FTCU Digitizing Practice – Merry Christmas towel

Have fun practicing your digitizing and create this holiday towel for some quick gifts for your family and friends!

Tip: Use the Auto Knockdown tool to add knockdown stitches to cover the nap of the towel.

If you would like a PDF written copy of this tutorial, fill out the email form below and it will be emailed to you! It will also include the jpeg image.

Before you start tracing your design, you will need to create a digitizing plan.

Step 1: Open the background image

The image you will be tracing for this design is included in the download file with the pdf tutorial. If it is a zipped file, you must unzip the file to be able to open the image in FTCU.

To open the backdrop image:

1. click on NEW page icon on the top tool bar (under the word FILE).
   
2. click on the Backdrop tool (on the left toolbar)
3. navigate to the location of the file on your computer where the jpeg image was downloaded with this PDF tutorial
4. click on the image and OPEN

Step 2: Determine the finished size

Determine the finished size of the design and the hoop size you will use. Adjust the size in the properties box:

1. click on the Backdrop tool (on the left toolbar) – this will select the image

2. in the properties box, change either the width OR the height (it will adjust the aspect ratio for you)

3. click APPLY.

Resize the image

You may need to resize the background image so that it will fit your hoop size.

To resize the background image:

• click on the Background tool (on the left toolbar) – this will select the image
• in the properties box, change either the width OR the height (it will adjust the aspect ratio for you)
• click APPLY.

Step 3: Decide the stitching order

• objects that are “behind” other parts, or “under” other parts, will need to be digitized first.
• try to order the shapes with the same colors to be stitched consecutively, if possible.

I would suggest that you set your FTCU Preferences to the following workspace setup before you begin digitizing. These are the settings that I use in all my tutorials and advise everyone to use. They are the most user friendly settings for learning to digitize.

 

For every segment of the design, you will follow these 4 steps:

DIGITIZING ORDER # 1 – Merry

• use the Text tool to create the text words Merry
• Latte font was used – choose whatever font you prefer
• drag the text to the proper placement over the jpeg image
• resize as needed
• determined the thread color you would like for the text words

DIGITIZING ORDER # 2 – Christmas

• use the Text tool to create the text words Christmas
• Latte font was used
• drag the text to the proper placement over the jpeg image
• resize as needed
• determined the thread color you would like for the text words

This is how your text words and your sequence view should look:

digitizing order #3 – holly leaves

• trace a holly leaf using the Fill stitch tool
• you can trace the leaf in two sections, if you would like to have more interest and texture in your leaf – just trace each half and adjust the angle lines
• TIP: trace one leaf and then select the segment(s) in the sequence view and copy and paste the other two leaves – adjust the placement as needed per the image
• edit the Fill stitch type in the properties box – if you would like a different texture

digitizing order #4 – berries

You can easily create the berries using the Custom Shape tool and then convert it to a Satin stitch using the Stitch tools on the bottom toolbar.

• use the Custom Shape tool on the top toolbar to trace one small circle
• select the artwork circle in the sequence view and convert it to a satin stitch using the Auto Satin on the bottom toolbar
• copy and paste the satin circle to create the other berries
• choose a thread color as needed

digitizing order #5 – Knockdown stitches

If you would like to use this design on a towel that has a nap, then it will be important to add Knockdown stitches to the design. These will stitch first and will hold down the nap on the towel so that the embroidery stitches do not get buried within the nap.

• select the Text in the sequence view, RIGHT click and in the menu, choose BREAKUP TEXT
• in the sequence view, click on ALL ITEMS to select all the segments
• on the top toolbar, click on the Auto Knockdown Tool

The Knockdown stitches will now be the FIRST segment in the sequence view.

change the thread color of the knockdown stitches

You will probably want to change the thread color of the stitches to match the color of the towel.

• select the knockdown stitches (fill) in the sequence view
• left click on a new thread color on the bottom thread color toolbar

 

Here is how the finished design looks and the sequence view:

 

I hope you find this tutorial helpful. It is a basic guide to digitizing a design using the Knockdown Tool.

You can find a more in-depth tutorial and video showing the exact step-by-step details for creating this design and others inside the Embroidery Gatherings Membership Club! There are over 75 lessons to help you learn to digitize with Floriani FTCU. And, you can get one-on-one guidance on digitizing your own designs too. You can find out more information HERE!

And, as always, if you have any questions, please send me an email at: paula@embroiderygatherings.com and I will be happy to help!

 

 

If you would like a PDF written copy of this tutorial, fill out the email form below and it will be emailed to you! It will also include the jpeg image.