Here’s a new Digitizing Practice! I hope everyone has a best friend like this to digitize!
Fill out the form below and the image and a PDF guide will be sent to your email inbox.
Download the image from your email and use your creativity to trace and digitize the image, however you would like. The PDF guide will include a numbered digitizing plan and suggestions and tips for tracing the image.
Create A Digitizing Plan
Decide which shapes to trace first – look at the image and think of it as layers. Trace the layers in back first. Trace the shapes that should stitch first and leave the details for last.
Digitizing suggestions
The following notes are a few suggestions to help you follow a digitizing plan for this image.
These notes include the order in which I suggest you trace the shapes and the stitch tools that would be the most appropriate for the that shape.
Of course, I encourage you to use your creativity and use whatever stitch and thread colors that you would prefer! That is the benefit of digitizing our own designs. No two will ever be the same!
digitizing plan:
Note:
- The body area could be traced with the Fill stitch tool and white thread – but I am assuming that this design will only be traced with the outlines and the fabric will be the background for the body area
- if you would prefer to trace a body area using the Fill stitch, then I would suggest that you trace that area FIRST before any of the other segments – as it will lay behind (or under) all of the other elements
left scarf
You have two options to trace this scarf:
Option 1:
- trace the entire teal colored area as ONE shape using the Fill stitch tool
- later, when you trace the outlines, you will define the two shapes
Option 2:
- trace each of the 3 sections of the scarf individually using the Fill stitch tool
- tracing each section, as its own segment, allows you to have the ability to change the angle lines and therefore create more definition and textures within the scarf
right scarf
Same as the above scarf. Again, you have two options: trace as one whole segment or two segments
face accents
- trace each of the small accents on both faces using the Fill stitch tool
- edit the angle lines to create different textures and shadows
cheeks
- use the Artwork tool and create a small circle for the cheek
- convert the artwork to a satin using the AUTO SATIN tool on the bottom toolbar
- copy and paste to the other cheeks
black outlines
- outline each of the shapes using the Run stitch and changing it to a BEAN stitch
- for this design you will need to manually trace each of the shapes – the Outline Tool would not work for this design
face
- use the Run stitch tool and trace whiskers – change the Run to a bean stitch
- use the Steil stitch satin tool to trace the eyes
- trace the nose using the Fill stitch tool
Digitizing Steps
Follow these 4 digitizing steps for each shape, as a guide, to get you started.
editing suggestion
- edit the shapes as you trace each of them
- when tracing the outline, try to consider the tracing route to minimize the amount of jump stitches
- when you have finished tracing, use the Optimize Entry and Exit Tool to help the design stitch more smoothly and to minimize the jump stitches
For those of you who belong to the Embroidery Gatherings Membership Club, here is a link to the Lesson Directory to find coordinating lessons to help you trace and edit this practice design.
need help?
Here are two ways to get the help you need to digitize your own designs.
1. Have a digitizing question?
Join the Embroidery Gatherings Facebook group and ask your questions, anytime.
2. To receive lots of extra TLC with FTCU digitizing….
You can get one-to-one digitizing help by joining our Embroidery Gatherings Membership Club. There are over 75 step-by-step written lessons and videos to help you learn to digitize your own embroidery designs using the FTCU software. We can create a personalized “journey” for you to learn to digitize!
Click HERE to find out more information.
share your design!
After you have finished, you are welcome to share your design image with our Embroidery Gatherings Facebook group. We would love to see your creativity!
Fill out the email form below and a PDF copy of this digitizing practice and the image, will be emailed to you!