Stitch Settings

Global and local values

Global stitch settings in the General tab provide the design baseline. A compatible selected object can keep Use global stitch settings enabled in Objects, or turn it off to expose object-local overrides. The same outline choices and their applicable controls participate in this workflow; controls appear only for the selected geometry and stitch mode.

Main settings

• Fill: fill spacing, fill angle, and available underlay settings.
• Outline / running: Max. stitch length and reverse stitch direction where applicable.
• Satin: satin width and satin spacing for compatible line work.
• Pull compensation: expands applicable coverage to help account for fabric and thread pull.
• Drawing point spacing: controls simplification/detail for newly drawn freehand geometry.

Outline stitch

For outline objects, the Outline stitch menu in global General settings and applicable local Objects settings offers Run, Double Run, Triple Run, Repeated Run, Bean, and E / Blanket. Selecting a configurable type reveals its related controls.

Manual Stitch is a precise specialist tool. Max. stitch length never subdivides, resamples, simplifies, or removes its points; Ready still reports excessively long or short sewn segments so you can decide whether to edit them.

Max. stitch length sets the desired maximum spacing for the ordinary Run segmentation underlying these outline types. Straighter portions may approach this length, while shorter stitches are generated automatically on curves to preserve shape quality; it does not guarantee that every physical stitch has exactly that length.

Run makes one pass along the object’s outline using this curve-safe spacing.

Double Run stitches the complete running path once, then retraces the same path in reverse. Each segment receives two passes, creating a stronger, heavier outline than Run. It is useful for stronger outlines, decorative line work, and redwork-style line reinforcement; it does not provide automatic redwork routing.

Triple Run stitches each individual Run segment forward, backward, then forward again while continuing along the path. This fixed three-pass local reinforcement creates a stronger and more visible outline while increasing stitch count.

Bean also reinforces each individual Run segment locally by sewing back and forth before progressing. Bean repeats selects 3, 5, or 7 total passes per base segment; increasing it changes the reinforcement count, not the outline geometry or its underlying Run segmentation. Bean 3 follows A → B → A → B → C → B → C for a base path A → B → C, and is conceptually the configurable three-pass counterpart to the fixed Triple Run option. Bean is not Satin. Use it for thicker, stronger decorative outlines and pronounced running-stitch borders.

Repeated Run repeats the entire ordinary Run path. Run passes offers 2–9 complete passes and defaults to 4; direction alternates after every complete pass. For a path A → B → C, Repeated Run 3 produces A → B → C → B → A → B → C. This extends the whole-path-pass idea represented by the existing Double Run without replacing Double Run or Triple Run.

The key distinction is scope: Bean works back and forth locally on each individual stitch, whereas Repeated Run completes the whole path before reversing direction. For both types, Max. stitch length still controls the base Run segmentation; Bean repeats and Run passes only control unitless repetition counts.

E / Blanket follows the outline with a running stem and perpendicular teeth, useful for decorative borders and blanket-style or appliqué edging. Blanket width controls how far teeth extend from the outline, and Blanket spacing controls the distance between neighboring teeth along it. Blanket side selects Left or Right relative to the source path direction. Max. stitch length is not Blanket spacing: it limits physical stitch length and may add intermediate penetrations to the stem or tooth legs, but it does not set tooth frequency. For example, with Blanket width = 3 mm, Blanket spacing = 1 mm, and Max. stitch length = 2 mm, teeth remain 1 mm apart while each long tooth leg is evenly subdivided to stay within the 2 mm maximum.

Blanket width, Blanket spacing, and Max. stitch length are physical values displayed and entered in the selected Metric (mm) or Imperial (in) unit. Changing the display unit does not resize or otherwise change the internal stitch geometry. Bean repeats and Run passes are counts and have no unit.

1. Choose the object and its appropriate fill, outline/running, or satin mode.
2. Decide whether it should use the globals or local overrides.
3. Change one value at a time and recalculate.
4. Compare stitch count, density, short stitches, and visual coverage in Info and Ready.

Related: Ready Checks and Info Statistics.