Celtic Knots Fill

Embird Embroidery Software Tutorial

This tutorial explains how to fill an empty area with a Celtic Knots fill pattern, and how to create short Celtic Knots texts and clipart in Font Engine and Cross Stitch plug-ins. It is also possible to fill color areas of a converted background image.

Note: See also Double-click to Fill Empty Area in Editor, Quilt Fill, Fractal Fill, Mesh Fill, Create Emoji Design and Surprise Me! - Create a new design with only a few clicks.

1 - Run Embird and click the "Editor" menu to switch to the Editor window.

2 - Open a design using the "File > Open" menu, for example, open the free design "squirrel".

3 - Double-click an empty area to fill it with stitches (Picture No. 1).

1. Double-click an empty area to fill it with stitches

4 - Select the "Celtic Knots" type of filling (Picture No. 2).

2. Select Celtic Knots fill type

5 - A dialog with "Celtic Knots" fill settings will appear (Picture No. 3). Select the type (e.g., "curved 1"), change parameters, and click the "OK" button to fill the clicked empty area.

3. Celtic Knots fill settings

There are various parameters available, allowing you to create many combinations:

Tip: Change a parameter and after a short while watch the Preview box to see how it affects the final result.

Type - Choose a fill pattern. Click the ... button to select a fill pattern from a grid, which also allows searching by name.

Offset - Specify the offset from the outside boundary (i.e., offset from hoop edges in this example) which is not filled. Switch ON the small checkbox at the right side to include the boundary curve in the fill.

Bounce - Specify the bounce from cavities (i.e., offset from "squirrel" in this example, because this is a cavity in the filled area). Switch ON the small checkbox at the right side to include the cavity curve in the fill.

Distance - Specify the distance between two cells in the Celtic Knots pattern.

Width - Specify the relative width of the knots.

Markers - Specify the way of finishing knots at each side. Switching OFF might be used for making an endless (continuous) pattern.

Slider among Markers - The more you scroll it to the right side, the more knotty the fill pattern becomes.

Stitch Length - Specify the stitch length.

Layers - Specify the layers (strands of thread) for stitching.

Check pictures below showing various settings:

4. Celtic Knots fill pattern, the slider is in the middle - more knotty

5. Celtic Knots fill pattern, the slider is at left side - less knotty

6. Celtic Knots fill pattern, left and right markers are OFF

6 - Select the "Insert > Celtic Knots Text" menu to create short text based on the Celtic Knots algorithm in the Editor (Picture No. 7).

7. Select "Insert > Celtic Knots Text" menu

7 - A dialog "Insert Celtic Knots Text" will appear (Picture No. 8). Specify the text, choose the font and its properties (bold, italic, underlined, negative, circle negative). It is possible to insert the design as monotone, or 2 colors with a prescribed color ratio (3 in Picture No. 8). Modify knots settings (type, distance, width, etc.). Try various fill types - there are 80+ available. Watch the estimated size of the pattern being inserted (2 in Picture No. 8). It is possible to apply a Decoration element and Transformation ("Scale", "Fish Eye", "Skew", "3D"). Change a parameter and after a short while watch the Preview box to see how it affects the final result.

8. Insert Celtic Knots Text dialog

9. Short text from Celtic Knots, various fill types applied

8 - It is possible to create a new Celtic Knots design from a TrueType or OpenType font. Select the "Insert > Font Engine Text" menu (Picture No. 10).

Note: This feature requires registration of the Font Engine Plug-in

10. Select "Insert > Font Engine Text" menu

9 - Select a font, e.g., "Webdings", and double-click a character (clipart) to add it to the Text (2 in Picture No. 11). Click the "Insert as Celtic Knots (2 colors)" button (3 in Picture No. 11).

11. Choose font, specify text and click "arrow" button

10 - A dialog "Insert Celtic Knots Text from Font Engine" will appear (Picture No. 12). Specify the font size and modify other font properties (bold, italic, underlined, negative, circle negative). It is possible to insert the design as monotone, or 2 colors with a prescription of color ratio (4 in Picture No. 12). Modify knots settings (type, distance, width, etc.). Watch the estimated size of the pattern being inserted (3 in Picture No. 12). It is possible to apply a Decoration element and Transformation ("Scale", "Fish Eye", "Skew", "3D"). Change a parameter and after a short while watch the Preview box to see how it affects the final result.

12. Insert Celtic Knots Text from Font Engine dialog

13. Clipart from Font Engine processed as Celtic Knots design

11 - It is possible to create a new Celtic Knots design in the Cross Stitch plug-in. Select the "Insert > Cross Stitch Design" menu to launch this plug-in and create a pattern there (Picture No. 14).

Note: This feature requires registration of the Cross Stitch Plug-in

14. Cross Stitch design

12 - Select the "File > Compile and Put into Embird Editor" menu. A dialog box allowing you to specify the parameters of compilation will appear (Picture No. 15). It is possible to apply a Decoration element and Transformation ("Scale", "Fish Eye", "Skew", "3D"). Change a parameter and after a short while watch the Preview box to see how it affects the final result.

15. Insert as Crosses or as Celtic Knots design dialog box

16. Design from Cross Stitch compiled with Celtic Knots algorithm

13 - It is possible to convert color areas in a background image to stitches and fill them with a Celtic Knots pattern (Picture No. 17).

Note: See also Surprise Me! - Create a new design with only a few clicks.

17. Image converted to Celtic Knots (offset and bounce are 0 mm)

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