yes, it is necessary to do this if you want to be assured to anticipate a good result. It helps you appreciate the sequence of colours in order of stitching the design, also the overall finish on your chosen colour of background fabric. Sometimes you will find that you need to change the intensity of the colour of thread rather than use the prescribed colour - your background fabric colour can change the look of your sew-out as against what the digitiser may have suggested, when perhaps the digitiser will have used a white or black or beige background fabric. Always do a test run, even if you don''t complete the whole design. Mufti

I feel that is the only way you know you will be happy with the design. I digitized a Christmas fireplace for a Christmas stocking this year. It has been stitched 4 times and takes 3 hours to stitch out but it is now perfect. I made several density changes, pattern & size changes before I was satisfied. In a design you purchase or get free want to be sure it will stitch out perfectly on whatever you are putting it on. When I first started machine embroidery I did not do a test stitch. I took for granite that it would not be offered if it would not stich out nicely. Wrong! I agree with most Cuties that I won't buy or even download a freebie if I can't see the actual stitchout. I know it takes a lot of thread and I hate wasting the thread so I cut my squares to size and I am using the test stitchouts to make a quilt(s). So I really haven't wasted by time. :)You really won't regret a test stitchout. You will have less stress because you know it will or will not work for you.