Create compound chenille objects

ComplexFill.png 

Use Traditional Digitizing > Complex Fill to digitize filled shapes with a single stitch angle. Right-click for settings.

Moss.png 

Use Chenille > Moss to create a looped pile look.

CompoundChenille.png 

Use Chenille > Compound Chenille to automatically digitize chenille shapes with offset borders.

Digitizing chenille objects involves the same techniques as regular lockstitch embroidery with the addition of chenille stitch types, Moss and Chain. For chenille work, you mainly use Complex Fill in combination with Compound Chenille to digitize objects – even narrow ones – mainly in combination with Moss stitching and built-in chain or moss borders.

To digitize a compound chenille object...

1Open a new design using the Chenille template and select a machine format to suit.

2Select a closed shape input tool such as Complex Fill. Some graphic tools can be used in combination with Compound Chenille, such as Closed Shape, Rectangle, Ellipse, and Basic Shapes.

3Select Moss stitch and click the Compound Chenille icon. Chain has limited applicability to coil or double-square fill patterns.

4Select a fill pattern. Compound Chenille objects will only work with these:

Fill pattern

To fill...

Square.png 

Square

Narrow shapes with single layer of straight lines.

DoubleSquare.png 

Double Square

Larger shapes with two layers of straight lines.

IslandCoil.png 

Island Coil

Larger shapes with double-spiral stitches.

Tip: In theory, it makes little difference to the end result whether you use an underlying square or coil pattern. In practice, square patterns produce fills that vary in appearance with the direction of view. However, they are generally more suited to squarish shapes with sharp corners.

5Select a yarn color from the palette. Remember, the View by Chain/Moss function uses the first three colors in the palette. Color slots 1-3 are best left for display purposes only, where:

Slot

Default

Element

1

Green

Lockstitch

2

Blue

Chain

3

Red

Moss

6Digitize the boundary like any embroidery object:

chenille_digitizing00007.png

 

Tip: Use the prompts in the Prompt Bar to help you digitize. If you make a mistake, press Backspace to delete the last reference point. Press Esc to undo all new reference points.

7Press Enter to complete.

8Mark entry and exit points on the boundary.

9Define stitch angle by digitizing two points.

CompoundChenilleSquare.png

 

Tip: While stitch angle has no effect on coil fill patterns, it can affect the appearance of square fill patterns. Best angles are 30° or 120°.

10Press Enter to complete. The Compound Chenille object is generated according to current settings.

CompoundChenilleShapes.png

 

11With the object selected, open the Object Properties > Compound Chenille tab to adjust settings.

Tip: The Compound Chenille tool in fact allows for up to three (1-3) offset borders, before and after. Borders can employ either moss or chain stitching, at specific offsets and needle heights. If you intend to use loops of different height, adjust needle height rather than the stitch length. This method is easier and more accurate.

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