Compiled Embroidery Skill Articles

Embroidery Basics: Understanding Density | LindeeG Embroidery
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backgrounds like skies. A density of .2 is twice as dense as .4 and should probably never be used because it is
simply cramming too many stitches into a small space.
Where is Density Used?
Density only applies to satin and fill stitches. Since these stitch types are also used as underlay, underlay also
has a density attribute. Sample densities for underlay may be between 2 and 4 mm. Running stitches do not
have density.
How Density Affects Your Embroidery
In a well-digitized artful design, you will often find that density varies for two main reasons: interest and
purpose. Light fills make great backgrounds, skies, and water allowing the eye to focus on the main subject,
creating depth and perspective, and permitting the design to more gradually transition into the fabric, thus
avoiding the “patch” look.
Light densities provide less coverage. This can be a good thing when creating shadows, shading, building up
layers of texture, or tone-on-tone embroidery. Lower density designs sew faster and stress the fabric less. The
result is a softer, more flexible embroidery.
High densities, especially when combined with short stitches, contribute to stiff, thick-feeling designs. When
densities are excessive, you can experience increased thread breaks, broken needles, fabric damage, design
distortion, and sewing times. Too much density combined with overly short stitches is one of most common
mistakes made by novice digitizers and can be found in many of the free designs shared by them.
Note: Increasing density provides better coverage up to a point. For more solid embroidery, lengthen the stitch,
increase the underlay, or use a color-block topping.
The perfect combination of density and stitch length covers the fabric adequately without creating a
“bullet-proof patch.” Unfortunately, “perfect density” is relative and depends on the fabric, the color of the
fabric relative to the design, and the embroiderer’s personal preference. Always keep in mind that embroidery
is an embellishment and absolute total solid coverage is not the goal and seldom results in a good embroidery.
How To Control Density
As an embroiderer, you will probably most like be faced with density choices when using a lettering program.
Avoid the temptation of dramatically increasing density on letters, especially if when working very small letters.
The rule of thumb here is that the narrower the column (thinner the letter stroke) the less density you should
apply.