Question On Stitch Type to Use

cwheelock · December 6th, 2016, 08:45 AM

I would like to know how you experienced digitizers would handle the circle part of this logo that has the text "Cedar Hills ....." on it. I have read that one should not use fill stitches that go in a circle as it lends itself to puckering, particularly on the newer moisture wicking materials. Since it has small text to be placed on it, it really needs to be a fill to hold the lettering. SOooo, I realize one can set up the fill to be one direction throughout, but I don't like the look of it. I really would like to set the fill to stitch in the direction satins would go if used to create that part. So I would like to know A. Does using fill stitches that go around in a circle really lend itself to puckering? B. Is there a way to make it look circular and still hold micro text??

digidana · December 6th, 2016, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwheelock

A. Does using fill stitches that go around in a circle really lend itself to puckering? B. Is there a way to make it look circular and still hold micro text??

A. YES. i call those "turn fill" stitches (that what my old software called them). never do them in a circle, or anything that makes a tight turn....like a large S. it will definitely pucker the fabric...and tight turns can actually put holes in the fabric.

B. not really. use a regular fill with a satin outline on the inside and outside. it will look fine. i do badges all time time.

cwheelock · December 6th, 2016, 04:01 PM

Thanks for the info digidana! I was pretty sure I knew the answer but was so hoping I was wrong about the "turn fill" stitches as you referred to. Oh well, odds are the client wouldn't even notice what direction the stitches are in anyway.

proost · December 7th, 2016, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digidana

A. YES. i call those "turn fill" stitches (that what my old software called them). never do them in a circle, or anything that makes a tight turn....like a large S. it will definitely pucker the fabric...and tight turns can actually put holes in the fabric.

B. not really. use a regular fill with a satin outline on the inside and outside. it will look fine. i do badges all time time.

So you're saying do the fill in a single direction, vice a fill like an iris of an eye (all pointing to a center point) and then run the satin border? If so, I'll have to play with that.

minimalist · December 7th, 2016, 02:41 PM

You didn't state the size that the badge design would be so I have to assume you are somewhere around 3 inches in diameter. Always being the dissenter I normally do LEO badges that are circles in what my software calls a random step pattern in the circular pattern. Using the border satin stitch on both sides can cause the puckering and possibly damaging the material due to the width and density of the satin. We're talking maybe 1/4" give or take a bit on the circular part of the design. Then after adding the border to stay within the perimeter measurement you have to deal with smaller lettering that doesn't cross the satin border. If the outside diameter was much larger then I'd consider the one direction fill but with the small size of this one I'm inclined to do what works for us.

I'd use 2 layers of heavy cutaway on the dry fit alternating the direction of each layer. Backing the tension off on the top and bottom also helps in reducing problems with the dry fit shirts. It's crap fabric to start with and I try to emphasize the benefits of cotton or cotton poly instead of the delicate poly used in shirts.

digidana · December 7th, 2016, 03:36 PM

if you're talking about doing the green section of this logo as a 'turn fill'....i wouldn't do it. its too tight and will pucker the middle. the stitches end up too tight on the inside of the circle

i would use it if its something more like this:

minimalist · December 8th, 2016, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digidana

if you're talking about doing the green section of this logo as a 'turn fill'....i wouldn't do it. its too tight and will pucker the middle. the stitches end up too tight on the inside of the circle

i would use it if its something more like this:

You do realize that the OP is speaking of a circular badge and the portion referred to is the outer edge?

cwheelock · December 8th, 2016, 08:50 AM

So mimimalist, you are thinking it would be okay to use a fill, or split satin even since it is not such a tight circle? Since I didn't want to add the satin borders on it because of the very reason you stated ( now to fit in the micro text after a border added). It is a left crest size. They also simplified things to change it up for their use. Apparently this was a former badge they had used. This is what I ended up doing, since I would have had to add a border in my opinion if I used a one directional fill for the outer circle. I needed to keep it a nice left crest size along with reduced stitch count if at all possible. Therefore, no borders in the interior either.

cwheelock · December 8th, 2016, 08:59 AM

Also wondering, if a person applied a one directional light fill underlay, if that would offset the effects of a "turn" fill applied over the top? I tried to keep the top layer as light as I could and still have it hold the text nicely. Thank you to everyone who replied! I love digitizing, but still have much to learn. I would love to fine a mentor to critique my work. Sometimes things sew out beautifully the first time or two, and next time it takes me forever to get the logo to look descent and usually those "not so descent ones" don't live up to the standard I like to see and hate to send out or use. Appreciate all the advice everyone gives in this forum!!!

digidana · December 8th, 2016, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minimalist

You do realize that the OP is speaking of a circular badge and the portion referred to is the outer edge?

yeah, i get it...i was just showing an example of where i would use it and where i would not.