BuzzEdit 4 Tutorial

When merging multiple designs into a new layout, it sometimes makes sense to overlap them. However appealing this may be to the eye, it can cause problems at the machine because the overlapped area are double stitched - first for the bottom layer and then again for the top layer. It you have ever tried this you know where it can lead - to a thick matted embroidery and a potential mess at the machine.

So be good to your embroidery machine and at the same time, create better looking embroideries by fixing the problem before you sew it. With BuzzEdit, this is easy to do and is worth the little extra effort

In our example, we are using two designs downloaded from the Buzz Tools Sharing pages. They were imported separately into an empty BuzzEdit workspace.

If you look closely at the zoomed in area shown in figure 1, you can see where the two designs overlap. The excessive stitches in this area that would not sew well and would look too bulky. BuzzEdit to the rescue!

1. The VERY first thing you need to do is to be sure that the layout is exactly as you want it. Once the lower stitches are removed, you won't be able to get them back and will need to start over.
2. Save the merged design with a new name using the Save As command. This gives you a return point should you need to start over.
3. Zoom into the overlapped area so you have a good close look at the are you are working on.

Figure 1

Figure 2

4. Use the Draw Custom Shape tool (right toolbar) to draw a new shape covering the overlapped area. You want this new shape to be slightly smaller than the top layer so that there will not be any gaps when sewn (pull compensation). In figure 2, the new shape is shown in green for visibility. You can use any color you want for this shape since it is not actually going to be sewn. Remember that the right mouse click creates a curved node and the left mouse click creates a square one. This makes it easy to follow the shape. Also notice that we don't need to be careful about the shape once we are out of the overlapped area.
5. You can edit the shape after it is created by choosing the Edit Shape button on the Object Properties dialog. Click and drag nodes to move them.

6. Using the time line, select the entire top design layer by dragging long the top color bar. You need the entire top layer and none of the new object or the lower layer. Cut this from your workspace ( Ctrl+X )
7. Create a new workspace ( File > New Workspace ) and paste the new design into it ( Ctrl+V ). It is positioned exactly as in the original design and it is important that you don't move it. This is basically a holding area for the portion of the design we want to keep intact.
8. Now open the main design workspace. The design has only the lower design layer and the new object displayed. It should look similar to the design shown in figure 3.

Figure 3

9. Select the object ( Select/Move Object button on the right toolbar) and double click on the object to bring up the Object Properties dialog. Uncheck the Outline option and click on the Delete Stitches Overlapping Object button. This will remove those lower stitches.

10. Here is the result. At this point you can remove the object since it's work has been done and is no longer needed. Since it is already selected, just press the DELETE key.
11. Open your second workspace which is holding the top layer and select everything using Ctrl+ACut it from the workspace using Ctrl+X.

12. Now open your main workspace and position the stitch cursor at the end of the design by pressing the END key on your keyboard. Paste the design element back into the original design using Cntl+V. That's it - your done.
13. Save the design with a new name using the Save As command just in case you need the backup you created in step 2. Remember to do a test sew before using on a final project.