S-stitch
An S-stitch is a satin column sewn one way at a time. At each step one stitch crosses the band, the next
crosses back, and between them the needle runs a short way along an edge. Its thread draws S’s laid end
to end. Split by a longest stitch, its stitches lie across the band in rows that follow it, the look
of a fill that bends with the shape. Turn an element’s satin_column on and choose s_stitch as its
satin_method.
Draw it as a satin column, with 2 rails along the band’s edges and rungs across them where they turn. The
first stitch goes from the second rail to the first, and swap_satin_rails starts it from the other.
In VectorCraft, make the 2 rails one path with Object › Compound Path › Make, give it the StitchCraft
Satin effect, and set the effect’s satin_method to s_stitch: VectorCraft draws the stitches, and
stitch export sews them. StitchCraft reads the same settings from an SVG file’s Ink/Stitch attributes
from milestone M8 (setting parameters).
The pictures are drawn from docs/fixtures/s-stitch.svg, a curved band 6 mm wide.
Spacing
zigzag_spacing_mm is how far apart the stitches across are, 0.4 mm by default. Each goes the other way
from the one before. A satin column at the same spacing crosses the band twice as often, as its needle
comes back across between its stitches. A finer spacing covers the band more closely.
1 mm
0.4 mm
Split stitches
With max_stitch_length_mm set, a stitch across longer than it is split, as a satin column’s stitches
are. By default the splits of neighbouring stitches line up, in rows along the band. The staggered split
method moves each stitch’s splits along from the last one’s. The rows then slant, and the needle holes of
neighbouring stitches no longer line up.
Default
Staggered
A step along an edge is never split, however long, as in Ink/Stitch. Where the spacing is wider than the longest stitch, the steps are longer than it.
Leaning and long stitches
Where the stitches lean more than 45° from square to the band, without enough rungs, SC-W0208 names the
place to add one, and SC-W0209 names a top stitch longer than 12 mm, which may snag. Every satin method
gives both.
Parameters
Every satin column setting applies to an S-stitch too, its underlays, compensation and random variation included. The reference gives each one’s range and default: