Embroidery Digitizing: Must Know Terms And Definitions

By : Admin 11th July, 2024

Embroidery digitizing allows you to bring your creative ideas to life on fabric. It's like having a personal artist on your computer! It is the process of converting a digital image or design into a set of instructions for an embroidery machine. This "language" tells the machine exactly where and how to place each stitch.

Whether you're a seasoned digitizer or just starting, learning digitizing terms can make a big difference. Knowing basic digitizing terms is important to deal with software, effectively communicate with professionals, and make informed decisions about your designs.

In this article, you’ll learn all the essential vocabulary of machine embroidery digitizing. So, sit back and read on!

A To Z Glossary On Embroidery Digitizing

Here's a comprehensive A to Z glossary on embroidery digitizing:

A

Applique: A decorative technique involving sewing on a separate piece of fabric instead of stitching it directly for extra dimension and texture.
Arm Machine: A specialized machine for automatically stitching chain stitch designs or narrow tubular seams on heavy fabrics like denim.
Arrowhead Stitch: A diagonal stitch with a zigzag effect, created by joining two straight stitches to form an arrowhead shape.
Average Stitch Length: It refers to the average stitch length of 2.5

B

Backing: Non-woven or woven material or stabilizer placed beneath the fabric to provide stability and support during the embroidery process. There are different types of backing including tear-away, cut-away, and wash-away.
Basting Stitch: Temporary stitches are used to hold fabric pieces together before final stitching.
Bean Stitch: A bean stitch is a series of back-and-forth stitches used to create bold outlines and borders.
Bird Nesting: Thread clumping beneath the needle plate, causing thread breakage, faulty stitches, and uneven tension.
Bobbin: A small spool or reel holding thread for lockstitch machines.
Bobbin Case: It acts as a special holder for your bobbin thread inside the embroidery machine. It keeps the bobbin in place and applies just the right amount of tension to the thread as it's used for stitching.
Blanket Stitch: A strong stitch used to support the edges of blankets and other thick fabrics. It is also used for decorative borders.
Buckram: A stiff, coarse fabric used as backing to support the main fabric and ensure a clean embroidery design on the front.
Bullion Stitch: A decorative stitch where the thread is twisted around the needle before being stitched onto the fabric. It creates a raised, textured effect.

C

Chain Stitch: It is a continuous loop stitch created by inserting the thread through the top layer of fabric, often used for lettering and outlines.
Chenille: A type of embroidery using thick yarns like acrylic or wool to create looped stitches on the fabric surface.
Condensed Format: A digital design format where stitch points are connected and scaled proportionally, maintaining the overall design but limiting resizing options.
Cutaway: Permanent embroidery stabilizer providing a soft, tear-away backing for clean and defined embroidery designs.

D

Degrade: A color shading technique where colors in the design gradually transition from dark to light without distinct separation lines.
Digitizer: The person responsible for operating and using embroidery digitizing software to convert designs into machine-readable instructions.
Diamond Stitch: Crochet stitch pattern using double and post stitches arranged in a diamond-shaped formation.
Disk Reader: An external or internal device used with an embroidery machine to read the digital design file and determine the needle movements for stitching.

E

Editing: The process of modifying a digital design using editing software to adjust the size, stitch types, and overall appearance before embroidery.
Embroidery: The art of beautifying fabric with decorative stitches and patterns using various techniques and threads.
Expanded Format: A digital design format where each stitch has a specific size and location.

F

Frogging: The process of removing or untangling stitches in crochet or knitting, often due to errors or design changes.
Fill Stitch: A general term for any stitch technique used to fill in larger areas of color or detail in an embroidery design. Fill stitch can encompass various stitch types depending on the desired effect and the complexity of the design.
Flagging: Unnatural fabric movement during embroidery due to improper hooping, insufficient stabilization, or incorrect presser foot adjustment.
Framing Press: Machine that assists with hooping and framing the fabric during the embroidery process_ provides tension and support.
File Formats: Embroidery machines rely on specific file formats containing the digitized stitch instructions for the design. Popular embroidery file formats are:

DST(Tajima, Brother, Janome, Jisqvarna file format)
PES (Babylock, Brother file format)
EXP (for Melco machines)

G

Gapping: Visible gaps in the fabric base of the embroidery design due to stitching errors or improper technique.
Gilt: Metallic threads, often gold-plated or wrapped with gold leaf, used for creating luxurious and ornate embroidery designs.
Goldwork: A traditional embroidery technique using metallic threads, often gold, to create intricate and opulent designs.

H

Hardanger: Whitework embroidery style using white thread on even-weave linen, known for its intricate counted-thread and drawn-thread techniques.
Herringbone Stitch: A versatile stitch used in crochet, embroidery, and knitting_ resembles the herring fishbone pattern with its diagonal lines.
Hook: The rotating mechanism in the embroidery machine that holds the bobbin case and interacts with the top thread to form each stitch.
Hoop: It's a circular frame made of wood, plastic, or metal used to hold the fabric taut during the embroidery process.

I

Ikat: An Indonesian dyeing and weaving technique where the yarn is resist-dyed before weaving to create unique geometric patterns.
Interlaced Stitch: A multi-layered stitch where additional threads are woven between the base stitches without penetrating the fabric base.

J

Jacobean: An embroidery style named after the reign of King James I of England. It is characterized by intricate floral, leaf, vine, and animal motifs.
Jumbo Rotary Hook: A large hook used in the bobbin driver of lockstitch sewing machines, ensuring smooth thread catching and stitch formation.
Jump Stitch: It's one of the embroidery stitch types where the machine moves the needle without stitching to the next stitch location.

K

Knot: A secure way to begin and end embroidery threads.

L

Lockstitch: The most common embroidery stitch type, formed by looping the upper and lower threads together for a secure and durable finish.
Looping: Unwanted loops appear on the fabric surface due to insufficient thread tension or skipped stitches.

M

Merrowed Edge: A strong, decorative stitch used to finish the edges of applique designs, often in geometric shapes like circles and squares.
Monogram: A small design, often initials or logos, embroidered onto fabric for personalization and decoration.
Moss Stitch: A textured stitch similar to chenille, using thick yarns to create looped stitches on the fabric surface.
Motif: A single design element that is repeated to create a border or pattern

Needle: The pointed tool that carries the thread and pierces the fabric to create the embroidery stitches.
Nippers: Small, spring-loaded scissors used for precise thread clipping.

O

Offset: A technique for positioning appliques accurately by temporarily moving the embroidery machine away from the stitching area.
Origin: The starting point of an embroidery design, usually located in the center.
Outline: Adding detailed lines to a design using different stitches or techniques. Also, the basic shapes that make up a design are in a condensed format.
Overlap: In some machines, the embroidery machine automatically goes over the stitching lines a few extra times for more strength.

P

Pan: Moving around the design on the screen without changing the zoom level.
Parameters: Settings like stitch density and length that affect the look of the embroidery design.
Pick out: Adding detailed outlines to a design using different stitches or techniques.
Point: A tiny unit of measurement used in embroidery (0.1 mm). Also, a mark on the artwork used for digitizing.
Puff embroidery: Adding 3D dimension to a design using foam padding.
Puncher: The person who creates the digital instructions for an embroidery machine.
Punching: Another term for digitizing an embroidery design.
Pantograph: The arm that moves the hoop and guides the needle during the embroidery process, following the digital design pattern.
Puckering: Fabric bunching or distortion caused by inadequate tension, insufficient backing, or loose and stretchy fabrics.

R

Rotate Pattern: A function in embroidery software that allows rotating the design by 90 degrees or creating mirrored versions for different placement options.

S

SPI (Stitches Per Inch): Its measure of embroidery machine stitch density indicates the number of stitches per inch of fabric.
SPM (Stitches Per Minute): A measure of embroidery machine speed that indicates the number of stitches it can create per minute.
Stitch Count: The total number of stitches in an embroidery design is called stitch count. It can influence the embroidery time and complexity.
Stock Designs: Pre-digitized designs are readily available for purchase and use with various embroidery machines. They are a cost-effective alternative to custom patches.
Satin Stitch: A smooth, filled stitch technique used to create solid areas of color in embroidery designs. Satin stitch is created by closely stitching parallel lines of thread, with minimal gaps between the stitches.

T

Tablet: A special surface used to draw and design embroidery patterns.
Tack down: Securing an applique piece temporarily before stitching it permanently.
Tails: Decorative flourishes are often seen in athletic-style fonts.
Tatami: A specific type of stitch used to fill in areas of color.
Tie-off: Stitches that are used to secure the end of a row of embroidery to prevent unknot.
Tiling: Joining multiple pieces of artwork together to create a larger design.
Trapunto: A raised embroidery technique using padding to create a 3D effect.
Travel: The path the embroidery machine takes between different elements of the design.
Tatting: A lace-making technique using a small shuttle and multiple rings to create intricate knots and loops.
Tearaway: Temporary, water-soluble stabilizer that tears away easily after embroidery, leaving a clean design.
Tension: The tightness of the thread during embroidery is crucial for achieving smooth and even stitches.
Thread: Yarn used for embroidery is available in various colors, textures, and weights.
Trims: Decorative elements like ribbons, beads, or sequins are added to enhance the embroidery design.

U

Underlay: A layer of stitches placed beneath satin stitch areas for added stability and to prevent fabric puckering.
Upper Thread: The thread is threaded through the needle and visible on the top of the fabric during embroidery.

V

Velvet Stitch: A dense, plush stitch resembling velvet fabric, created by closely packed satin stitches.
Vector Image: An image converted into simple shapes for embroidery software to understand and stitch

W

Wash-Away: A temporary stabilizer that dissolves in water after embroidery, leaving a clean design.
Weaving Stitch: A stitch technique mimicking woven fabric textures, often used for borders and decorative elements.

X

X-Stitch: A basic cross-stitch technique used in embroidery and counted-thread cross-stitch projects.

Y

Yarn: A generic term for any thread used for textile crafts, including embroidery.

Z

Zigzag Stitch: One of the versatile embroidery stitch types with a back-and-forth motion, often used for decorative borders, lettering, and outlining.

This A to Z glossary provides a basic understanding of embroidery digitizing terms and techniques. Learning these embroidery digitizing terms is a great first step on your journey to creating beautiful and unique designs. You can always learn more about embroidery software or collaborate with a professional service like “Digitize Are Us” for complex designs.

Digitize Are Us - Your Embroidery Partner

If you're interested in outsourcing your embroidery needs, choose Digitize Are Us! We specialize in creating high-quality digitized designs for any project. Contact us today for a free consultation!