Coming from other embroidery software
The words other embroidery programs use, what NextStitch calls the same thing, and the article that explains it — a glossary for switching over.
Updated October 31, 2026
If you have digitised with another program, most of what you know carries over: a fill is still rows back and forth, a satin still a column from edge to edge. The words differ. The tables below take the words of three well-known programs — PE-DESIGN, Wilcom's EmbroideryStudio and Hatch Embroidery — and say what NextStitch calls the same thing and where to read about it. They give the words as the English versions of those programs use them. Where NextStitch has no counterpart, the table says so.
How NextStitch is put together
A few things work differently from what you may be used to:
One object, two layers. A shape has a body — its Fill — and can have an Outline round it in a second thread, satin or running. Where another program needs a fill object and a border object, NextStitch has one shape (Getting started).
The stitches follow the shapes. You draw vectors and choose a stitch type; the stitches are worked out again whenever you change something, in the preview beside the canvas. No step turns a drawing into stitches unless you ask for one: Object ▸ Convert ▸ To stitches freezes shapes as the stitches they sew now. A machine file you open stays stitches: you can move, turn and recolour it, but not edit single stitches — or trace it back into shapes to restyle with Object ▸ Convert ▸ Stitches to shapes….
NextStitch picks the order. It sews by thread, each colour in one go, the nearest object next, wherever the picture stays the same. To set the order yourself, switch on Sew in this order in the Sewing order panel (Arranging and stitch order).
Underlay and pull compensation are automatic for every new shape, and Stitch settings in the right rail takes over where you want your own.
Lengths are in millimetres, stitch values always; sizes and positions in inches too if you choose (Drawing and editing).
The words, program by program
PE-DESIGN
| PE-DESIGN | In NextStitch | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Design Page | The hoop on the canvas; its frame is set in File ▸ Properties… | Designs larger than your hoop |
| Sewing area, sewing where the design sits on the page | Keep the position in the hoop, when you export | Where it sits in the hoop |
| Sew type | Type in the Stitch bar | Stitch types |
| Region sewing, fill stitch | Auto-fill, a shape's Fill | Fill settings |
| Line sewing | A shape's Outline, or a line's own type | Running, bean and manual stitches |
| Satin stitch | Satin column for a line or a border, Satin (area) for a closed shape | Satin column settings |
| Running stitch | Running | Running stitch |
| Triple stitch | Bean: each stitch sewn three times | Bean stitch |
| E stitch | Method ▸ E-stitch on a satin column, or an Outline set to Blanket (E-stitch) | Method |
| Stippling | Meander | Meander |
| Under sewing | Underlay | Underlay and pull compensation |
| Pull compensation | Pull compensation | Underlay and pull compensation |
| Density | Row spacing of a fill, Spacing of a satin | Row spacing |
| Direction | Angle | Angle |
| Hole sewing | Path ▸ Remove overlaps | Remove overlaps |
| Manual Punch | The Pen's Satin column: a column drawn by its two sides, with a rung across each end; stitch by stitch, the Manual type | A satin column by its two sides |
| Select Point | Double-click a shape to edit its nodes, or a machine file's stitches to edit their needle points | Editing nodes |
| Convert to Stitches | Object ▸ Convert ▸ To stitches: shapes or text frozen as the stitches they sew | Converting text, shapes and stitches |
| Split at Point | Split into objects at nodes; Break path at nodes (Shift+B) keeps one object. On a machine file's stitches, Split into objects after the selected stitches | Cusp, Split, Open and Close |
| Split Stitches (lasso), Connect | Double-click a machine file's stitches, draw a lasso round some and Split the selected stitches off; Connect across the jump (Shift+J) | Touch up a machine file |
| To Cusp, To Smooth | Cusp node (keeps the curve), Smooth node (Shift+S) | Cusp, Split, Open and Close |
| Auto Punch, Design Center | Insert ▸ Import bitmap…: a picture traced into shapes | Trace a picture |
| Photo Stitch | No counterpart: tracing suits logos and drawings with clear areas, not photos | Trace a picture |
| Cross stitch | Cross stitch, a type of its own for areas and lines, and a way to trace | Cross stitch |
| Applique Wizard | The Appliqué type, with templates and cut files | Appliqué |
| Monogram | Insert ▸ Monogram… | Insert a monogram |
| Text on a path | Insert ▸ Text round a circle…, or text along any path | Bend text into an arc |
| Shapes palette, arc and fan tools | The Shapes tool: rounded rectangles, symbols, arcs, pies, segments and frames | The Shapes tool |
| Frames and borders round a selection | Object ▸ Add frame… | Add a frame round a selection |
| Transform styles | Object ▸ Envelope…, and a text's Shape | Bend shapes in an envelope |
| Create Floral Pattern | Insert ▸ Rosette… | Rosettes |
| Stitch Simulator | Simulation | Scrub the stitch preview |
| Realistic Preview | 3D preview in the Simulation | Scrub the stitch preview |
| Sewing Order | The Sewing order panel | Arranging and stitch order |
| Fabric Selector | Fabric & stabilizer in File ▸ Properties… — it suggests stabilizer and needle, and Apply fabric settings adapts the automatic underlay and pull compensation | Fabric and stabiliser |
| Thread chart | Thread lines in the palette | Match your threads |
| Print, at actual size | File ▸ Print / PDF…, Scale ▸ Actual size | Print a worksheet |
| Split design, large-size hoop | Split by hand, with registration marks | Designs larger than your hoop |
Wilcom EmbroideryStudio
| EmbroideryStudio | In NextStitch | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Column A, Column B | A Satin column drawn with two rails — its edges — and rungs across where the stitches should turn; the Pen's Satin column draws one by its two sides | A satin column by its two sides |
| Column C, Input C | A Satin column drawn as its centre line, with a Width | Satin |
| Turning Satin | A Satin column along a line, or Satin (area) for a closed shape | Satin (area) settings |
| Complex Fill | A closed shape with holes, sewn as Auto-fill: one angle for the whole shape, the rows round the holes | Fill settings |
| Tatami | Auto-fill | Fill settings |
| Satin fill object | Satin (area) | Satin (area) settings |
| Run, Triple Run | Running; Bean sews each stitch three times | Running, bean and manual stitches |
| Stipple Run | Meander | Meander |
| Contour fill | Contour fill | Contour and spiral fills |
| Motif Run, Motif Fill, Program Split | No counterpart; the textured fills are the closest | Guided, meander and ripple fills |
| Auto Underlay; Center Run, Edge Run, Zigzag underlay | Underlay ▸ Automatic; under Custom, Center walk, Edge walk and Zigzag, and a fill's own underlay | Underlay and pull compensation |
| Pull Compensation | Pull compensation, automatic for new shapes | Underlay and pull compensation |
| Auto Spacing | Spacing follows width | Spacing |
| Auto Split | Max stitch length, and Split at 7 mm under Problems | Long stitches |
| Closest Join, Auto Start and End | Each object starts next to where the last one ended; Object ▸ Auto start and end points writes them into the design | Where fills start and end |
| Branching | Hide connectors under the next object | Travel, trims and ties |
| Color-Object List, sequencing | The Sewing order panel | Arranging and stitch order |
| Remove Overlaps | Path ▸ Remove overlaps | Remove overlaps |
| Reshape | Double-click a shape to edit its nodes | Editing nodes |
| Knife | Knife (K) | Cutting shapes with the knife |
| Break Apart | Object ▸ Break apart | Combine and break apart |
| Stitch Edit | Double-click stitches, a machine file's or converted ones: their needle points are moved, added and deleted, and the object split after a stitch | Touch up a machine file |
| Outlines and Offsets | Path ▸ Offset… and Object ▸ Add outline | Offset, simplify and holes |
| Borders | Object ▸ Add frame… | Add a frame round a selection |
| Envelopes | Object ▸ Envelope…, on shapes and groups; a text's Shape | Bend shapes in an envelope |
| Mirror-Merge, Wreath, Kaleidoscope | Object ▸ Step and repeat…: Mirror, Ring, Kaleidoscope | Copy and repeat |
| Auto-Digitize, Click-to-Stitch | Insert ▸ Import bitmap… | Trace a picture |
| Auto Fabric | Apply fabric settings under Fabric & stabilizer in File ▸ Properties…: the fabric adapts the automatic underlay and pull compensation | Apply fabric settings |
| Appliqué | Appliqué | Appliqué |
| Lettering, Monogramming | Insert ▸ Lettering…, Insert ▸ Monogram… | Lettering and Satin (area) |
| Teamnames | The Names list of a selected text: a machine file per name, or all names in one file with stops | Names list |
| Multi-Hooping | Split by hand, with registration marks | Designs larger than your hoop |
| Stitch Player | Simulation | Scrub the stitch preview |
| TrueView | 3D preview in the Simulation | Scrub the stitch preview |
| Production Worksheet | File ▸ Print / PDF… | Print a worksheet |
Hatch Embroidery
Hatch Embroidery uses many of the same words as EmbroideryStudio — Column A and B, Turning Satin, Remove Overlaps, Reshape, Knife, Break Apart, Stitch Player and TrueView mean in NextStitch what the table above says. These are its own:
| Hatch Embroidery | In NextStitch | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Digitize Closed Shape | Draw a shape — Polygon, Pen / Path, a rectangle or an ellipse — and choose its Type | Draw and colour shapes |
| Digitize Open Shape | Draw a line with the Pen / Path and choose Running, Bean or Satin column | Running, bean and manual stitches |
| Digitize Blackwork Run | Object ▸ Join running stitches… with Redwork | Join running stitches and Redwork |
| Auto-Digitize, Instant Auto-Digitize | Insert ▸ Import bitmap… | Trace a picture |
| Auto Fabric | Apply fabric settings under Fabric & stabilizer in File ▸ Properties… | Apply fabric settings |
| Team Names | The Names list of a selected text | Names list |
| Multi-Hooping | Split by hand, with registration marks | Designs larger than your hoop |
| Mirror-Merge, Kaleidoscope | Object ▸ Step and repeat… | Copy and repeat |
| Monogramming | Insert ▸ Monogram… | Insert a monogram |
What NextStitch does not have
Motif and pattern fills. The textured fills — contour, circular, guided, meander, ripple, cross stitch and tartan — are the closest. A PES with PE-DESIGN's pattern stitches opens with the stitches they make, but not as patterns: A PES with pattern stitches.
Photo stitching. Tracing turns clear areas into shapes; soft gradients in a photo do not make good embroidery.
Recognising the objects a machine file was digitised from. Its single stitches can be moved, added and deleted, and its runs taken apart (Touch up a machine file), but resizing it by more than 10 % is flagged, since its stitch count stays the same. Object ▸ Convert ▸ Stitches to shapes… traces it into shapes that are sewn anew — the area the stitches cover, not the objects it was digitised from (Change a machine file).
A command that splits a design over several hoopings. It is done by hand today: Designs larger than your hoop.
Chenille. NextStitch writes files for lockstitch embroidery machines, which don't sew it.
PE-DESIGN, Wilcom, EmbroideryStudio and Hatch are trademarks of their owners. They are named here only to say which of their words means what in NextStitch; NextStitch is not affiliated with them.