Circular Fill

Description

Circular fill fills a shape with an embroidered spiral. The center of the spiral is positioned at the center of the shape. A target point can be used to define a custom spiral center.

Circular fill using multiple layers
Circular fill using multiple layers
Circular fill with subtle color gradient
Circular fill with subtle color gradient

Creation

  • Create a closed path with a fill color. The shape may have holes.
  • Open the params dialog (Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Params) and select Circular Fill as the fill method. Set the params as you wish and Apply.

Set spiral center

By default the center of the spiral is the geometrical center of the shape. Note that this is not equal to the center of the bounding box.

To change default behavior select the circular fill shape and attach the Target position command to the shape. The center of the command symbol will be the new spiral center.

Read how to attach commands to objects.

Set Start and End Point

Set start and end points for autofill objects with Visual commands.

Parameters

Run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Params to tweak the settings to your needs.

General Settings

Fill stitching

 

Enables or disables fill stitches for the selected object(s)

Fill method

 

Select Circular Fill

Repeats

Repeats

 

Defines how many times to stitch along the path

  • Odd number: stitches will end at the end of the path
  • Even number: stitching will return to the start of the path

Bean stitch number of repeats

 

Determines the number of times to repeat each stitch.

  • A value of 0 does not repeat the stitch (normal stitch)
  • A value of 1 repeats each stitch three times (forward, back, forward).
  • A value of 2 repeats the stitch six times.
  • By entering multiple numbers, it is possible to define a custom repeat pattern. For instance 0 1 will create alternating single and triple stitches (≡-≡-≡).
Stitch length and placement
Stitch length

Running stitch tolerance

 

Determines the acceptable distance from the path. A lower tolerance will bring the stitches closer together. A higher tolerance allows for stitches to be farther away from the path. A higher tolerance may mean sharp corners may be rounded.

Randomize stitch length

 

Allows for randomize stitch length.

Random stitch length jitter

 

Only available if Randomize stitch length is selected. Determines the variation in the length of each stitch.

Minimum stitch length

 

Stitches smaller than this value will be removed.
Overwrites the global minimum stitch length setting.

Size

Expand

 

Expand the shape before fill stitching, to compensate for gaps between shapes.

Density

Spacing between rows

 

Distance between rows of stitches

End row spacing

 

If set, increases or decreases the row spacing towards the end

Travel stitches

Stitch length

 

Stitch length (in mm) of the underpaths from section to section

For circular fill this is the overall stitch length.

Lock stitches

Minimum jump stitch length

 

Shorter distances to the next object will have no lock stitches.
Overwrites the global minimum jump stitch length setting.

Allow lock stitches

 

Enables lock stitches in only desired positions

Force lock stitches

 

If checked, lock stitches are sewn after this element,regardless of the minimum jump stitch length value.

Tack stitch

 

Determines the type of tack stitch.
Tack stitches are small stitches at the beginning of a stitch. They help to secure the beginning of the thread.
Read more

Lock stitch

 

Determines the type of lock stitch.
Lock stitches are small stitches at the end of stitch. They help to secure the end of the thread.
Read more

Commands

Trim After

 

Determines if the thread is trimmed after sewing this object.

Stop After

 

Determines if the machine is stopped after sewing this object. Before stopping it will jump to the stop position (frame out) if defined.

Underlay

Underlay in Circular Fill is the same as for Auto Fill and uses the fill angle which can be defined in the underlay params.

Sample Files Including Circular Fill Stitches