When digitizing an embroidery design, two stitch types handle most area coverage: satin stitch (also called column stitch or ZigZag) and fill stitch (also called tatami stitch or texture fill). Choosing between them affects how the finished embroidery looks, how long it takes to stitch, and how durable it is over time.
What Is Satin Stitch?
Satin stitch consists of parallel thread passes laid side-by-side across a shape, creating a smooth, reflective surface. The stitches span the full width of the shape from one edge to the other. Satin stitch produces a glossy, premium finish and is ideal for lettering, narrow shapes, and design elements that benefit from sheen.
What Is Fill Stitch?
Fill stitch (tatami) uses short stitches arranged in rows, offset from each other, to cover a large area. The angle of the rows and the offset pattern give fill stitch a characteristic woven, mat appearance. It's used for large shapes, backgrounds, and areas too wide for satin stitch to cross cleanly.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Property | Satin Stitch | Fill Stitch |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Smooth, shiny, reflective | Woven, flat, matte |
| Best width range | Up to 12 mm | 12 mm and wider |
| Thread use | High per unit area | Moderate per unit area |
| Stitch time | Fast for narrow areas | Efficient for large areas |
| Durability | Can snag if strands long | More snag-resistant |
| Best for | Letters, thin shapes, borders | Large fills, backgrounds |
When to Use Each
- •Use satin stitch for: text and lettering, borders and outlines, thin design elements under 8–10 mm wide, areas where sheen is desired.
- •Use fill stitch for: large background areas, wide shapes over 10–12 mm, areas where a flat textured look is preferred, high-wash-count garments where snag resistance matters.
- •Combine both: most professional logos use satin stitch for text and narrow details, fill stitch for large solid areas.
How SewFlow Handles Stitch Type
SewFlow's image-to-embroidery converter automatically assigns stitch type based on shape width — narrow regions get satin stitch, wider areas get fill stitch. This produces naturally professional results without requiring you to specify stitch types manually. You can preview the result in the animated stitch simulator before downloading.
Preview satin and fill stitches on your own design:
Open Image Converter →The 10 mm Rule
A useful rule of thumb: shapes narrower than 10 mm → satin stitch; shapes wider than 10 mm → fill stitch. For shapes between 8–12 mm, test both and choose based on the look you prefer.