E-stitch

An E-stitch edges appliqué. A row of stitches runs along one edge of a band, its spine, and at each step a spike reaches across the band and comes back, like a row of E’s laid end to end. It is the blanket stitch, which holds an appliqué’s raw edge down with far less thread than a satin column. Ink/Stitch’s documentation suggests it for appliqué on clothes for small children. Set an element’s satin_column on and its satin_method to e_stitch for it.

Draw it as a satin column, with 2 rails along the band’s edges. The spine runs along the first rail, and the spikes go across to the second. Rungs across the rails, where they turn, keep the spikes square to the band.

In VectorCraft, join the 2 rails with Object › Compound Path › Make and apply the StitchCraft Satin effect to them, with its satin_method set to e_stitch. The effect shows its stitches, and stitch export sews them. An SVG file’s Ink/Stitch settings are read from milestone M8 (setting parameters).

The pictures are drawn from docs/fixtures/e-stitch.svg, a curved band 4 mm wide.

Spacing

zigzag_spacing_mm is how far apart the spikes are, 0.4 mm by default as for a satin column. An E-stitch wants it wider: 2 or 3 mm leaves the fabric between the spikes showing.

1 mm

A curved band 36 mm long and 4 mm wide sewn as an E-stitch, its spine along the lower edge and a spike up to the upper edge at each step, 1 mm

2 mm

A curved band 36 mm long and 4 mm wide sewn as an E-stitch, its spine along the lower edge and a spike up to the upper edge at each step, 2 mm

3 mm

A curved band 36 mm long and 4 mm wide sewn as an E-stitch, its spine along the lower edge and a spike up to the upper edge at each step, 3 mm

Which edge

The spine runs along the first rail, the first subpath the path draws. swap_satin_rails puts it on the other rail, and the spikes then point the other way. Put the spine on the appliqué’s outer edge, over the raw edge of its fabric.

Rails swapped

The same band sewn with its spine along the upper edge and the spikes pointing down to the lower edge, Rails swapped

Long spikes and long steps

Spikes longer than max_stitch_length_mm are split as a satin column’s stitches are, and each spike comes back down through the needle holes of its own splits. A step of the spine longer than the longest stitch is split only if the spacing as set is longer than the longest stitch, as in Ink/Stitch, so a step that random_zigzag_spacing_percent lengthens past it is sewn in one stitch. A stitch longer than 12 mm may snag, and SC-W0209 names it.

Leaning stitches

Without enough rungs, the points of the 2 rails pair up by length alone, and where one rail runs on ahead of the other the spikes lean along the band. Where they lean more than 45° from square to it, SC-W0208 names the place to add a rung. Every satin method gives both warnings.

Parameters

An E-stitch reads every setting of a satin column, from its underlays and compensation to its random variation and where it starts and ends. The reference lists each one with its range and default: