Noticeable Ink/Stitch Features

Ink/Stitch: digitize machine embroidery designs using Inkscape (SVG)

Multilingual, Cross Platform, Free and Open Source

The goal of the Ink/Stitch project is to put free, high-quality embroidery design tools in the hands of folks that might normally not have access to such tools. Therefore we want to make it easy for everyone to use:

Multilingual: user interface in several languages (Help appreciated)
Cross platform: Ink/Stitch is available for Linux, Windows and macOS.
Licensed under the GNU GPL version 3.0 or later. This means it will always be free for everyone to use, share and contribute.

It doesn’t mean that it goes without cost for contributors. Donations for the work and expenses we’ve put into the programm will be welcome - once we’ve figured out how finances can be organized.

Lettering

With Ink/Stitch you have access to an easy to use lettering system with a long list of fonts ready to use.

The lettering system has lots of interesting features:

Add text directly with your keyboard
Choose from numerous pre-digitized fonts
Digitize your own fonts and integrate them into the lettering tool (or share with everyone)
The lettering tool lets you scale the fonts within the limits the font author has defined
Find suitable fonts with font filters which can be used simultaneously:
Category filter: Searching for a specific type of font? The font category filter helps you to find fonts with specific stitch types or styles.
Font size filter: Find the fonts that fit into your design. The chosen font will automatically adapt to the size value entered into the filter.
Glyph filter: Show only fonts with all the necessary glyphs for the given text

Once the text has been inserted into the document you can modify the paths and embroidery parameters just as you wish.

Create interesting results with the available tools, for example Lettering along path or Inkscape path effects such as envelope deformation.

embroidered letter with various stitch types

Manual Stitch Placement and Complex Stitch Patterns

Explore the stitch types available in Ink/Stitch and open up a world of creative possibilities.

Manual stitch placement: place each stitch exactly where you want it
Stroke stitch types: running stitch, bean stitch, ripple stitch, etc.
Create patterned lines with the Inkscape path effect pattern along line.
Generate a cutwork or redwork pattern.
Satin stitch types: satin, E-stitch, S-stitch, zig-zag satin, etc.
Use various routines to generate satin stitches. Add underlay as necessary. Define randomization options or customize split stitches.
A special highlight is the possibility to easily generate multicolor satins.
Fill stitch types: fill, circular fill, contour fill, guided fill, linear gradient fill, meander fill, tartan fill, etc.
Adjust stitch length, row spacing and row angle among other options. Use underlay as necessary.

Custom Patterns can be applied to all available stitch types.

Each stitch type comes with it’s own set of tools (stroke tools, satin tools, fill tools) for conversion, optimization and routing.

A shirt in four iterations from a fill outline with no fill to a stroke outline and a fill

Tools

Inkscape is a powerful vector grafic editor. This means that there are plenty of tools and other extensions that you can use - beside of the tools delivered by the Ink/Stitch plugin.

Get creative and report your findings back to us. Even we haven’t seen everything that is possible yet.

Embroidery machine stitches a tartan pattern

Stitch Preview

Animated stitch-out preview (including live-preview as you adjust settings like row spacing underlay, etc.)
Simulator and in canvas stitch plan preview
Highly customizable print to PDF output with realistic rendering and line-drawing mode
embroidery machine operator layout with color blocks, thread names, stitch counts, and custom notes
client-oriented layout designed for you to send to your customer

Cat in zig-zag meander style embroidered with variegated thread

Thread management

Ink/Stitch has a thread management section in the menu.

Install thread palettes from over 60 manufacturers
Generate your own thread palettes easily
Export and apply thread lists for embroidery files or match colors of a design to selected thread palettes
Thread names and catalog numbers included in pdf outputs and in embroidery file formats which are capable to store color inoformation

Import and Export

Import and Export many popular machine embroidery formats (including batch export)

Writing: CSV, DST, EXP, JEF, PEC, PES, SVG, TXT (G-CODE), U01, VP3
Reading: 100, 10o, BRO, DAT, DSB, DST, DSZ, EMD, EXP, EXY, FXY, GT, INB, JEF, JPX, KSM, MAX, MIT, NEW, PCD, PCM, PCQ, PCS, PEC, PES, PHB, PHC, SEW, SHV, STC, STX, TAP, TBF, TXT (G-CODE), U01, VP3, XXX, ZXY

Multicolor satin font. Text: La vie est belle.

Learning Resources and the Ink/Stitch-Community

Ink/Stitch is a community project. Community members can provide helpful information and tutorials.

Therefore you can find a growing amount of tutorials about various topics on the Ink/Stitch website. Learn about special use cases for specific stitch types or embroidery techniques. Learn how to optimize your embroidery design or how to make best use of Inkscape features for embroidery.

The community is always happy to help when there is trouble or just simple beginner questions.

Of course you are welcome to get involved and see what you can do to bring Ink/Stitch forward.