes. Stitches are laid in rows going back and forth across the shape. These can be parallel or slightly turning. Stitch offsets in each row eliminate unwelcome split lines. You can control stitch density in tatami fill objects by adjusting the pattern, stitch spacing and length.


Use Object Properties > Fill > Tatami to create stitch fills for larger, irregular shapes with solid, uniformly flat fields of stitching.

Use Digitize > Digitize Closed Shape to create closed shapes using either outline or fill stitching. Left-click for corner points, right-click for curves.

Apply Tatami fill

To preset Tatami fill, open the Object Properties with no objects selected. To edit settings, select a tatami fill object. The Object Properties > Fill tab opens. Select Tatami and choose a suitable pattern from the gallery. Any closed line digitizing tool is available for use.

Tatami patterns are formed by needle penetrations. The default pattern (No. 1) is designed to create a uniformly flat and smooth texture similar to a woven mat. There are many other preset patterns to choose from. Experiment to find the best pattern for your purpose.

Use Select > Reshape to reshape an object shape, edit stitch angles, adjust entry and exit points, or customize envelopes.

Generally default size and spacing will produce the best results, but you may want to change stitch angle.


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Tatami fill density

For Tatami fill, stitch density is determined by row spacing. The spacing setting is the distance between two forward rows. To increase density, enter a smaller value. To create a more open fill, enter a larger value.

Stitch length varies slightly in Tatami fill to ensure that small stitches are not generated at the edges of the shape. Increase length for a looser, more glossy appearance.

Notice that the Travel on Edge setting is activated automatically for spacings larger than 0.9mm. This forces underlying travel stitches to the edges of shapes, preventing them from showing through open stitching. See also Gradient fill.