June 2014 Working with Embroidery Settings School is out and the summer months are here! Winter is behind us, and it s time to relax, take vacations or picnic by the lake. Summer is a wonderful time to regroup from the long school year and put behind hectic schedules that may have limited time for creativity. The featured technique in this month s issue of Embroidery Made Easy provides more insight into the capabilities of the Editing software. This month you ll learn more about Embroidery Settings, a function that provides basic dialogue from within the software to edit the settings of any block. This function can be considered as the embroidery core of the software. Perhaps there s a wedding in your future and you d like to give a personalized gift that the bride will treasure forever. This month s project is a beautiful monogrammed, lace drawstring bag that is crafted from lace that you designed entirely in the hoop. She won t believe that you made it! Then, learn the value of the Print Preview function in this month s Inside Your Software article. So, grab a cold glass of lemonade and let s get started! Embroidery Settings The Editing software for the SINGER FUTURA TM sewing & embroidery machine is loaded with features that can help to transform designs, including those that you have digitized yourself. Digitizing software such as AutoPunch will convert images into stitch data so that the embroidery machine can stitch them out. There are limitations as to what AutoPunch can do, however. Often, fine details need to be added after digitizing because the wizard is incapable of adding variances, treating every circumstance it encounters in the same way. Designs that are interesting usually contain varying stitch types and stitch angles. The Editing software provides the opportunity to fine-tune details and add creativity to your designs. In last month s issue of Embroidery Made Easy, we introduced topics that include instructions on editing stitch angle, altering the outline, changing the entry/exit points and using the Preset Fabric function. The lesson in this issue builds upon this foundation, you may find it very helpful to review the May issue before proceeding with this month s topic, Embroidery Settings. Continued on page 2
Embroidery Settings is a window which provides basic information about the embroidery attributes of the design. When the Embroidery Settings box is opened, you have the opportunity to edit these attributes in one, or more than one, of the blocks in a design. This is a powerful tool that provides options for making changes to stitch density, underlayment, outlines and stretch. You will also find catalogs that contain hundreds of different stitch types that can be applied to the blocks to add those fine details that will make the design more interesting. One thing you should know about the Embroidery Settings window is that it can only display specific information such as density, underlayment and stitch type, when the block(s) of design have originated from the automated wizards like AutoPunch TM and HyperFont TM or as a result of a Stitch to Block conversion. More clearly stated, the design needs to be in the native language of FUTURA TM which is.fhe. If the design is in another format, such as.dst, no block information can be provided. In this case, the Embroidery Settings window will display more generic information on the design, such as, dimension, number of stitches and a list of colors. We ll use a teddy bear design to examine the various attributes outlined in the Embroidery Settings box. If you d like to follow along, download the Teddy Bear design from the website (Click HERE) and save it to your computer, and then open the design in the software for FUTURA. Select the Editing icon from the main tool bar. Right click, then select Embroidery Settings. Click on the body of the teddy bear to highlight that block. Tip: The Embroidery Settings window can remain open at all times if you click on this arrow. Notice there are two tabs in the Embroidery Settings box, Settings and Stitch Type. Let s look at Stitch Type first. Density Density refers to the amount of distance between stitches. Too little density creates stitches that do not cover the fabric, and too much density can cause the stitches to pile up on each other, resulting in a design that is stiff on the fabric. The lower the number, the more space will be between the stitches and the higher the number, the less will be between stitches. Underlay Underlay stitches are stitches that lay below the main stitches of the design, providing a foundation or structure for the top stitches. This foundation provides stability and support to maintain the integrity of the design. Underlay is lighter in coverage than the decorative top stitches. There are various types of underlay: Central Underlay adds a central running stitch to the block (only available for column blocks) Edgewalk Underlay adds a double line of underlay stitches to the perimeter of the block JUNE2014 Issue, Page 2
Fill Underlay provides a zig-zag type of underlay, most suitable for blocks that use a fill type of stitch. This type of underlay offers a support structure that can be especially helpful for larger blocks. Often, this type of underlay runs in the opposite direction of the top stitches. Running/Satin stitch Outline adds an automatic outline, either a running stitch or satin stitch outline around the block. The width of the satin stitch outline can be set along with the color of the outline. The outline stitches are stitched after the block is finished. Stretch Stretches the stitches of the block further outside their original outline to compensate for any push/pull effect on the fabric on which the design will be embroidered. One or more of these options can be given to the block that you are working on depending on the desired results. To activate a function, simply put a check in the corresponding box. Let s make some changes to the bear. First, make a note of the stitch count of the design found on the main tool bar. The stitch count should be approximately 14915. Before In the Embroidery Settings box: Select Fill Underlay Select Satin Stitch Outline Set to 40.00 Select Stretch Select Apply Satin Outline After Fill Underlay Stitches The changes may not seem to appear when you view the design in actual size. Use the Zoom feature to get a close up view. This is a view of the left ear of the bear. Now you can notice the changes the Fill underlay is running the opposite direction of the top stitches and a Satin Stitch outline surrounds the block. Also notice the stitch count has increased to 21182. JUNE 2014 Issue, Page 3
Now, let s look at the Stitch Type tab in the Embroidery Settings box. There are many options to choose from and these options can vary depending on the particular block you ve highlighted. For example, if you ve selected a block that has a fill or freeform type stitch like that in the bear s body, you ll have certain types of fill patterns to choose from. If you select a block which is a column type stitch, you ll have different options. The focus of this lesson is on the options for the fill type stitch. We ll discuss the column fill options at another time. Select the Stitch Type tab. Scroll through the list. When you select a fill type, a picture of the fill appears in the Preview window. Continue to scroll through the list until you see, Step Pattern. Select this, then click on Catalog. A catalog of 100 different fill types opens. Scroll through the catalog, when you find the fill type that you d like to use, double click on the fill box. The stitch number of that fill appears below the Preview window that also shows what that fill type looks like. In this case, Stitch Type 098. The size of the fill pattern can also be set by changing the number in the Max size and Distance box. 60 is the default setting and is a good starting point in most cases. Select Apply to make the changes. The bear now is filled with the new stitch type. You may change how you view the catalog by the options available in the upper left corner. Large icons, small icons and the amount of icons that appear at one time can be selected. JUNE 2014 Issue, Page 4
Continue to scroll through the list of fill types and you ll discover more options. Another option is Motif, which is a type of fill that has a lacy effect. This type of fill typically leaves the fabric showing through the stitching. Motif also has a catalog of over one hundred options, including one or two color fill patterns. Access the catalog the same way as before. Using a lace type fill wouldn t necessarily be appropriate for the bear image, but for this exercise, let s try it anyway. While still in the Embroidery Settings, select the body of the bear Select Motif Select Catalog Double click to select a fill from the Catalog Select Apply The bear image is filled with the lacy fill. The size of the lace pattern can also be altered by changing the Max size and Distance. Another option under Stitch Type is Appliqué. Appliqué is a special technique that is used to secure a decorative piece of fabric to the base fabric, normally with a satin stitch outline. When executed by hand, creating an appliqué takes several steps and can be time consuming to accomplish. Selecting this option in the software can save time and effort, by automatically generating a sequence of steps that will produce the appliqué for you. These steps include the following: Guideline Stitch A running stitch to indicate the area where the appliqué fabric should be positioned. JUNE 2014 Issue, Page 5
First Hold down line A running stitch that holds down the applique fabric to the main fabric in the hoop. Second Hold down line A stronger stitch in the shape of an E that is used to hold the applique fabric to the main fabric. Overlock Stitches The Satin stitch outline that finishes the edge of the applique. The width and density of the satin stitch can be set. Frame Out A jump stitch to move the embroidery frame out of the way, allowing you to easily place the applique fabric to the main fabric in the hoop where indicated. This will only apply if the Frame Out setting is checked. Let s apply the Applique to the bear design. Once again select the body of the bear. Select Applique under the Stitch Type tab in the Embroidery Settings box. Select First Hold down line. Select Overlock stitches. Density 4.00 and Width 30.00. Select Apply The body of the bear appears with a fabric swatch where the applique fabric will be placed. (Please refer to the Featured Technique of the January 2013 issue of Embroidery Made Easy for more details on how to use the Applique feature.) JUNE 2014 Issue, Page 6
Print Preview Print Preview is a function in the software that allows you to view and print the design in the actual size. This is a very practical tool that provides you with a quick look at the embroidery design before stitching it out. Because the printed copy is in the exact size of the design, you may also use it as a template for positioning the design on to the fabric. In addition, the printed copy is perfect for keeping a record of the details of the design. To access the Print Preview function, Select File from the main tool bar, then select Print Preview. Let s take a look at the information that appears at the bottom of the Print Preview screen. 1. The number of Stitches in the design. 2. The dimensions of the design. 3. The color blocks in the design each color block is listed in sequential order, with the thread color in the current thread palette that you re using in FUTURA TM software. 4. The scale of the design. 5. The total thread count how much thread is used to stitch out the design. 6. The Legend: Black + is the Design Origin Point and the Black X is the Design End Point. If you d like to use the printed copy as a template, center the design in the hoop before using the Print Preview function. This will ensure that the cross lines on the design are centered over the design. Once you ve printed the copy, cut around the design as shown above to create the template. Position the template onto the fabric and pin in place. Place the fabric in the hoop, aligning the cross lines of the template with the center markings on the inner hoop. Remove the template before stitching out the design. JUNE 2014 Issue, Page 7
This darling little bag is ideal for storing precious trinkets or jewelry. It could also be used as a sachet. The texture of the bag is created from lace that you make with your SINGER FUTURA TM sewing & embroidery machine. Personalize it with a monogram for that special someone. Visit the SINGERCo.com/blog to download the project! Click HERE to download the Lace Sachet graphic. Lettering - Manipulating Individual Letters JUNE 2014 Issue, Page 8