Learn to digitize a Fill stitch with Floriani FTCU

This beginner tutorial will show you how to trace a Fill Stitch in Floriani FTCU.

Fill stitches are one of the basic digitizing stitches.

Once you learn to trace the basic stitch, then you can experiment and try different fill patterns from the list in the properties box. Changing the fill patterns will make your designs creative and unique.

Skill Level: Beginner

Digitizing skills in this tutorial:

fill stitch tool
editing the tracing line
adjusting the angle
changing the fill pattern

If you would like a PDF written copy of this tutorial,

fill out the email form at the end of this lesson and it will be emailed to you!

Before you start this lesson, I suggest that you set your FTCU workspace settings to match mine. Then, when you are working through the steps in the lesson, you will see the same view that I am showing you.

I recommend these settings when you are first learning to digitize. Later, you can change your preferences to some of the Advanced settings and give those a try.

OPEN THE IMAGE:

you will be tracing an image from the Backdrop Library in Floriani FTCU.
click on NEW page icon on the top tool bar (under the word FILE).
click on the Backdrop Library tool (on the top toolbar)
scroll to image FBD092. Click on the image and OPEN.

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

click on the Backdrop 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.

Digitizing Tools Menu:

To locate the Run stitch tool that you will be using in this lesson, left click on the blue satin icon on the top toolbar in FTCU.

In the fly-out menu, you can choose the Run Stitch Digitizing Tools:

Let’s get started!

Digitizing Order #1 – left side of heart

For this segment you will be using the FILL stitch tool

Step 1: Choose the stitch:

left click on the Stitch Tools icon on the top toolbar
in the fly-out menu, left click on the FILL stitch icon on the top tool bar.

Step 2: Choose the thread color:

left click on a pink thread color

Step 3: Trace the shape

enlarge screen to 200% or more, if needed
trace around the edge of the heart using left clicks to place anchor points
place the last node directly on top of the beginning node to close the shape
notice that I only placed a few nodes, (you will edit those in the next step)
RIGHT click on the workspace to finish

Step 4: Edit the shape segment

in the sequence view, click on the plus sign to open the stitch (if not open)
click on FILL to select the stitch segment
click on the EDIT SHAPE tool (on the left toolbar)
hover the cursor over one of the traced lines of the segment
drag the lines to adjust or drag the blue nodes to adjust (as needed)
adjust the angle line
enlarge the screen to 200% or more to see the details
RIGHT click when finished to set the changes

edit the fill pattern

in the sequence view, make sure the FILL is still selected

in the properties box, click on the drop down arrow and choose a FILL TYPE and PATTERN that you would like to use
you can experiment with different combinations – Be CREATIVE!
click APPLY to set the changes

This is the FILL PATTERN that I choose to use: