How to Use Stitch Flow to Control Stitch Direction and Divides – Level Advanced

This guide will show you how to use the Stitch Flow tools to precisely control the direction of stitches and divide embroidery objects into smaller sections. Mastering this feature can significantly improve the quality, texture, and professional look of your final designs.

Part 1: Activating Stitch Flow and Selecting an Object

Stitch Flow is a special operating mode. To begin using it, you must first start the mode and select an object from your design.

1. Start the Stitch Flow mode from the toolbar.
2. If no object is selected, click on the object you wish to edit.
3. Once an object is selected, the available Stitch Flow tools will appear at the top of the design area.

Tip: The tools that appear depend on the type of object you select:

• Step Fill Objects: You will only see the “Directions” tool.
• Satin or Piping Objects: You will have access to “Directions”, “Divide”, and “Point directions” tools.

Part 2: Applying Stitch Directions to Step Fill Objects

Step fill objects can only have a single, uniform stitch direction. The “Directions” tool allows you to set or change this angle.

1. With Stitch Flow active, select a Step object. The “Directions” tool will be enabled by default.
2. Move your cursor over the object. It will change to show you are holding a red dot.
3. Click and drag across the object to draw a line. This line defines the new angle for the stitches.
4. Release the mouse button. The stitches will immediately regenerate according to the direction line you drew.
5. To edit the direction: Click and drag the small dots on either end of the red direction line to adjust its angle.
6. To delete the direction: A small (X) appears in the middle of the line. Click it to delete your custom direction and revert to the default angle.

Note: For Step objects, drawing a new direction line will always replace the previous one.

Part 3: Using ‘Divide’ and ‘Directions’ on Satin/Piping Objects

Satin and Piping objects offer more advanced control, allowing you to divide them into multiple sections and give each section its own unique stitch direction.

Step A: Dividing an Object

1. With Stitch Flow active, select a Satin or Piping object.
2. From the options at the top, select the “Divide” tool.
3. Move your cursor over the object’s outline. It will change to show you are holding a green dot.
4. Click on one side of the object’s outline and drag a line across to the other side.
5. Release the mouse button to create a green divide line. The object will now be split into sections along this line.
6. You can continue adding as many divide lines as you need to create complex sections.

Step B: Adding Directions to Divided Sections

1. After creating your divides, select the “Directions” tool from the top options.
2. Move your cursor over one of the new sections you created.
3. Just like with Step fills, click and drag to draw a red direction line within that section.
4. You can add a unique direction line to each individual section of the object.

Part 4: Editing and Useful Tips

Editing and Deleting Lines

You can edit or delete any direction or divide line you have created.

• To Edit: Click and drag the dots on the ends of the line.
• To Delete: Click the (X) in the middle of the line.

Important Tip: You can only edit the lines for the currently active tool. For example, if the “Directions” tool is enabled, you can only edit or delete the red direction lines. To edit the green divide lines, you must first click to enable the “Divide” tool.

Keyboard Shortcut

You can quickly switch between the available Stitch Flow tools for your selected object by pressing the “D” key on your keyboard. This acts as a toggle. For a Satin object, pressing “D” will switch you between the “Directions” and “Divide” tools, saving you time.

Note: This guide covers the primary functions of the Stitch Flow tool. The “Point directions” tool and advanced abilities like creating Curved directions and divides will be presented in separate tutorials.