Satin Column
What it is
Satin stitch is mostly used for borders, letters or small fill areas.
How to create
Ink/Stitch offers several option to create satin columns. Methods 1-3 will convert to a manual satin column which then can be modified as necessary.
- Line to Satin: for equal width satin columns
- Line to Live Path Effect Satin: easily modifiable satin column with optional patterned outline
- Zigzag Line to Satin: simple satin column creation for graphic tablets and touch screens
- Manual Satin Column: take full control over every part of the satin column
1. Line to Satin
- Add a contour to a path object (with no filling).
- Set contour width to the size you want your satin stitch to be.
- Run
Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Satin Tools > Convert Line to Satin
- Optionally run use autoroute to optimize
Extensions > Ink/stitch > Satin Tools > Auto-route Satin...
- Use as-is or customize rungs and/or rails
Get more information about Stroke to Satin
2. Line to Live Path Effect Satin
This can be used to create a satin which can either have a patterned outline or to create a satin which is more easily to adapt in width. Please note, that once you use auto-routing on this type of satin, the live path effect will be applied and the path can only be adapted manually afterwards.
Use Path > Object to path
to convert this to a standard satin column.
Get more information about Live Path Effect Satins
3. Zigzag Line to Satin
This method is most convenient in case you have a touch screen or graphic tablet at hand.
Get more information about Zigzag Line to Satin
4. Manual Satin Column
A satin column is defined by a shape made of two mostly-parallel lines. Ink/Stitch will draw zig-zags back and forth between the two lines. Vary the thickness of the column as you like.
- Combine two strokes with
Path > Combine
or hitCtrl+K
. -
Check path directions. For the satin column to work, they have to be equal.
If they are not equal, select one point of one subpath with the Node Editor Tool (
N
) and runPath > Reverse
. This will reverse only the selected subpath. - Use node or rung method as described below.
- Then select your satin column and run params through
Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Params
or a custom shortcut key.
Node Method
Depending on the complexity of your design, this method might be time consuming, because the two paths must have the same number of points. This means that each path will be made up of an equal number of Bezier curves. Each pair of points acts as a “checkpoint”: Ink/Stitch will ensure that a “zag” ends up going from one point to the other.
Rung Method
The rung method will give you more control over the way the satin column is rendered. Good positioning of points on each of the two lines helps getting the stitch directions right. However, there are situations where you need to add direction lines (“rungs”) for satin columns:
- Some tricky corner areas
- Complicated drawings where moving points is both difficult and time consuming
- Special situations where you want the stitch directions to be weird
Manual adding of rungs
- Make sure the existing satin column path (with the two subpaths) is selected with the Node Editor tool.
- Press
P
or select the Pencil Tool. - Hold
Shift
. - Click once at the start of the rung.
-
Click a second time at the end of the rung.
Original design by Liv Iko edited by EDUTECH Wiki
Info: We strongly recommend to use at least three rungs. If you use exactly two rungs (and two rails) it is hard for Ink/stitch to decide which is which.
Params
Running Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Params
will give you the possibility to fine-tune your satin column and to use underlay.
Satin Column supports three kinds of underlay, of which you can use any or all simultaneously.
Read also this excellent article on satin column design.
Some of these params are not part of the recent release.
Satin Top Layer
Settings | Description | |
---|---|---|
Custom satin column | ☑ | Must be enabled for these settings to take effect. |
Method | Chose Satin Column |
|
Short stitch inset | Stitches in areas with high density will be inset by this amount (%) | |
Short stitch distance | Inset stitches if the distance between stitches is smaller than this (mm). | |
Zig-Zag spacing | the peak-to-peak distance between zig-zags | |
Pull compensation percentage | Additional pull compensation which varies as a percentage of stitch width. Two values separated by a space may be used for an aysmmetric effect. | |
Pull compensation | Satin stitches pull the fabric together, resulting in a column narrower than you draw in Inkscape. This setting expands each pair of needle penetrations outward from the center of the satin column by a fixed length. Two values separated by a space may be used for an aysmmetric effect. | |
Reverse rails | Enabling this may help if your satin renders very strangely. Options are : ◦ Automatic, the default value aims to detect and fix the problem ◦ Don’t reverse , disable automatic detection ◦ Reverse first rail ◦ Reverse second rail ◦ Reverse both rails |
|
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. |
Minimum stitch length | Overwrite global minimum stitch length setting. Shorter stitches than that will be removed. | |
Minimum jump stitch length | Overwrite global minimum jump stitch length setting. Shorter distances to the next object will have no lock stitches | |
Allow lock stitches | ☑ | Enables lock stitches in only desired positions |
Force lock stitches | ☑ | Sew lock stitches after sewing this element, even if the distance to the next object is smaller than defined in the collapse length value value in the Ink/Stitch prefreneces. |
Tack stitch | Chose your favorite style | |
Lock stitch | Chose your favorite style | |
Stop After | ☑ | Stop the machine after sewing this object. Before stopping it will jump to the stop position (frame out) if defined. |
Trim After | ☑ | Trim the thread after sewing this object. |
Random percentage of satin width increase | Lengthen stitch across rails at most this percent. Two values separated by a space may be used for an asymetric effect. | |
Random percentage of satin width decrease | Shorten stitch across rails at most this percent. Two values separated by a space may be used for an aysmmetric effect. | |
Random zig-zag spacing percentage | Amount of random jitter added to zigzag spacing | |
Split Method | Options: ◦ default ◦ Simple ◦ Staggered |
|
Maximum stitch length | Stitches wider than this will be split up (split stitches). | |
Random Jitter for split stitches | Randomizes split stitch length if random phase is enabled, stitch position if disabled. | |
Random Phase for split stitches | ☑ | Controls whether split stitches are centered or with a random phase (which may increase stitch count). |
Stagger this many times before repeating | Stitches are staggered so that neighboring rows of stitches don’t all fall in the same column (which would create a distracting valley effect). Setting this dictates the length of the cycle by which successive stitch rows are staggered. Fractional values are allowed and can have less visible diagonals than integer values. Active only when split method is staggered | |
Minimum length for random-phase split | Defaults to maximum stitch length. Smaller values allow for a transition between single-stitch and split-stitch. | |
Random seed | Use a specific seed to compute stitch plan. If empty, the seed is the element ID . Re-roll if you are not happy with the result. |
Center-Walk Underlay
This is a row of running stitch down the center of the column and back. This may be all you need for thin satin columns. You can also use it as a base for more elaborate underlay.
Settings | Description |
---|---|
Stitch length | Length of stitches (in mm) |
Tolerance | Decreasing tolerance helps the underlay to stay behind the top level. However too small a tolerance may create very short stitches. |
Repeats | Odd numbers of repeats will reverse the stitch direction of the satin column, causing it to start and end at the same position. |
Position | Position of underlay from between the rails. 0% is along the first rail, 50% is centered, 100% is along the second rail. |
Contour Underlay
This is a row of running stitch up one side of the column and back down the other. The rows are set in from the edge of the column by an amount you specify. For small or medium width satin, this may serve well enough by itself.
Settings | Description |
---|---|
Stitch length | Length of stitches (in mm) |
Tolerance | Decreasing tolerance helps the underlay to stay behind the top level. However too small a tolerance may create very short stitches. |
Inset distance (fixed) | Shrink the outline by a fixed length, to prevent the underlay from showing around the outside of the satin column. Negative values are possible. |
Inset distance (proportional | Shrink the outline by a proportion of the column width, to prevent the underlay from showing around the outside of the satin column. Negative values are possible. |
Zig-Zag Underlay
This is essentially a lower-density satin stitch sewn to the end of the column and back to the start. Added with contour underlay, you get the “German Underlay” mentioned in this article. For wide columns or challenging fabrics, you can use all three underlay types together.
Settings | Description | |
---|---|---|
Inset amount (proportional) | Inset to cover the underlay entirely by the top layer. Negative values are possible. Default: half of contour underlay inset. It is possible to enter two space separated values to define different values for each side. | |
Inset amount (fixed) | Inset to cover the underlay entirely by the top layer. Negative values are possible. Default: half of contour underlay inset. It is possible to enter two space separated values to define different values for each side. | |
Maximum stitch length | Stitches wider than this will be split up (split stitches). | |
Zig-Zag spacing | The peak-to-peak distance between zig-zags. |
Satin Tools
Make sure to have a look at the Satin Tools. They will make your life with Satin Columns a lot easier.
Sample Files Including Satin Column
Satin Stitch
Applique
Applique example file
Free Standing Lace - Butterfly
Free Standing Lace - Butterfly
Fringe
Fringe example file
Ink/Stitch Logo & Branding Guide
Ink/Stitch logo as SVG file, digitized version and branding guide.
Monogram Frame
Monogram Frame Example
Multicolor Satin
Simulating multicolor satin collumns
Puff
Puff example file
Random Satin
Random Satin
Satin Stitch Edges
Sample file for satin stitch edges
Software Freedom Day
Software Freedom Day example file
Using distort path effects
Using distort paths effects