Digitizing Fundamentals VIII Embroidery Project

Underlay is perhaps the single most important aspect of digitizing. Improper underlay can ruin a design and cause poor quality stitching. While automatic underlay can work fine in many cases, most experienced digitizers prefer to create it manually.

Underlay serves as the foundation to support a design. It has four basic purposes:

Underlay stitches should be created with a purpose to perform specific tasks. They should not be random, unless you are trying to create a special effect.

Edge-walk underlay is a very valuable technique, as it is intended to “hold-up” the edges of a satin column and prevent a jagged uneven look. This is especially useful on textured fabrics. It also reduces the tendency of stitches sinking down into thick fabric. (0.6mm is a common inset distance for edge-walk)