Cross Stitch

This feature will be part of an upcoming Ink/Stitch release. It is not yet integrated in Ink/Stitch.

Description

Cross stitch mimics traditional hand embroidery techniques. Cross-stitch is characterized by small, even crosses, which give the embroidered image a flat, blockish look.

Cross stitch with a black bean stitch outline

Creation

Draw a closed shape with a fill color
Open the params dialog
Select Cross stitch as the fill method

Grids And The Coverage Parameter

It is important to understand the cross stitch coverage parameter.

The coverage parameter defines the percentage of overlap for each cross with the fill area. This means, it influences wether a cross is build at a specific spot or not.

Cross stitches are alignde to a grid in pattern size. The grid itself is (by default) aligned to the top left corner of the page canvas.

Ink/Stitch will check how much percent of each grid field is covered by the fill element. If coverage exceeds the value given by the coverage option (by default 50%), a cross stitch is build.

In the following example only the green fields are covered more than 50% by the black fill and receive a cross. When the black fill element is moved on canvas, more crosses are created.

Cross stitch grid with a fill. Fields covered by the fill for more than 50% show a cross on top

Same image as before, but the fill element has moved. More crosses are build

When the option Align grid with canvas is disabled, the element can be moved on canvas without changing the cross stitch result. But adjacent cross stitch areas may be misaligned.

Cross Stitch Method

In Ink/Stitch you can choose from various cross stitch methods.

Cross stitch and cross stitch flipped

This is the most common method. Two diagonals are building a cross. When two crosses are only diagonally connected, add a small expand value to the underlying fill to ensure combined stitching.
Half stitch and half stitch flipped

Half stitches build only a half cross stitch (one diagonal), traveling along the outline of the shape.
Upright cross and upright cross flipped

A cross stitch turned, building an uprigt cross. Please note, that this cross stitch method may produce jumps, when areas are connected only diagonally.
Dense upright cross and dense upright cross flipped

More upright crosses are used to fill the shape.

Coverage is set to 50% in this sample.
Double cross and upright double cross

A combination of cross stitch and upright stitch, with upright cross on bottom.
Smyrna cross and upright Smyrna cross

A combination of cross stitch and upright stitch, with upright cross on top.

Cross Stitch Assistant

Ink/Stitch comes with an extension which helps you to perform cross stitch specific tasks all at once.

Setup a grid for cross stitch alignment (and visual support while working on cross stitches)
Apply cross stitch params to selected elements
Pixelize and combine the outline of selected elements, to avoid jump stitches and receive a better representation of the cross stitch positioning
Convert bitmap images into cross stitch fill elements

It also computes and displays the stitch length given the grid dimensions. Maximum stitch length in the cross stitches parameters should be larger than this value.

Set Start and End Point

By default, an automatic fill starts as close as possible to the previous embroidery element and ends as close as possible to the next embroidery element.

To change this behavior, 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

Repeats

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

Maximum fill stitch length

The length of each stitch in a row. “Max” is because a shorter stitch may be used at the start or end of a row.

Minimum stitch length

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

Stitch placement / Pattern

Cross stitch method

Choose method (for detailed information see above)

Pattern size

Defines the size of the cross stitch (grid)

Align grid with canvas

This ensures good alignment for adjacent cross stitch areas, but it also means that the outcome may change when the element is moved off the grid.
Disable this option to ensure, that this element stitches the same, independently on its position on the canvas.

Grid Offset

Shifts the cross stitch grid by given values. X and Y values are separated by a space. Only one input value offsets the pattern evenly for x and y.

Fill coverage

Percentage of overlap for each cross with the fill area.

Size

Expand

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

It is recommended to use at least a small expand value (e.g. 0.2) on cross stitch elements.

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.