Digitizing Practice – Mardi Gras Fun

Here’s a new Digitizing Practice! Even if you don’t live in New Orleans, you can still have fun digitizing this Mardi Gras design!

Designed by Freepik

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

This design should be traced based on your color changes. There are no “layers” to consider. Each shape is an individual shape and not attached to any others. Trace all of the shapes of one thread color and then move to the next thread color. That will minimize your color changes.

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!

Crown

• trace the shape with the Fill stitch tool
• you can trace it all as ONE shape – but for more definition and texture – try tracing it in five sections
• you can also change the Fill pattern
• remember to overlap your segments so there is no gap when stitching

yellow stars

• you can either trace them with the Fill stitch tool or
• use the CUSTOM SHAPES Library and select a star shape – then choose your thread color and convert the artwork using the stitch icons on the bottom toolbar – EASY!
• then copy and paste the star – move to the correct place – and repeat for the other yellow stars

Yellow flourishes

• trace using the Fill stitch tool
• copy and paste and place the second flourish
• you will also need to flip the shape using the Flip Horizontal tool on the top toolbar

yellow text

• use the Text tool and create individual letters
• place each letter as needed
• TIP: FRED font is similar to the text used in this image – however you can choose whatever text you like

orange circles

• use the CUSTOM SHAPES tool on the top toolbar to draw a circle
• then convert it to satin stitches using the AUTO Satin tool on the bottom toolbar
• copy and paste to create the other circles
• don’t forget the circles on the tips of the crown!

Orange text

• use the Text tool and create individual letters
• place each letter as needed

green flourish

• trace using the Fill stitch tool
• copy and paste and place the second flourish
• you will also need to flip the shape using the Flip Horizontal tool on the top toolbar

green text

• use the Text tool and create individual letters
• place each letter as needed

Lt purple stars

• same method as the yellow stars
• you can either trace them with the Fill stitch tool or
• use the CUSTOM SHAPES Library and select a star shape – then choose your thread color and convert the artwork using the stitch icons on the bottom toolbar
• then copy and paste the star – move to the correct place – and repeat for the other stars

lt purple text

• use the Text tool and create individual letters
• place each letter as needed

purple stars

• Fill stitch – same as the other stars

purple text

• use the Text tool and create individual letters
• place each letter as needed

Digitizing Steps

Follow these 4 digitizing steps for each shape, as a guide, to get you started.

editing suggestion

• Note: unfortunately, you will have many jump stitches in this design – they are all separate shapes and there is no way to avoid this
• after you have finished digitizing your design, select ALL ITEMS in the sequence view and click on the Auto Lock icon to set the tie-ins and tie-offs for the design

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!