Please note that this activity is currently limited to Android phones, but we are also working on an iOS version which will be released in the near future. In order to stitch your design on your clothes (or any other fabrics), you need access to a programmable embroidery machine. If you want to learn more about how to stitch your design, please read the Frequently Asked Questions section.

Programming and stitching

Have you ever wanted to be creative and learn to program in a playful way? Do you also like to create things that you can touch and admire in reality when they're ready-made?

With Embroidery Designer, a programming app for smartphones, you have got the perfect package. With the app you can, without any prior experience, program an embroidery machine, that will automatically embroider your design on a t-shirt, bag, gym bag or even on your shoes. Basically on everything that is made of fabric. Give free rein to your imagination and creativity.

In addition, there is the possibility to sew LEDs on your design and make it glow!

Are you curious and all of this applies to you?

Then grab your smartphone right away and download Embroidery Designer from the Play Store.

The Embroidery Designer is currently only available for Android phones. We are working very hard on an iOS version. 

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First steps

You want to learn how to create your own designs?

To learn how to create your own designs follow this link. There you will find a step by step tutorial on how to start coding, additionally there will be two challenges to solve. At the end of the page you can find a HOW - TO - MY OWN DESIGN, which helps you designing and coding your own design.

You want to teach coding embroidery designs at school?

If you visit this page as a teacher look at our lesson plan. It provides 6 fully prepared 50min-lessons on how to teach programming embroidery designs.

You have finished a project?

If you finished a project look at the sitiching tips for professional projects, to make sure your design is programmed well. We also provided a short checklist for creating designs with the most important information.

Want to let your design shine?

After you have already programmed some projects and acquired some skills, take a look at the Special Embroidery Designs: Electronics to shine. There you learn how to sew LEDs onto your design, which makes your design even more awesome.

You want to code preprogrammed designs?

If you want to code already preprogrammed designs there are tutorials for complete designs too. Under Activities you find 6 designs for the Hour of Code. Addtionally you can find some more designs here.

 

I can do that too!

Basically, if you click on designs that you like on this page, you are taken to the tutorial sites, which show you how you can code them yourself, directly.

That’s how I like it!

The great thing is, that you can change and adapt the code as you like it, as you assess it being coolest. You can also choose the colours of your design yourself.

I can stitch!

If you have little idea about embroidery itself, you can find information here. Be sure to read it trough to understand what is happening.

What is possible?

Basically you can program any design you can imagine. However, the more complicated it is, the longer it will take. It is best to start with simple designs. After a while, you will notice, what is possible in a certain amount of time.

Practice makes perfect!

Of course, you will also get faster through practice! Do not get discouraged. It is only important that the pattern can be divided into geometrical forms! Otherwise, you will be overworked quickly. 😊

Do you lack ideas?

If you don't have that many ideas about what you could do, stick to the tutorials for finished patterns first and try programming them to see how it works.

Activities

Design your own program

In this section, you can find six activities for code.org. Please note that each activity has a different level of difficulty. Start with the first activity, which is the easiest before proceeding with more difficult activities. It is highly recommended to read through this page, especially the First steps section, before starting with the activities. Have fun and happy coding!

Cat
3: Cat

Bird
5: Clef

Bird
6: Bird

Checklist Embroidery Tips

  • For the running and triple stitch, you best choose a length between 5 and 20.

  • Everywhere you want a beautiful, dense line to be stitched, a length of 1 for the zigzag stitch is recommended.

  • For the zigzag's width, it is suggested to choose a number between 8 and 22.

  • If you want to go to another position without wanting to stitch there, you will have to stop the current stitch before changing position.

  • Sew up every time that means before and after changing position without stitching there. Therefore, read the "sew-up" tutorial. You can find it here.

  • Ensure that your design is not bigger than the size of the embroidery hoop. You can look upon this page, to identify its size.

If you want to know why you have to consider all of this, check the page Get To Know The World Of Embroidery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is "Embroidery Designer"?

Embroidery Designer is a free visual programming app for smartphones. It enables you, without any prior knowledge, to create your own embroidery designs with easy to use bricks directly on your device. Do you want to know more about it? Visit https://wiki.catrobat.org/bin/view/Education/Embroidery/.

Is it for free?

Embroidery Designer is available for free on the Google Play Store and neither includes any ads nor any in-app purchases or other costs. Have fun with Embroidery Designer!

How can I stitch my embroidery design?

To stitch your embroidery design on fabrics, you will need to have access to a programmable embroidery machine. It is likely that there is a FabLab or an embroidery store in your nearby area which allows you to stitch your design on your clothes or any other arbitrary fabrics of your choice. However, our Embroidery Designer will enable you to export your created design in the DST file format, so you can make use of it on any machine which supports this file format. To learn more about supported, programmable embroidery machines, have a look at this page.

Who is behind Embroidery Designer?

Embroidery Designer is developed by the non-profit "International Catrobat Association". More than 1000 people have already contributed to this Free Open Source Software project and thus helped to make coding as easy as possible. Get more information about Catrobat on catrobat.org

How can I get in touch with you?

If you have any further questions, or just want to write to us, please use the Social Media or Contact links at the social media section of this page!

How can I support you?

To make this project as popular as possible, please share it with your friends, family, or social media contacts.

If you want to get even more actively involved, e.g., by helping to translate our web pages, apps, or the poster in your language, please get in touch with us directly!

How can I promote this project in my community?

You are very welcome to share this website and reshare our social media postings!

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