Table of Contents
Video reference: “Digitizing a Jacobean Crewelwork Inspired Embroidery Design in Hatch Software” by Gentleman Crafter
A fast, elegant path from sketch to stitch. This guide walks you through building a Jacobean crewelwork-inspired motif in Hatch—petals, finials, swirls, and stems—then assembling a full, symmetrical design with professional pathing and a stipple background.
What you’ll learn
- How to digitize petals, finials, and swirls using closed and open shapes
- When to remove overlaps and adjust angles for texture and density control
- How to mirror and assemble a quarter into a full symmetrical motif with circular layout
- How to apply Redwork for branched, double-line outlines
- How to add and tune a stipple background for texture
Primer (What & When) Jacobean crewelwork motifs are ripe for efficient digitizing: repeated petals, mirrored swirls, and scrolling stems lend themselves to a “digitize once, reuse many” approach. Here, you’ll digitize a single section and use Hatch tools to replicate and assemble a balanced composition.
Use this process when:
- Your artwork is mirrored or radial, so you can exploit copy, rotate, mirror, and circular layout.
- You want crisp, layered fills with controlled density and clean joins.
- You plan to finish with linework (Redwork) and a subtle stipple background.
Constraints and assumptions
- The walkthrough uses Hatch software, including Digitize Closed Shape, Digitize Open Shape, Remove Overlaps, Mirror, Circle Layout, Redwork, and the stitch player (all shown in action).
- Artwork is a Jacobean-style floral swirl used as a tracing guide.
Pro tip Digitize one “flower cluster” to a polished state, then copy it everywhere symmetry demands. This creates consistency and slashes editing time. magnetic hoops for embroidery
Prep Tools and files
- Hatch digitizing software installed
- A Jacobean-inspired artwork image for tracing (loaded as a backdrop)
- Basic familiarity with left/right clicks for straight/curved points and Hatch’s sequence/layering panels
Environment checks
- Confirm the artwork imports correctly and is visible for tracing.
- Verify the motif is symmetrical so the quarter-to-full strategy will work.
Quick check If the art looks mirrored across both axes or repeats at angles around a center, you’re set to build one quarter and replicate.
Prep checklist
- Artwork loaded and legible for tracing
- You’ve identified repeated elements (flowers, finials, swirls)
- You plan to digitize a single section then mirror/copy it later hooping station for embroidery
Setup Core setup steps (exactly as used)
- Turn off Automatic Centering to place objects precisely while building the first section.
- Open the Digitizing toolbox; be ready to switch between Circle, Closed Shape, and Open Shape tools as needed.
- For filled petals, select Tatami stitch, Pattern 1.
Why this setup matters
- Manual placement prevents the software from snapping your in-progress objects to the hoop center.
- Tatami Pattern 1 provides a reliable, even fill that suits rounded petals.
- Keeping digitizing tools handy avoids mode-switch friction as you progress.
From the comments (version/level) A reader asked which Hatch version/level was used. The author confirmed Hatch 2 at the Digitizer level, noting many features appear in lower tiers. Use Hatch’s comparison chart to align your toolset.
Setup checklist
- Automatic Centering: Off
- Fill type ready: Tatami, Pattern 1
- Digitizing toolbox visible (Circle, Closed, Open)
- Background artwork locked
Operation / Steps 1) Build the stacked petals (circles + density control)
- Circle tool → Tatami Pattern 1 → Click center, drag radius, Enter twice.
- Repeat for all petal circles.
- Reorder: move the intended “top” circle to the bottom of the sequence so it visually stacks above others.
- Edit Objects → Remove Overlaps on the relevant shapes to eliminate hidden layers and reduce density.
- Adjust stitch angles on select petals to vary texture and avoid moiré.
Outcome Three layered petals with clean intersections and alternating stitch directions.
Quick check Hide one circle temporarily and verify the cutouts exist beneath—evidence that Remove Overlaps worked.
Watch out If you skip Remove Overlaps on stacked fills, you create heavy density that can distort fabric and break threads. brother embroidery machine
2) Add the leaf-shaped finial
- Digitize Closed Shape → Plot straight/curved points (left/right clicks) to outline the finial.
- Apply fill and adjust its angle; move it up the stack as needed for correct visual layering.
- Select petals + finial → Remove Overlaps again for clean joins.
Outcome A filled finial precisely integrated with the petals—no density overbuild under intersections.
Pro tip Use Backspace mid-draw to step back points and correct curves before you confirm the shape. magnetic embroidery hoops
3) Replicate the finished flower cluster
- Select the complete flower (petals + finial) → Copy, Paste.
- Rotate the duplicate to align with your artwork; a small negative angle refined alignment in the reference (-5°).
- Position the duplicate precisely.
Decision point
- If rotation alone doesn’t fit, group elements first so nothing drifts, then refine rotation and placement as a unit.
Operation checklist (so far)
- Petals layered and de-overlapped
- Finial placed, angle set, overlaps removed
- Cluster duplicated and rotated into place embroidery machine 6x10 hoop
4) Create cone-shaped finials and reuse them
- Zoom in → Digitize Closed Shape → Outline a cone finial.
- Fill and angle it for pleasing texture.
- Copy/Paste it into each matching location, nudging to align.
Outcome All cone finials match—because you originated from a single, polished master.
Quick check Toggle visibility on duplicates one by one to confirm they sit correctly against the art contours.
5) Draw the large swirl, then mirror
- Digitize Closed Shape → Trace the swirl, mixing straight/curved nodes.
- Copy/Paste the swirl; rotate as needed; if orientation still doesn’t match, use Mirror to flip it and align.
- Refine placement to the artwork contours.
Why mirror matters Mirroring preserves width, curvature, and stitch logic—far more consistent than redrawing a second swirl.
Watch out Over-plotting too many nodes can make curves bumpy. Favor fewer, well-placed points and refine later with Reshape. hoopmaster
6) Lay in stems and lines with Open Shape
- Digitize Open Shape → Start each line slightly inside adjacent fills to counter stitch pull and prevent gaps after stitching.
- Use left/right clicks to map smooth paths; confirm each with Enter.
- If you misplace a node, Backspace to undo and continue.
- Continue until all connecting strokes are drawn.
Outcome Continuous, graceful lines that tuck neatly into the filled shapes without daylight between elements.
Quick check Zoom tight at each join: your line endpoints should sit just inside fills, not exactly at edges.
7) Assemble the full symmetric design with circular layout
- Select all elements of the completed quarter (Ctrl+A if the art is isolated).
- Layout → Circle Layout → Set copies to two; Mirror Alternate off (as shown).
- Drag the layout center to the geometric center of your motif; watch the preview.
- Apply; the quarter forms the full, mirrored composition.
- Unlock and delete the background artwork to leave only stitches.
- Re-enable Automatic Centering so the final design is centered in the hoop.
Outcome A complete, symmetrical motif built from one quarter with precise alignment around the center.
Pro tip You can reposition the layout center live—watch how the mirrored elements snap into balance as you nudge the pivot. magnetic hoop embroidery
8) Apply Redwork and add a stipple background
- Select all → change to a single color for clarity.
- Apply Redwork: confirm entry/exit when prompted. The Sequence panel consolidates elements and applies a double-line path.
- Draw a square around the motif; convert it to a fill; switch fill to Stipple.
- Tune stipple parameters by adjusting loop spacing and stitch length until the texture recedes behind the motif.
- Send the stipple to the bottom of the sequence; color it a neutral gray; align centers with the main design.
Outcome
- Redwork: unified pathing, clean double-line outlines.
- Stipple: subtle texture that frames, not fights, your motif.
Operation checklist (end)
- Quarter assembled to full with circular layout
- Redwork applied and consolidated
- Stipple square aligned, behind the artwork, tuned for texture machine embroidery hoops
Quality Checks At each key milestone, verify:
- Petal stack: Angles alternate; Remove Overlaps created clean cutouts.
- Finial fit: No heavy density at intersections.
- Swirls: Smooth curves with minimal, well-spaced nodes; mirrored match is precise.
- Lines: Endpoints sit inside adjacent fills—no gaps after pull.
- Symmetry: After circular layout, the motif is balanced around the center.
- Redwork: Sequence panel shows consolidation; the simulated path is efficient with reasonable backtracks.
- Stipple: Even coverage, consistent density, and clearly behind main elements.
Quick check Run the stitch player to confirm order and travel. Look for logical progression, minimal jumps, and tidy returns.
Results & Handoff What you should have now
- A complete Jacobean-style motif composed of filled petals, finials, swirls, and smooth connecting lines.
- Redwork outlines that are branched and doubled for crisp definition.
- A stippled background that enhances the main artwork without overwhelming it.
Next steps
- Simulate with the stitch player at increased speed to spot any path anomalies before stitching.
- When satisfied, proceed to stitch out on your machine. The reference result was stitched in monochrome and presented hooped on fabric, matching the digital design cleanly.
Pro tip If you plan multiple colorways later, keep a “monochrome Redwork” master file. Duplicate it before recoloring to preserve a pristine baseline. magnetic hoops
Troubleshooting & Recovery Symptom → Likely cause → Fix
- Heavy, raised areas in petals → Overlapping fills left intact → Re-select shapes and apply Remove Overlaps; verify order in the sequence.
- Visible gaps between lines and fills → Started lines at the exact edge; pull opened a seam → Begin lines slightly inside neighboring fills; nudge endpoints with Reshape.
- Swirl doesn’t align when copied → Rotation alone insufficient → Use Mirror to flip; then fine-rotate and reposition; edit nodes with Reshape if needed.
- Chaotic stitch order / long jumps → Paths unbranched, scattered entry/exit → Apply Redwork to consolidate; re-simulate in the stitch player.
- Background competing with motif → Stipple loops too tight or long → Increase loop spacing or reduce length until the texture recedes.
Quick isolation tests
- Toggle fill visibility per object to see where overlaps remain.
- Solo-play segments in the stitch player to observe local pathing.
- Temporarily change line color for contrast when checking joins.
From the comments
- Question: Which Hatch version/level is demonstrated?
Answer: Hatch 2 at the Digitizer level, with many features also present in lower tiers; compare levels on Hatch’s website.
- Feedback: The design and demo approach received positive feedback for clarity and results.
Closing thought From a single, polished quarter to a full, symmetrical showpiece—this Jacobean-inspired workflow highlights how thoughtful order, overlap control, and a few smart tools (Mirror, Circle Layout, Redwork, Stipple) deliver fast, repeatable excellence. brother magnetic embroidery frame