From Flourish to Fancy: Digitizing a Circular Embroidery Design in Hatch

Video reference: “A Play About in Hatch Embroidery Digitizing Software” by GentlemanCrafter

A single flourish can bloom into a showpiece. In this guided build, you’ll turn a simple artwork into a symmetrical, stitch-efficient circular motif—complete with graceful Redwork pathing, a textured center, and a clean outer outline.

What you’ll learn

• How to digitize closed (filled) and open (outline) shapes for a flourish motif

• How to control fill direction using stitch angles for believable flow

• How to use Redwork and Circle Layout to create a clean circular composition

• How to add decorative contour fills, offsets, and branching for a polished, practical stitch-out

• How to review with Stitch Player and export a PES for stitching

Primer: What this workflow achieves (and when to use it) A flourish motif is a perfect “building block” for circular compositions. By digitizing just a few shapes—two filled finials and two open swirls—you can replicate and arrange them into a wreath-like centerpiece. This approach is efficient (minimal art prep), flexible (mirroring and repetition), and stitch-friendly when combined with Redwork and branching.

When to use it

• You have a simple flourish artwork and want a complex-looking result without tedious tracing.

• You prefer outline-forward aesthetics (Redwork) with a touch of texture in the center.

• You want an arrangement that sews in a logical path with minimal jumps.

Constraints worth noting

• Fill directions matter: Tatami angle changes can transform how highlights and shadows read on curved finials.

• Layout choices (repetitions, mirroring) can become visually busy—judicious edits prevent clutter.

• Branching reduces jumps, but a few may remain; final checks still matter.

Prep: Files, tools, and what to check first Tools and features used

• Hatch Embroidery Digitizing Software

• Digitize Closed Shape and Digitize Open Shape tools

• Stitch angle controls (orange handles)

• Redwork feature and Stitch Player

• Circle Layout with optional mirroring

• Create Outlines and Offsets

• Branching and export as PES

Input file

• A pre-prepared flourish artwork (e.g., flourish.png)

Environment checks

• Open a new design; confirm hoop view and comfortable zoom level.

• Ensure artwork is visible and scalable.

• Decide your initial size target before tracing to reduce later edits. hooping station for embroidery

Quick check

• Can you clearly see finial edges and swirl paths at your working zoom? If not, zoom in before you trace.

Prep checklist

• Artwork imported and sized for your design intent

• Hoop area visible; zoom set

• Digitize tools ready; colors available

Setup: Smart configurations before you stitch Color and fill decisions for finials

• Use Tatami for the finials and set a consistent color (purple in the reference). This creates a visual anchor.

• Plan to adjust stitch angles so the fill direction follows each finial’s form.

Why stitch angles matter

• Angles guide texture and sheen. On curved finials, angling “up the finial” sells the form and reduces awkward cross-grain texture.

Redwork planning

• Redwork can connect multiple outlines into a single continuous path. Keep potential entry/exit points in mind as you place shapes; you’ll resolve the pathing later with Redwork and Branching.

Setup checklist

• Finial fill type chosen (Tatami)

• Color set

• Angle-adjustment plan noted for each finial

Operation: Step-by-step digitizing and layout 1) Digitize the closed finials (Tatami)

• Select Digitize Closed Shape.

• Left-click to start; right-click around curves for smooth points; press Enter twice to commit.

• Set the fill to Tatami in your chosen color.

• Adjust stitch angle using the orange handles; angle “up” the finial for natural flow.

Expected result: Two filled finials in purple, with Tatami flowing along each finial’s curve.

Watch out

• If the stitch angle cuts across a finial’s length, texture will look blocky. Re-adjust handles until the direction complements the shape’s long axis. magnetic embroidery hoop

2) Digitize the open swirls (Single Run)

• Choose Digitize Open Shape.

• Start just inside a finial tip and right-click along the swirl to place curved nodes; press Enter to finish.

• Repeat for the second swirl.

• Remove the background artwork to keep the workspace clean.

Expected result: Two Single Run swirl outlines that visually connect with the finials.

Pro tip

• Start and stop slightly inside finial edges so Redwork can bridge connections more gracefully.

3) Apply Redwork to unify the motif

• Select all digitized objects and rotate slightly to taste.

• Apply Redwork and confirm entries/exits. Preview in Stitch Player.

Expected result: A single Redwork object connecting finials and swirls into a coherent outline path.

Quick check

• Stitch Player should reveal a smooth path with minimal backtracking.

4) Build the circular composition (Circle Layout)

• With the Redwork object selected, choose Circle Layout.

• Try a higher repetition (e.g., 12) and toggle Mirror on/off to compare aesthetics.

• Reduce repetitions to avoid clutter if needed; then center the design.

Expected result: A symmetrical circular arrangement of the flourish, balanced and readable.

Watch out

• Too many repeats or mirrored pairs can create visual knots. Reduce counts or turn off Mirroring until the negative space returns.

5) Add a central connecting circle and re-apply Redwork

• Draw a circle centered in the design so it meets the inner ends of the repeated elements; press Enter twice.

• Select everything and apply Redwork again so the center circle is included.

• Preview with Stitch Player.

Expected result: The entire composition, including center circle, behaves as a single Redwork path.

Quick check

• Entry/exit points shouldn’t cause unnecessary jumps; if you see awkward travel, nudge the circle size and reapply.

6) Add decorative central fill (Contour)

• Create another center circle for decoration.

• Align to center. Test Ripple, then Contour for texture. Adjust spacing and angle.

• Choose Contour with tighter spacing (e.g., around 0.05 in) for a refined look.

Expected result: A textured central disc that complements the outline style.

Pro tip

• Small spacing changes dramatically alter the texture. Use Stitch Player to preview thread paths before committing. dime snap hoop

7) Layer, mirror, and recolor the central fill

• Duplicate the contour-filled circle.

• Mirror X, recolor to a lighter tone, send to back, and shrink slightly.

Expected result: Two layered contour fills with subtle contrast and depth.

Quick check

• The mirrored layer should nest neatly under the main disc without awkward overlaps.

8) Create an outer decorative outline (Offsets)

• Select the design and choose Create Outlines and Offsets.

• Use an offset distance around 1/16 in (0.0625 in) with Individual Offsets and a lighter color.

• Delete any inner offset you don’t need (for example, an extra central ring) and keep the outer frame.

Expected result: A clean border that frames, rather than fights, the main motif.

Watch out

• Multiple offsets can crowd the design. Start with one; add more only if the border still feels sparse. magnetic hoops for embroidery

9) Optimize the sew order with Branching and review

• Select all and apply Branching to reduce jumps.

• Run Stitch Player; accept minor jumps if the overall flow is strong.

Expected result: A practical stitch sequence with minimal jumps.

Pro tip

• If a jump persists in a visually sensitive spot, slightly edit connector positions, re-apply Redwork, then Branch again.

Quality Checks: Validate before you export Pathing sanity check

• Use Stitch Player to confirm the design stitches in a smooth, continuous order.

• Look for unnecessary color changes or direction reversals.

Fill quality

• Ensure contour spacing in the center isn’t overly dense.

• Check that Tatami angles on finials enhance curvature rather than flattening it.

Layout balance

• Confirm that circle repetitions and mirroring preserve clear negative space.

• Outer offset should frame the shape; if it competes, adjust the distance and reapply.

Quick check

• If you can follow the stitch path mentally without confusion, the machine will likely stitch it cleanly too. embroidery machine for beginners

Results & Handoff: Save and export cleanly Save your working file, then export to PES for stitching.

• Save the native design first.

• Export as PES for your embroidery machine.

Expected result: A PES file that mirrors your pathing and settings.

From software to fabric

• On first stitch-out, expect to discover a jump or two. That’s normal—log them, then adjust Redwork or Branching and re-export.

Troubleshooting & Recovery: Fixes for common snags Symptom: Finial fills look “flat” or fight the curve

• Likely cause: Stitch angle not aligned to the finial’s flow.

• Fix: Use the orange handles to rotate the angle so stitches travel along each finial.

Symptom: Swirls don’t connect well after Redwork

• Likely cause: Start/stop points too far apart.

• Fix: Start/stop slightly inside finials and re-apply Redwork; consider a subtle reposition.

Symptom: Circular layout looks cramped

• Likely cause: Too many repetitions or mirroring conflicts.

• Fix: Reduce repeats, disable mirroring, and re-center.

Symptom: Too many jump stitches even after Branching

• Likely cause: Distant elements or tight turns.

• Fix: Slightly increase connecting distances, re-apply Redwork, then Branch again; rerun Stitch Player.

Symptom: Outer offset crowds the design

• Likely cause: Offset distance too small.

• Fix: Increase to a slightly larger value; keep just one offset for clarity. brother embroidery machine

Operation checklist (one-glance)

• Closed finials digitized with Tatami; stitch angles refined

• Swirls digitized as Single Run; artwork removed

• Redwork applied → Circle Layout tuned → Center circle added

• Decorative center fill set to Contour at suitable spacing

• Duplicate/mirror/recolor center disc for depth

• Outer offset added; extras deleted; color adjusted

• Branching applied; Stitch Player reviewed

• Saved and exported to PES

From the comments

• Reader feedback praised the clarity and the resulting design aesthetic, reinforcing that the step sequence leads to a clean, attractive stitch-out.

Related gear to explore

• For stabilizing and hooping workflows, you may find value in researching accessories such as mighty hoop 5.5 or broader options like magnetic hoops for embroidery. If you’re comparing systems, take a look at embroidery machine for beginners guides, or accessory roundups that reference dime snap hoop solutions. When organizing your workspace, consider a hooping station for embroidery to speed repetitive setups. For machine compatibility topics, general buyer’s guides often reference models like a brother embroidery machine alongside other brands.