Carving Stamps
Go into any arts and craft store and chances are there will be a section devoted to stamps. What if you could create your own stamps and use them in your embroidery? Bernina Embroidery Software version 6 has given us a way to do just that!
Start out with a filled object. Satin fill works for smaller obects, but you will run into problems if your stitch length gets too long. Step fill has dozens of variations and can give you all sorts of different effects. The example on the left is the default step pattern #1 with default stitch spacing and length.
Select a stamp. Click to set the anchor point. Click again to set the guide point. And there is your stamp!
Top left is the basic stamp using basic stamp letters, giving an outline to which ever shape is stamped. Top right the stamp has been softened.
Bottom left is a raised stamp – the inside has been changed to a satin stitch. Watch the size of the stamp – if it get’s too big the satin stitch will be too long. Bottom right is a raised and softened stamp.
Don’t like the stamp that you have created? Select the object and Clear All Stamps so that you can start again!
Just about any digitized object can become a stamp.
Version 6 comes with lots of embroidery samples, many of which make great stamps. On the right is part of one of the floral samples, basic stamps on the top row, raised stamps on the bottom row.
What if you want to change the size of the stamp? Easy to do! Click to set the anchor point. Then hold down the Shift key and drag to the required size before clicking again to set the guide point.
If you have a specific idea for a stamp in mind but can’t find the right object to stamp with, create your own! Version 6 gives you everything you need to digitize your own stamps, using all the functionality of the open curve tool.
The following simple digitized stamp was created and then used to create the following design.


Each quadrant was stamped 3 times, using the Shift key to re-size and rotate the stamp as necessary.
The 4 quadrants were then selected and raised stamp was checked.
Got questions about how to use this tool? Drop me a line in a comment and I will be happy to provide an answer to the best of my ability!