Centerline and outline

Each object to sew is either Centerline or Outline.

Centerline is a stroke along the line you drew, such as a stem. That line is the path. Outline is a closed shape. Fill stays inside the outline.

	Centerline	Outline
From	Draw, Line, Curve	Oval, Polygon, Star, letters, or Convert to Outline
Path	The line the needle follows	The border of an area
Satin	A column along the line. Satin width is the stroke	A column on the border, or a satin fill inside the border
Fill	A closed drawn path can fill its interior	Fill covers the inside. Border stitch is separate

An object is one or the other. Use Convert to Outline to change a centerline into an outline.

Centerline: stitches that follow the line

Line, Curve, and Draw are Centerline. The path is the spine. Stitches follow that spine, like a ribbon laid along a vine.

This line is a centerline object with Satin. The column sits on the path you placed.

1. Centerline at the top of the right panel is the object type.
2. Border stitch is Satin. Fine line and Bean are the other everyday choices.
3. Satin width is how wide the column is. It stays centered on the line.

To place one: click Shape, then Line. Under Border, choose Satin, then drag Satin width.

Very small centerline satin sews as Bean so the stitches do not pile up.

Outline: a shape with an inside

An oval, polygon, or star is Outline. The path is the border. You can run a stitch along that border, fill the inside, or both.

This hexagon is an outline object with Fill on. The stitches stay inside the border.

1. Fill On covers the inside of the shape.
2. Fill type is Tatami (Parallel). Density and Angle change how the rows run.

A new oval, polygon, or star starts with Fill off and a Fine line border. Turn Fill on to cover the inside. Border and fill can use different threads.

Convert to Outline

Use this when a drawn stroke should become a leaf, a petal, or any closed ribbon with a real inside.

1. Click Draw. Click two or three points for a short open stroke. Click Done.
2. Click Convert to Outline on the tool row under the top bar.
3. Drag Thin toward Wide. The path becomes a closed border around the stroke.
4. Click Done. Properties now say Outline.

On a closed shape, the same command grows or shrinks the border (Smaller / Bigger). A negative amount puts a hole in the middle.

After convert you can turn Fill on, choose Satin, and add Breaks and Inclinations. That is the same construction a digitized letter uses.

Close a drawn path without converting

You can also click the first node of a Draw path to close it, then turn Fill on. The interior fills. The type line still says Centerline: the path is still the spine. Use Convert to Outline when you need a true border, breaks, and inclinations.

When to use which

• Stems, vines, even-width satin: keep Centerline.
• Leaves, petals, badges, filled shapes: use Outline, or convert.
• A name on a towel: Text, which is outline.

The stitch menus themselves are in Stitches and fills.

Next, match the hoop to the frame on your machine: Hoop, fabric, and threads.