Digitize a Popsicle Appliqué Design - Part 1 

Software Lesson

Appliqué is one of the easiest forms of digitizing—and with the Quick Create and Appliqué tools in CREATIVATE™ Extra and Elite memberships (mySewnet™ Extra or Elite Software), the process becomes even faster. These tools also generate precut fabric files, perfect for electric cutting machines or for precutting with Cutwork Needles.

This lesson walks you through digitizing a popsicle appliqué design from start to finish.

Before You Begin

1. Create a folder on your desktop named “Popsicle”.
2. Download the popsicle image and save it to that folder.

This will keep all lesson files organized.

Appliqué Digitizing Steps

1. Open the software

Open mySewnet™ Digitizing, and select Load or Create a Background Picture → Next.

2. Load the popsicle image

Choose Load a Picture, navigate to your saved popsicle image, and click OK, then Next.

3. Skip rotate/crop

No adjustments needed here—click Next.

4. Set the hoop

Choose:

• Hoop Group: Universal

• Hoop Size: 120 mm × 120 mm

• Click OK, then Finish

5. Insert a color change

Right-click the blue color in the Film Strip → Insert Color Change.
Choose Standard (Quick Colors dropdown), select a tan thread color → OK.

Create the Popsicle Stick Appliqué

6. Quick Create Setup

Go to Quick Create:

• Deselect Pattern Fill

• Keep Satin Line selected

• Select Appliqué

• Choose QuickStitch

7. Outline the popsicle stick

Click on the popsicle stick area. In the Color Tolerance window:

• Leave Number of Points: Low

• Click OK
  Right-click to exit QuickStitch.

8. Adjust satin properties

Right-click the Satin Line Appliqué → Properties:

• Width: 2.5 mm

• Density: 3

• Uncheck Closed Border Line

• Click OK

9. Set appliqué pre-cut options

Under the Appliqué tab:

• Select Pre-cut Piece

• Choose Select Fabric → Quick → Tan

• Set Appliqué Piece Margin: 1.2 mm

• Select Match Placement Line

• OK

(These options generate precut appliqué pieces—useful for electric cutters or Cutwork Needles, covered in part two of the Summer Placemat series.)

Refine the Popsicle Stick

10. Adjust stitch points

Zoom in at the top of the stick and move the start/end points slightly to the right, pulling the point up into the popsicle to create a smooth overlap.
Make any other refinements needed.

Digitize the Popsicle Body

11. Add a new color

Right-click in the Film Strip → Insert Color Change → choose light green.

12. QuickStitch the popsicle shape

• Ensure Satin Line + Appliqué are still selected

• Click QuickStitch and click inside the popsicle area

• Keep Low points → OK

13. Switch to Object View

Go to View → Object View—this simplifies stitch-point editing.

14. Smooth the stitch points

Zoom in and adjust points to follow the popsicle curve accurately → Zoom to Fit.

Digitize Inner Popsicle Shapes

15. Add another color change

Right-click → Insert Color Change → choose dark green.

16. QuickStitch the inner shapes

• Ensure Satin Line + Appliqué are selected

• QuickStitch inside each inner shape

• Accept Low points → OK

17. Adjust stitch points

Zoom in and refine the contour for both inner shapes → Zoom to Fit.

Convert Inner Shapes to Pre-Cut Appliqué

18. Select both inner shapes

Click the dark green in the Film Strip → hold Shift → click the next color down to select only the two inner shapes.

19. Update their properties together

Right-click → Properties:

• Appliqué tab: select Pre-cut Piece

• Choose Select Fabric → Quick → Dark Green

• Margin: 1.2 mm

• Enable Match Placement Line

• OK

Resize to 200 × 200 mm Hoop

20. Change hoop

Home → Change Hoop:

• Group: Universal

• Size: 200 mm × 200 mm

• Orientation: Natural

21. Scale to hoop

Go to Modify Block → Scale to Hoop

Save Your Working File

22. Save your .edo file

File → Save As → “popsicle applique”.
(This editable file lets you make changes after a test stitch-out.)

Export Pre-Cut Files for Cutters & Cutwork Needles

23. Export for electric cutters

File → Export Appliqué Pieces → Export for Cutter → choose SVG → Save as “applique cutwork precuts”.

24. Export for Cutwork Needles

File → Export Appliqué Pieces → Export for Cutwork Needles:

• Method: 2 Cutwork Needles

• Check Include Secure Points

• Distance Between Points: 30 mm

• File type: VP3 or VP4

• Save as “applique cutwork precuts”

Final Steps

25. Close Digitizing

Click the X to return to the Embroidery module.
Your design now appears as editable artwork (green handles = not yet fixed as stitches).

26. Export your stitch file

File → Export → Save as “Popsicle Appliqué” (VP3 or your machine’s format).

27. Stitch a Test Sample

Always test-stitch before the final project.
If adjustments are needed, reopen your .edo file and modify.

What you learn:

Before you begin, create a new folder titled “Popsicle” on the computer desktop. This will help keep the files saved for this lesson organized. Be sure to download the popsicle image and save it to the popsicle folder you created. File 

Applique Digitizing:

1. Open mySewnet software, select Digitizing and select Load or Create a Background Picture. Click Next

2. Select Load a Picture, when the Picture Viewer window opens, navigate to where the Popsicle image is saved. Select it and click OK. Once the popsicle is in the Choose Picture window, click Next.

3. No need to Rotate or Crop Picture, Click Next.

4. Change hoop to: Hoop Group: Universal, Hoop Size: 120mm x 120mm. Click OK. Click Finish

5. Right click on the blue color in the Film Strip and select Insert Color Change. When the Color Select window opens, Select Standard from the drop down under Quick Colors, and select the tan color. Click OK

6. Click on the Quick Create Tab. Click on Pattern Fill to deselect the option. Leave Satin Line selected. Select Applique. Select 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 on the Satin Line Applique in the Film Strip and select Properties. On the Line tab, change the Width to 2.5mm and Density to 3. Uncheck Closed Border Line.

9. Click the Applique tab and select Pre-cut Piece. Click on Select Fabric and a new window will open, under Applique Type, select Quick, and select the tan color from the Quick Applique Options and click OK to close the window. Change the Applique Piece Margin to 1.2mm and click on Match Placement Line. Click OK.

(The Pre-Cut Piece and Applique Piece Margin options are for those who prefer to precut the applique fabric pieces using an electric cutting machine or with Cutwork Needles. I have found using precut fabric pieces in applique to be very beneficial when stitching applique in the hoop. The differences and benefits of precut fabrics with electric cutter or cutwork needles will be explored further in part two of the Summer Placemat.)

10. Zoom in on the top portion of the popsicle stick and move the start/end point to the right (this will leave the top portion of the Popsicle stick unstitched allowing for a smooth overlap of the popsicle itself). Pull the stitch point up into the Popsicle as to create and overlap between the stick and the popsicle. Adjust any other stitch points if necessary.

11. Right click in the Film Strip and select Insert Color Change and select the light green. Click OK.

12. Be sure that you are still on the Quick Create tab and both Satin Line and Applique are still selected. Click on Quick Stitch and click with in the popsicle area. When the Color Tolerance window opens, keep the Number of Points on Low and click OK.

13. Click on the View tab and select Object View (this will show the “stitches” as a single line and can make adjusting stitch point easier).

14. Zoom in on the top portion of the popsicle and adjust the stitch points so that they are smooth and follow the contour of the popsicle. Adjust additional stitch points as needed. Click Zoom to Fit.

15. Right click in the Film Strip and select Insert Color Change and select the dark green. Click OK.

16. Click on the Quick Create tab. Satin Line and Applique should still be selected, it they are not, select both options. Click on Quick Stitch and click inside one of the popsicle shapes. When the Color Tolerance window opens, keep the Number of Points on Low and click OK. Repeat for the second inside popsicle shape.

17. Zoom in on the top portions of the popsicle inner shapes and adjust the stitch points so they are following the contour of the shape. Adjust additional stitch points as needed. Click Zoom to Fit.
18. In the Film Strip, click on the dark green color, hold down the Shift key on the keyboard and click on the color 7. (This will select only the inner Popsicle shapes)

19. Right Click on the select shape and select Properties and the Fill Area Line window will open. Click on the Drop-down arrow next to Satin line and Triple Stitch. Click on the Applique tab and select Pre-cut Pieces. Click on Select Fabric, the Applique Selection window will open, select a dark green and click OK. Change the Applique Piece Margin to 1.2mm and click on Match Placement Line. Click OK. (Since both inner popsicle shapes are selected, they can be change together, which is a great time saver)

20. Click on the Home tab and click on Change Hoop. When the Hoop Selection window opens, Select Universal for the Hoop Group and 200mm x 200mm for the Hoop Size and Natural Orientation.

21. Click on Modify Block, a drop-down menu will open and select Scale to Hoop.

22. Click on File and select Save As and save as “popsicle applique” to your computer.

(This will save an .edo file, which is a working file. It is a good idea to save the .edo file to allow for adjustments that may be needed after the initial stich out. It is highly suggested to stitch out the design and check for possible adjustments before stitching the design out on the final project).

23. Click on File and select Export Applique Pieces and click on the icon under Export for Cutter if it is not already active. (If all the options under a particular section are “grayed out”, this is an indication that the option has not been selected.) Select SVG and click Export. Name the “applique cutwork precuts” and save to your computer. (This Export for use with electric cutters)

24. Click on File and select Export Applique Pieces and the Export Applique Pieces window will open. Click on the icon under Export for Cutwork Needles and select 2 Cutwork Needles next to Method. Cutwork Line, be sure there is a check mark in the box next to Include Secure Points and leave Distance Between Secure Points at 30mm. Select your chosen file type VP3 or VP4 and click Export. Name the “applique cutwork precuts” and save to your computer. (This Export is for precutting fabric with the Cutwork Needles.)

25. Click on the X in the upper right-hand corner to close the digitizing window. (Notice that the popsicle you digitized is now in the base of the software. Having the windows integrated is a wonderful addition to the software and allows addition adjustments to be made. The handles around the design are green, indicating that the design is not “Fixed as Stitches” and the design can be edited).

26. Click on File, Export and save as “Popsicle Applique” in VP3 file format or the file format for your machine.

27. Stitch a sample before stitching on final project. Since the .edo file was saved, you can open the file and make any necessary changes.