How to Digitize a Summer Placemat — Part 1

How to Digitize a Summer Placemat — Part 1: Appliqué Popsicle Design

Appliqué is one of the most approachable forms of embroidery digitizing — and with the Quick Create and Appliqué tools in CREATIVATE™ Elite, it's faster than ever. This lesson also covers how to generate precut fabric files for use with an electric cutting machine or Cutwork Needles, which makes the whole appliqué process significantly smoother.

This is Part 1 of a two-part lesson. Part 2 will explore the differences between precut fabrics using an electric cutter versus Cutwork Needles in more detail.

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Create a new folder called Popsicle on your desktop. Download the popsicle image and save it to that folder. Keeping your files organised from the start will save time as you work through the steps.

Download the Popsicle Image

Pokyny

Set Up the File

1. Open Creativate software, select Digitizing, then select Load or Create a Background Picture. Click Next.
2. Select Load a Picture. When the Picture Viewer opens, navigate to your Popsicle folder, select the image, and click OK. Once the image appears in the Choose Picture window, click Next.
3. No rotation or cropping is needed. Click Next.
4. Change the hoop settings to: Hoop Group: Universal / Hoop Size: 120mm × 120mm. Click OK, then Finish.

Digitize the Popsicle Stick

5. Right-click the blue color in the Film Strip and select Insert Color Change. When the Color Select window opens, choose Standard from the Quick Colors dropdown and select the tan color. Click OK.
6. On the Quick Create tab, click Pattern Fill to deselect it. Leave Satin Line selected. Select Appliqué, then Quick Stitch.
7. Click on the popsicle handle. When the Color Tolerance window opens, leave the Number of Points on Low and click OK. Right-click to deselect the Quick Stitch tool.
8. Right-click the Satin Line Appliqué in the Film Strip and select Properties. On the Line tab, set the Width to 2.5mm and Density to 3. Uncheck Closed Border Line.
9. Klikněte na Appliqué tab and select Pre-cut PieceKlikněte Select Fabric — in the window that opens, select Quick under Appliqué Type, choose the tan color, and click OK. Set the Appliqué Piece Margin to 1.2mm a klikněte na Match Placement LineKlikněte OK.

   Why precut pieces? Using precut appliqué fabric — whether with an electric cutter or Cutwork Needles — makes in-hoop appliqué much more precise and consistent. The differences and benefits of each method will be covered in Part 2.

10. Zoom in on the top of the popsicle stick and move the start/end point to the right, leaving the top of the stick unstitched. This creates a smooth overlap where the stick meets the popsicle body. Adjust any other stitch points as needed.

Digitalizace těla nanuku

11. Right-click in the Film Strip, select Insert Color Change, and choose light green. Click OK.
12. On the Quick Create tab, confirm that both Satin Line and Appliqué are still selected. Click Quick Stitch and click within the popsicle area. When the Color Tolerance window opens, leave the Number of Points on Low and click OK.
13. Click the View tab and select Object View — this displays stitches as a single line, making it easier to adjust stitch points accurately.
14. Zoom in on the top of the popsicle and adjust the stitch points so they follow the contour of the shape smoothly. Click Zoom to Fit when done.

Digitize the Inner Popsicle Shapes

15. Right-click in the Film Strip, select Insert Color Change, and choose dark green. Click OK.
16. On the Quick Create tab, confirm Satin Line and Appliqué are selected. Click Quick Stitch and click inside one of the inner popsicle shapes. When prompted, leave the Number of Points on Low and click OK. Repeat for the second inner shape.
17. Zoom in and adjust the stitch points on both inner shapes to follow their contours. Click Zoom to Fit.
18. In the Film Strip, click the dark green color, hold Shift, and click color 7 to select both inner shapes.
19. Right-click and select Properties. In the Fill Area Line window, click the dropdown next to Satin Line and select Triple Stitch. Click the Appliqué tab, select Pre-cut Pieces, click Select Fabric, choose dark green, and click OK. Set the Appliqué Piece Margin to 1.2mm, click Match Placement Line, and click OK.

Time saver: Because both inner shapes are selected together, the properties change applies to both at once.

Resize and Save

20. On the Home tab, click Change Hoop. Set Hoop Group to Universal, Hoop Size to 200mm × 200mm, and orientation to Natural. Click OK.
21. Click Modify Block and select Scale to Hoop from the dropdown.
22. Go to File → Save As and save the file as "popsicle applique" to your computer. This saves an .edo working file, which you can reopen and adjust after your first test stitch-out.

Always stitch a test sample before working on your final project. The .edo file makes it easy to go back and refine anything that needs adjusting.

Export for Cutting

For electric cutting machines:

23. Go to File → Export Appliqué Pieces. Click the Export for Cutter icon to activate it. Select SVG and click Export. Name the file "applique cutwork precuts" and save to your computer.

For Cutwork Needles:

24. Go to File → Export Appliqué Pieces again. Click the Export for Cutwork Needles icon and select 2 Cutwork Needles as the method. Under Cutwork Line, confirm Include Secure Points is checked and leave the Distance Between Secure Points at 30mm. Select your file type (VP3 or VP4) and click Export. Name the file "applique cutwork precuts" and save.

Finalize and Stitch

25. Click the X in the upper right corner to close the digitizing window. The popsicle design will now appear in the software base, with green handles indicating it is still editable and not yet fixed as stitches.
26. Go to File → Export and save as "Popsicle Applique" in VP3 format (or the format your machine uses).
27. Stitch a test sample before working on your final project. Open the saved .edo file to make any adjustments needed after reviewing the test stitch-out.