Digitize appliqué

Automatically create all the stitching you need for appliqué using the Digitize Appliqué tool. Up to three types of ‘secondary objects’ can be generated together with a frame-out position.

Element	Purpose
Placement lines	These are the first appliqué layer to be stitched. Optionally, they are used to position pre-cut appliqué patches on the background material.
Cutting lines	Cutting lines form a guide for trimming the fabric of an appliqué patch when using the 'Trim-in-place' style.
Tackdown	This is a zigzag or run stitch placed after placement and cutting lines, and used to fix appliqué patches to the background fabric before cover stitching is applied.
Frame-out	By default, a ‘frame-out’ is automatically set. During stitchout, it causes the hoop to shift out from beneath the needle, making it easier to place and trim appliqué shapes.

When you stitch out an appliqué object, the machine stops between layers. Before you start, lay the fabric over the design and start the machine. When the guideline has been stitched, trim the excess appliqué material and start the machine again for the tackdown and cover stitch. If you are using a cutting line, place the fabric patch after the placement line has been stitched, then trim in position after the cutting line has been stitched.

Use Appliqué > Digitize Appliqué to show Appliqué tab of Object Properties docker. Digitize appliqué objects with up to four layers of stitching – placement line, cutting line, tack stitches, and cover stitches.

Appliqué fabrics

The Object Properties > Appliqué docker contains a Fabric panel which allows you to choose a fabric or plain color to assign to your appliqué patches. Each appliqué object in a design can have a different fabric. Choose from amongst the included ‘factory’ swatches or choose a scanned sample of the fabric you want to use. To place a fabric...

Double-click or right-click an appliqué object. The docker opens to the Appliqué tab.
Click the Appliqué Fabric button. Choose a fabric or plain color in the dialog to assign to your appliqué patch. The Fabric/Color/None options allow you to select between fabrics or plain colors.
Alternatively, use the Custom setting to select from a range of installed fabric swatches in the Hatch Pictures folder.
Use the Appliqué Fabric toggle to turn appliqué fabrics/colors display on/off.

Use Appliqué > Digitize Appliqué to show Appliqué tab of Object Properties docker. Digitize appliqué objects with up to four layers of stitching – placement line, cutting line, tack stitches, and cover stitches.

Create appliqué objects

Use Digitize Appliqué to generate all the stitching you require for normal appliqué. Up to four layers of stitching can be generated. The digitizing method is the same as for normal closed shapes. To create appliqué objects...

Insert an image for use as a digitizing backdrop and select Digitize Appliqué. The Appliqué docker opens.
Define up to four layers of stitching – placement line, cutting line, tackdown and cover stitch. Appliqué objects generated according to these settings.

Digitize the appliqué boundary, marking reference points around the perimeter – left-click for corner points, right-click for curve points.
If you make a mistake, press Backspace to delete the last reference point.
Press Enter to close the shape. This object below has been broken apart to show the four layers...

Use Appliqué > Frame-out Options to use to access the frame-out options in the Appliqué tab of Embroidery Settings dialog.

Set frame-out position

By default, a ‘frame-out’ is automatically set to top-left. During stitchout, the frame (hoop) moves out from under the needle, making it easier to place and trim appliqué fabrics. You need to turn off TrueView to see it.

On some machines, wherever the frame (hoop) moves, the needle will form a tie-off. When it starts up again, it will add a tie-in. To avoid unwanted needle penetrations and 'knots' appearing in your fabric, two other presets are available via the Frame-out Options tool...

In addition to automatic frame-out, you have the option of setting it manually. After choosing Manual, you are prompted to digitize a frame-out after pressing Enter. This may be desirable where the hoop attaches to the machine.

Use the 'place under cover stitches' option when you don't want to move the needle at all. This conceals unwanted tie-ins and tie-offs.

Depending on your machine type, specific functions may be needed to initialize the machine or trigger a frame-out. Frame-outs are specified as 'Stop' or 'Color Change' functions...

While the software allows you to turn on or off trims and tie-offs, some machines will override this whenever they encounter a color change.

Use Appliqué > Digitize Appliqué with Holes to show Appliqué tab of Object Properties docker. Digitize appliqué objects with holes with up to four layers of stitching – placement line, cutting line, tack stitches, and cover stitches.

Create appliqué with holes

The Digitize Appliqué tool digitizes normal appliqué objects with a single boundary. However, there may be instances where you want to create appliqué objects with one or more holes. For instance...

To generate appliqué objects with multiple boundaries, use the Digitize Appliqué with Holes tool. You will be prompted to digitize another boundary after pressing <Enter>. Double-click the object to edit object properties.

Use Appliqué > Convert to Appliqué to use to convert selected closed objects into individual appliqués.

Convert to appliqué

As an alternative to digitizing appliqué objects from scratch...

Use the Convert to Appliqué tool to turn closed embroidery objects to appliqué with up to four layers of stitching – guide runs, cutting lines, tack stitches, and cover stitches. Separate outlines will convert to separate appliqué objects...
Filled shapes with holes will convert to a single appliqué object with holes...
Double-click generated objects to access appliqué properties.
If you have chosen 'Manual' as your preferred frame-out option, the behavior of the Convert to Appliqué tool changes.
A delimiting box appears around the object you are converting to appliqué. Follow the prompts in the Status bar at the bottom of the screen.
You will be prompted to enter three points – entry, exit, and frame-out position. Click to enter each one in turn or press <Enter> to accept the system defaults.
Use the 'Reshape' tool on the 'Select' toolbar to change the frame-out position as necessary.

Use Appliqué > Digitize Appliqué to show Appliqué tab of Object Properties docker. Digitize appliqué objects with up to four layers of stitching – placement line, cutting line, tack stitches, and cover stitches.

Appliqué styles

You can specify whether to pre-cut your appliqué or trim it in place.

Select and double-click the appliqué object. The Appliqué docker tab is divided into five functional areas – fabric, style, tackdown stitch, cover stitch, and offset.
Use 'pre-cut' if the appliqué shape will be pre-cut or cut out on an appliqué cutter or by some other means. This option includes a placement line as a guide to position pre-cut fabric patches prior to tack down. Check it using the Stitch Player. Note that 'pre-cut' includes three appliqué elements – placement line, tackdown stitch, cover stitch...
In addition to a placement line, the trim-in-place option adds a cutting line to hold fabric in place and provide a cutting guide. Use this option if you want to cut the appliqué fabric in place.

Use Appliqué > Digitize Appliqué to show Appliqué tab of Object Properties docker. Digitize appliqué objects with up to four layers of stitching – placement line, cutting line, tack stitches, and cover stitches.

Appliqué stitch settings

The cover stitch is the border around an appliqué shape. You can control various cover settings including stitch type – Satin, Blanket or Zigzag – width, stitch spacing, as well as offset. Tack stitch, as the name suggests, is used to hold down the appliqué piece after it has been placed in position.

Select a tack stitch type from the droplist – Single Run, Blanket, or Zigzag – and adjust width and/or spacing as needed. The choice of tack stitch will be determined by the roughness of the fabric edge and possibly the weight of fabric used. Width is constrained by the width of cover stitch.
Select a cover stitch from the droplist – Satin, Zigzag, etc. Similarly, you have control over cover stitch width and spacing.
Use the Offsets controls to offset cover stitch relative to the appliqué boundary – inside or outside. Placement line and tack offset can be independently controlled. Alternatively, tick the checkbox to lock placement line and tack offset to the cover stitch.

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Reverse blanket cover

Note that when you choose 'Blanket' as your cover stitch, an additional 'Orientation' setting becomes available. This allows you to switch stitching orientation as shown...

Be sure to use the 'pre-cut' method when using blanket stitch and pre-cut your fabric with a bonding stabilizer on the back.

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Automatic corners for appliqué

Automatic Corners work with appliqué. You can turn the effect on/off in both appliqué and normal embroidery.