Ripple Stitch

Description

Ripple stitch is part running stitch and part fill. It behaves like a running stitch, in that it follows a path/stroke. It also behaves like a fill, in that it spreads outward from the line to cover or fill an area. It creates soft bands that resemble ripples, hence the name.

Closed shapes will be filled with a spiral (circular ripples). Open shapes will be stitched back and forth (linear ripples).

Satin guided ripple — Simple ripple from a closed shape

Creation

Circular Ripples

Create one closed path and apply a stroke color.
Keep it as a single path only. Avoid combined paths like shapes with holes.
Optional: Create target point or guides.
Open the Params dialog: Extensions, Ink/Stitch, then Params.
Set Method to Ripple.
Adjust the Ripple settings as you wish.
Click Apply.

Circular ripple examples

Download examples

Linear Ripples

Linear ripples can be created in various ways. It can be a simple curve or it can be constructed like a satin column.

Create a open shape (simple stroke, two combined strokes or even a satin column)
Create target point or guides (optional)
Open params dialog (Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Params) and set the method to Ripple.
Set params to your liking and apply

Linear ripple examples

Download examples

Looping ripples

Loops are allowed and welcomed in any ripple path. Use loops to achieve special nice effects.

Looping ripple stitches

Download examples

Guiding ripples

Ripples with only one subpath (closed shape or a simple bezier curve) can be guided in either of the three following methods.

Target point

Define a ripple target position with visual command:

Open Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Commands > Attach Commands to selected objects ...
Select Target position and apply
Select the symbol and move it to the desired position

If no guiding information is provided, the center of the path is used as the target.

Guide line

In the very same group (no subgroup) of the ripple stitch object create a stroke curve with the bezier tool, starting close to the ripple curve, leading away from it.
Select that curve and run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Edit > Selection to guide line.
Select the ripple curve and run params. Adapt the parameters to your liking.

Satin guide

With satin guides you will have the ability to lead the ripples precisely using the satin rung method. The width of the satin guide will also have an effect on the ripple width. The positioning of the original ripple shape will be ignored and it will start where the satin begins.

In the very same group of the ripple stitch object create a satin column like object with rails and rungs.
Select the newly created object and run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Edit > Selection to guide line.
Select the ripple object and run params. Adapt parameters to your liking.

The pattern for satin guided ripples can be adjusted in its direction with the help of a so-called anchor line.

Draw a line from top to bottom across the pattern. The positioning corresponds to the satin rungs.
Select the line and mark it as an anchor line via Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Edit > Selection to anchor line.

satin guided ripple

Download

Clipping

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

Ripple stitches can be clipped to form the outline.

Create the ripple stitch
Create the clip shape (must be on top of the ripple stitch)
Select both and run Object > Clip > Set clip

Parameters

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

General Settings

Running stitch along paths

Must be selected to use these settings.

Method

Determines which stitch type to use.

Select Ripple stitch

Repeats

Defines how many times to stitch along the path

Default: 1 (traveling once from the start to the end of 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

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.

Stagger rows this many times before repeating

Length of the cycle by which successive stitch lines are staggered. Fractional values are allowed and can have less visible diagonals than integer values. For linear ripples only.

Minimum stitch length

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

Pattern

Manual stitch placement

If selected, extra stitches will not be added to the original ripple pattern and the running stich length value will be ignored.

Pattern position

Pattern position for satin guided ripples:

Line count / Minimum line distance (default): uses either the value for line count or minium line distance (if given)
Render at rungs renders a pattern at each rung
Adaptive + Minimum line distance: adapts the pattern distance according to it’s size

Skip first lines
Skip last lines

Set the number of lines to skip (do not embroider) at the and/or end of the run.

Flip every second line

Linear ripple only: whether to flip the pattern every second line or not

Stitch grid first

Reverse the stitch path, so that the grid is stitched first.

Scale axes

guided ripple only

Starting scale

Size of the first copy of the line in percent.
For guided ripple only

Rotate

For guided ripple only

Randomizing

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.

Density

Number of lines

Determines the number of ripples. Increasing the number of lines will increase the density of the lines.

Minimum line distance

Sets the minimum distance between each line. Overrides the number of lines setting.

Line distance exponent

Doesn’t apply to satin guided ripples

Default 1: constant distance between lines
Value > 1: the space between two consecutive replications increases
Value < 1: the space between two consecutive replications decreases

Flip exponent

Exchange role of first and last line in the computation of line distance

Stitch direction

Reverse

Flip start and end point and run the path in revese direction

Reverse rails

Enabling this may help if your satin renders very strangely. Options are:

Automatic: detect and fix rails with opposing directions (default)
Don’t reverse , disable automatic detection
Reverse first rail
Reverse second rail
Reverse both rails

Takes effect on a satin guide line.

Swap rails

Swaps the first and the second rails of a satin column. Affecting which side the thread finishes on as well as any other sided property.

Takes effect on a satin guide line.

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.