The new Branching Tool

The new Branching Tool

Creating Stems and Leaves with Sue O’Very

Lesson six demonstrates how to:
  • Digitize straight lines and curves
  • Create Closed Objects
  • Use the new Branching tool to optimize the stitch order
Download reference filesBERNINA Embroidery Software 9

The new Branching tool - Create plants with Sue O’Very

Hello my Sewing Bees, in today's lesson I'm going to show you just how to create a plant with the Branching tool, a new feature of the BERNINA Embroidery Software 9.

Let's have some fun!

Red highlighted words 
They mark a function which is shown in the picture with a red circle.
The circle is sometimes very small, so keep looking for it! 
 

Plant Reference

Plant Reference

You can download this drawing as a reference for your work and Sue's original design as a BERNINA Embroidery Software 9 art-file. The art-file can't be used on your embroidery machine. You need to export it on a USB-stick or via the WiFi-Device as a machine file in order to stitch it out. Check Lesson one if you need a reminder how to export a design to your machine.

Download Reference
From the beginning

From the beginning

Start BERNINA Embroidery Software 9 and switch to "Embroidery Canvas". Change the hoop size to the BERNINA Large Oval Hoop, 255x145. I demonstrated how to change the hoop size in lessons 1-4 if you need a reminder of the detailed process.

Where to find the Reference

Where to find the Reference

Click here to download the artwork for this lesson if you have not downloaded it already. Save the flower file to a folder in your Embroidery Library. Remember its location.

> Select Insert Artwork in the General Toolbar at the top middle.

Navigate to find your saved artwork, “Let your leaves grow-Artwork.JPG”.

Digitize Lines and Curves

Digitize Lines and Curves

Open the Digitize Toolbox and select the tool Open Object.

In the Outlines Toolbar at the bottom select Stemstitch and thread color # 3.

Begin digitizing the stems with left mouse clicks for straight lines or corners and right mouse clicks for curved lines. Start with the primary center stem. It does not matter if you begin at the top or bottom.

Press the key "Enter" on your PC's keyboard to set the stitch.

Remark
Do not worry if you have clicked left and created a straight line instead of a curve or vice versa.
Instead of doing it all over again, you can press the "Backspace" key on your keyboard to delete your latest point.
If you do want to start again, you can press the "Escape" key on your keyboard and delete the process of the object you were working on.
These two options only work if you have not yet pressed the "Enter" key to set the sitch.

There are also several options on how to reshape objects after pressing "Enter". 
Watch this tutorial if you wish to learn more about reshaping an existing object.
 

Continue adding lines (straight and curved) on top of the artwork to add the veins within the leaf. The order does not matter. Make sure all the lines slightly overlap. Zoom in for accuracy. 

Creating the Leaves

Creating the Leaves

Once the stem and the veins are digitized, select the Closed Object tool. The Stemstitch and Color # 3 are still selected. Digitize around each leaf with a left click at the point of the leaf and right clicks at curves. Press "Enter" before reaching the original click to let the software close each of the leaf shapes.

Delete the Artwork by selecting the white area of the image and pressing the "Delete" key on your keyboard afterwards.

Optimizing the stitch order with the Branching Tool

Optimizing the stitch order with the Branching Tool

In order to see all the jump threads, deactivate the Artistic View.

Select all lines and shapes on your embroidery canvas. Open the Edit Toolbox and select Branching.  

Notice the prompts in the lower left corner of the Status bar. Place the entry point at the bottom of the stem.​

You are prompted to place the exit point. Click on the point of the uppermost leaf. The only jump stitches remaining are from the center of the hoop to the first stitch of the design and from the last stitch of the design back to the center.

Open the Menu "File"

> Save as "Branching"
> Send the design to your machine by exporting to a USB stick with Card/Machine Write or via WiFi with Send to BERNINA WiFi Device.

End of Lesson Six

End of Lesson Six

Are you ready for the next lesson?
I will show you how to create perfectly mirrored designs with a simple teardrop shape, using the Mirror Merge tool of the BERNINA Embroidery Software 9!

Next Lesson

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