Add words to a chart

Add words#

1. Choose Text on the tool strip, or press T.
2. Tap the chart where your words should start, or just start typing.
3. Drag the box to move the words while you place them.

Your words sit on top of the chart on a text layer. Change them, move them or hide them any time; the stitches under them are kept.

Font, size and position#

The Text panel on the right has Font and Size (measured in stitches tall), and Center on the chart, across or across and down. More settings has bold, outline, a box behind the words, and Turn 90°. StitchWing tells you if a font is hard to read at a small size and suggests one that isn't.

Choosing a font#

Press Font and the font list opens beside the Text panel, so your words and size stay in view. Every row shows your words twice: as letters in that font, and stitched at your size on your chart's own background color. Each font also says the smallest size where its letters stay clear, such as clear at 9 or clear from 14. Fonts that need more rows than you've chosen are dimmed; turn on Only fonts clear at… to hide them. Tap a font and your words switch to it straight away; tap another to change your mind.

• Favorites: tap the star on any font to keep it at the top.
• Recently used: the last five fonts you used.
• Made for stitching: the StitchWing alphabets and the fonts that come with the app. They work straight away, offline.
• Your fonts: fonts you drew in the font maker, and font files you chose. Choose a font file… adds a .ttf, .otf, .woff or .woff2 file from your computer. You can also drop the file on the font list.
• Downloaded: fonts you got in Browse Fonts.
• On this computer: the fonts installed on your computer, shown automatically. Choose one to stitch your words. These fonts stay on your computer and are not shared with your chart. Your stitches still open and print for anyone you share the chart with.

Browse Fonts#

Browse Fonts comes with the paid plans; on the free version it shows with a lock, and the fonts that come with the app, the StitchWing alphabets, your own font files and the fonts on your computer stay free. Choose a font from the cards in the window. Every card shows your words, stitched at the size you pick under Stitch at. Filter by Kind, by weight, width and number of styles, or by fonts that have lowercase, italic or variable styles. Clear at… hides the fonts whose letters merge or break at your size, and Best for stitching lists the clearest ones first. Tap a card to see your words bigger, stitched at three sizes, every letter at your size, and the font's license.

Press Get and the font is kept on your computer, chosen in the Text tool, and your words on the chart switch to it. Undo puts your old font back. Browse Fonts needs the internet; fonts you already have work offline. Your typed words are not sent when you browse fonts. See Privacy.

Italic#

When a font has a real italic style, Italic appears next to Bold on the Style tab. Stay online the first time you choose an italic style from Browse Fonts.

Before sharing or selling words#

Some fonts allow personal use only. In Your fonts, choose About this font to check you may share it or sell work made with it. Turn on Include this font in charts I share only when you have permission; fonts installed on your computer stay there. Your stitches still open and print for anyone, with or without the font.

Layers#

The Layers panel lists your layers. Add a layer offers a Layer to draw on, Text, a Tracing photo… (which never prints), a Backstitch layer and a Fractional stitches layer. Each layer can be hidden or locked.

To turn words into ordinary stitches you can draw over, choose Make into stitches from the layer's menu. Ctrl+Z undoes it.