Wilcom EmbroideryStudio 2025 has launched. Maria Palma reveals two new features to use on towelling fabrics that will knock your fluffy socks off
In this month’s step-by-step, Maria Palma of Wilcom is exploring two new standout features that can be found in Wilcom EmbroideryStudio 2025.
“Rectangle Corners, which allows for rounded corners with adjustable corner radius options, and Laydown Stitch, your new best friend for elevating embroidery projects.”
Maria explains: “Towels have always been a challenge to embroider due to the nap of the terry towelling fabric. Forget fiddling with water-soluble film — the Laydown Stitch Tool is here to save the day! This hero for high-nap fabrics, often called a knockdown stitch, creates a smooth foundation for your designs, making towel embroidery a breeze.”
And when it comes to shapes, she adds, “The Rectangle Corners Tool ensures perfectly digitised curves with precise and independent control of each corner.”
In this example, the tools were used creatively for the Xinavane Resort logo, incorporating the towel’s natural texture into the design.
“The result? A stunning logo that’s production-ready in no time,” declares Maria.
STEP-BY-STEP: LAYDOWN STITCH AND RECTANGLE CORNERS
(1) Draw a rectangle, rotate it 45° and select the Reshape Tool. To create a curved corner, click and drag a corner node to separate it, opening the curve. Then, adjust the nodes to change the radius. Alternatively, you can enter exact measurements in the Rectangle Corners toolbox. Select Back Stitch for the outline. Duplicate the rectangle for the second shape. Note: The curve retains shape even when the rectangle object is rotated or skewed
(2) Select one of the rounded-corner shapes and click Laydown Stitch. Set the Offset to 0mm and choose Offset Shape. Next, select two layers in Stitch Settings, keeping the default options. Hint: Select the JPG image and press ‘K’, or right-click to lock it in the Color-Object List
(3) Let’s start with the inner shapes. First, draw a rectangle, rotate it into position, and select the Reshape tool. In the Rectangle Corners toolbox, click the unlock icon, then set one pair of opposite corners to a 7mm radius while leaving the other two at 0mm
(4) Draw or duplicate the rectangle. Join the bottom shapes using Arrange > Shaping > Weld and apply Tatami. Create a new rounded corner shape and apply the Accordion Spacing to add the graduated colour
(5) Select each of the rectangles just created and click the Simple Offsets Tool. Choose Run Stitch to help define the shape
(6) Select the objects and click Mirror Merge. Choose Wreath and position the shapes to match your logo design
(7) Cut the Laydown Stitch to define the ‘X’ in the centre, allowing the nap of the terry towelling to show through as a featured element
(8) Outline the cut-out with a run stitch to emphasise the ‘X’ shape further. Then, simply add the words using Wilcom EmbroideryStudio’s extensive font library
(9) The new Exports Docker allows you to multi-task. Export to a stitch file while you continue working on the next job!
