SewWhat Pro Tutorial: Edit, Resize, and Merge Embroidery Designs Like a Pro

Video reference: “SewWhat Pro - Merging Designs Tutorial” by Sweet Threads Gifts

If you love personalizing stitch files, SewWhat Pro makes it quick to open designs, merge names, layer appliques, and leave with a machine-ready PES. Below is a clear, repeatable workflow that mirrors a real production process—from hoop setup to tidy thread lists and a safe Save As finish.

What you’ll learn

• How to choose the correct hoop in software and why it matters

• The clean way to rotate, delete elements, and resize without distortion

• A fast method for adding names (letter-by-letter) and centering the whole design

• How to join adjacent same-color threads for efficient stitching

• Smart layering when combining an applique number with a character design

Primer: What this workflow achieves (and when to use it) SewWhat Pro is ideal for reshaping ready-made stitch files—adding names, deleting extra bits, resizing safely, centering within your hoop, and optimizing thread order. You’ll use it to prepare clean, dependable PES files for your embroidery machine, whether you’re building a personalized baby blanket design or merging a character over a number applique.

This guide walks through two common scenarios: 1) Personalizing a design with a name 2) Combining a number applique with a character and ensuring the top design layers correctly

Pro tip Use a dedicated USB for your machine-ready files. Keep it separate from working files so you never confuse originals with edited versions.

Prep: Files, tools, and a clean workspace Gather before you start:

• Computer with SewWhat Pro installed

• USB stick for transfer

• Embroidery design files (e.g., PES format)

• Font files (if you’ll add names letter by letter)

Environment checks

• Launch SewWhat Pro and confirm you can open a design and see the hoop boundary.

• Verify your USB shows up in File Explorer.

Decision point: hoop type

• If you’re stitching in a standard 5x7 frame, set the hoop to match (for example, many users stitch in a brother 5x7 hoop).

- If you rely on magnetic or specialty hoops, just match your real frame dimensions in software; the workflow here remains identical.

Prep checklist

• Files on hand (designs, font set)

• USB inserted and visible

• SewWhat Pro open and responsive

Setup in SewWhat Pro: Hoop, orientation, and visibility 1) Open your base design. - File > Open, then select the design you’ll customize.

2) Set the correct hoop before touching anything else. - Choose the hoop that matches your real hardware so scaling and centering are accurate on-screen.

Quick check If your hoop orientation doesn’t match the design’s direction (for example, a horizontal subject in a vertical hoop), rotate the design so it sits naturally in the frame.

Watch out Editing an entire composition before choosing the correct hoop often leads to avoidable resizing/redesign later. Set the hoop first—it’s the canvas your design must respect. magnetic embroidery hoops

Setup checklist

• Base design open and visible

• Hoop selected and visible

• Orientation looks natural in the hoop

Operation: Step-by-step merging, resizing, and centering A) Clean and rotate the base design (as needed) - Rotate: Use the rotation tool to align the subject with the hoop.

- Delete unwanted stitch elements: In the thread list, select the element(s) you don’t need, right-click, and Delete Thread. Remove the full set (e.g., outline, tack down, satin) to truly clear it.

Quick check After deletions, scrub the thread list. If any outline/tackdown/satin remains for that element, remove those too so nothing unexpected stitches later. dime snap hoop

B) Merge a name (letter by letter) - File > Merge, choose the font’s letter files, and bring them in one at a time (P, A, U, L, etc.). Position roughly where you want them; we’ll make exact adjustments next.

- Faster lettering option: Use the “Inserting Letters from Info Pane” button to quickly add characters from the active font.

Pro tip Letter sizing is easier once all letters are on screen. Avoid resizing individual letters first; scale them together to preserve spacing and stroke proportions. hoop master embroidery hooping station

C) Resize the right way (avoid distortion)

• Select the letters (or the entire design if you’re sizing everything), then go to Tools > Resize Pattern.

- Enter a percentage so the shape remains proportional—don’t drag the corners.

• If text still feels large/small, repeat with a new percentage until it aligns with the base design visually.

Watch out Manual drag-resizing can distort stitch density and letterforms. Tools > Resize Pattern preserves proportions and stitch logic so your text stitches cleanly.

D) Center the full composition and finalize size - Marquee-select everything (base design + name), then click Center Pattern in Hoop.

• If you’re designing for a baby blanket or another specific target, reopen Tools > Resize Pattern to set the overall height/width. Confirm final dimensions visually against the hoop boundary.

Operation checklist

• Unwanted elements removed

• Name merged and correctly spelled

• Resized via Tools > Resize Pattern, not by dragging

• Entire design centered in the hoop

Optimizing thread changes: Join adjacent same-color blocks When your color list contains multiple consecutive blocks of the same color, you can consolidate them.

• Edit > Join Threads

- Choose “Join adjacent threads of same color,” optionally starting at a specified thread number (so you only affect a later section).

- Confirm the color list has fewer, larger blocks in that region.

Pro tip Join adjacent threads toward the end of your workflow so you don’t undo optimizations by re-editing. This is especially handy on multi-needle machines where needle/thread assignments matter.

Watch out Avoid “Join ALL threads of same color.” If two non-adjacent color blocks share a color, you can create long jumps and an inefficient stitch sequence.

Quality checks: Verify size, order, and cleanliness

• Hoop fit: The design sits comfortably within the boundary and matches your real hoop size.

• Orientation: The subject faces the intended direction in the hoop.

• Deletions: No stray tack down/outline/satin remains for removed elements.

• Text legibility: Letter strokes look proportional; spacing is even; no distortion from dragging.

• Thread list: Adjacent blocks joined where helpful; stitch order still logical.

Quick check Select all and re-center. If something moves unexpectedly, you may have left elements unselected during earlier steps—fix before saving. mighty hoops for brother

Results and handoff: Save safely and move to your machine Always finish with a clean Save As so you never overwrite your original. - File > Save As, name descriptively (e.g., include hoop size and added text), save to your USB if you’re heading to the machine now.

Watch out Clicking Save (not Save As) can overwrite the original and “bake in” edits you didn’t intend to keep. Use Save As every time.

Layering appliques cleanly: Number + character combo Combining an applique number with a character is a great way to celebrate birthdays or team spirit. Here’s the sequencing logic that keeps edges crisp: 1) Open the applique number first—this sets it as the base. Adjust your hoop before merging anything. 2) File > Merge to bring in the character. Resize the character (Tools > Resize Pattern) to sit where you want on the number. 3) Position the character over the number and center the entire composition.

Why order matters When the number stitches first (outline → tack down → satin), and then the character stitches, the character appears on top. If you reverse the order, the number’s satin can cover parts of the character.

Decision point: fabric and coverage If your character crosses onto the applique fabric, remember the number’s applique fabric still exists beneath the overlap. Depending on color choices, heavy outlines under light fills can show through. Choose placements and colors accordingly. brother magnetic embroidery hoop

Pro tip If stacking creates show-through you don’t love, consider repositioning the character to avoid thick satin edges on dark fabrics—or switch colors to reduce contrast at overlaps.

Troubleshooting and recovery Symptom → Cause → Fix

• Distorted letters → Drag-resize changed proportions → Revert, then Tools > Resize Pattern with a percentage.

• Misaligned centering → Not all elements were selected → Select all and re-center.

• Unwanted residual stitches → Not all thread components deleted → In the thread list, delete the remaining outline/tackdown/satin for that element.

• Inefficient color changes → Joined all same-color blocks globally → Undo, then join adjacent same-color blocks only.

• Overwritten original → Used Save instead of Save As → If you have a backup, restore. Otherwise, re-open the original source file and repeat with Save As.

Quick isolation tests

• Toggle thread visibility to confirm what will actually stitch.

• Step through thread blocks to verify the sequencing logic before saving. mighty hoop 8x9

From the comments: Extended hoop question and more A reader asked about using an extended hoop. This specific tutorial doesn’t cover extended hoop workflow inside SewWhat Pro. If that’s on your roadmap, keep your approach consistent with this guide: match the software hoop to the real frame first, and build/center your composition before you size or optimize threads. magnetic hoops

Thank-yous from the community appreciated this beginner-friendly walkthrough and thread-joining tip for multi-needle setups.

Appendix: Practical sizing and thread tips pulled from this workflow

• Size iteratively: Try 80–95% adjustments, preview, and repeat until it looks right in your hoop.

• Join at the end: Consolidate adjacent same-color blocks after the layout is final.

• Layer smartly: Base applique first, character second; avoid placing dark satin under light fills when possible. dime hoop