Resizing. This may be too simplistic a question, but is it better to make design bigger or smaller if resizing. Sometimes I want to but a design that comes in several sizes and I don't know if I should buy the bigger one and size down if needed or buy the smaller one and size up if needed. Thanks for any help!

It not only depends on the quality of the design but the type of software you are using. If you use the "increase/decrease size technique you can fiddle with the density. If you reduce the size, reduce the density a little if you need to as all those stitches get jammed into a smaller size. If you increase the size, you can increase the density if some areas look skimpy.

Most software nowadays adjust the density as you resize, but everything has its limits. Think of a satin zigzag stitch. Increasing density will add more stitches along the existing line. It won't add more zigzags. Some software can add more zig zags too, but it depends on your software. With more experience you'll be able to make these adjustments with confidence. But I always look at the design in my software and its stitch points to judge if I got it right. If in doubt, do a test stitchout.

For designs I know are really dense I will buy smaller and increase by 10 percent so they are less dense.

1 comment

by pennyhal2 27 Aug 2016

If you do this and you want to increase the size to get reduced density, be sure that your software doesn't automatically increase the density as well as increasing the size. In my software, I can tell it to not increase the density when I enlarge it thereby making it less dense.

It is more to do with HOW it is digitised, the number of segments, the type of segment: fill, column or outline? The type of fill stitch, the type of column stitch and the type of outline stitch? The density the digitiser has chosen for each segment, the pull compensation the digitiser has chosen for each segment and even the stitch direction of each segment.
There is no hard and fast rule that can be applied because designs are all different and digitisers are individuals who choose their own way to create a design. Give the same picture to a dozen digitisers and I could almost guarantee no two will be digitised the same.
Bottom line: buy the size you ABSOLUTELY KNOW you are going to USE!
If you then want to resize it either up or down do it ONCE only!
By this I mean, resize it and if it doesn't look right UNDO the resize before you do it again for either more or less than your first resize.
ALWAYS save the design under a different name BEFORE you start playing with it and write down the changes you have made so if it isn't right you can delete the altered one and start again from scratch with the original untouched design. (Don't forget to save it with a different name first 😊)
TEST STITCH!!! TEST STITCH!!! TEST STITCH!!!
Hope this helps somewhat. Hugs n roses, Meganne ~ Melide Menschen Designs

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by bowlds 27 Aug 2016

Thank you very much for the detailed explanation. I appreciate everyone's help.

I decrease or increase, just 10% both ways, at a time. I can usually decrease more, going from a large design to a small, with better success. I can increase a small design 10% at a time, but not as many times, before it gets distorted or it leaves gaps in the design.
I think too, its like someone else said, it depends if the design is good to start with.

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by bowlds 27 Aug 2016

Thank you so much for the info.

Good question. I have done it both ways some times it works sometimes it doesn't. Depends on the quality of the design I feel. I always check it out in Embird with a bright colour background if I have made it larger so if there are gaps I can see it at a glance on the computer before I even sew it.

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by bowlds 27 Aug 2016

Thank you!

I shrunk one of those faux filet crochet pieces on my machine by however much two times hitting the button does. The stitches were really short but it sewed mostly fine

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by bowlds 27 Aug 2016

Thanks, I'm always afraid to mess with lace stuff!

What a interesting question. I have PE8 and have used it to both increase and decrease designs. I probably will increase more than decrease. Though for some reason I bought some mega big designs and have had to decrease them. I always check the stitch count before I start altering and check the end result, so sometimes I repeat the process. I have to say that I work on the nothing ventured nothing gained theory so try out some things that others wouldn't.

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by bowlds 26 Aug 2016

Thank you, exactly....try it, oops that didn't work! Try again!!

some lace designs, will say not to increase the size

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by bowlds 26 Aug 2016

Yes, I leave them alone! Thank you.

Difficult dilemma...I think if I have to make a choice...I would buy small and go bigger...

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by bowlds 26 Aug 2016

Thanks!

I think it's a more complicated question than you thought. The problem when enlarging is you may get satins that are too long/wide and make a mess. When shrinking, your satins may become too narrow and be unstable or irregular looking, especially depending on your fabric, such as toweling. Also, if resizing in a software program, you can measure stitch lengths and adjust for this, but if resizing in your machine, machine does not accommodate these issues.

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by bowlds 25 Aug 2016

Thank you, I'm always afraid of the running type stitches being too close together too.

I was told that you can go larger 20% and 10% smaller. So , I would buy the smaller design and go a little larger, unless the design is only slightly larger and then go with the larger and reduce it slightly. What do the rest of you think? Kay

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by bowlds 25 Aug 2016

I thought it was 20% either way....good to know....thank you.