Satin stitch – also called column stitch. Long, closely-spaced side-to-side stitches generally used to create letters and seal the edges of applique. The needle enters the fabric on one side of the defined area, comes up and moves to the other side of the area where it enters the fabric again and comes out, repeating this process closely spaced along the defined path. Since the stitches are loose, their width needs to be limited to avoid catching and excess wear.

Sewing field – the maximum area that a machine is able to embroider. This is usually identified by the largest hoop that a machine can use. The sewing field is designed into the machine by the manufacturer and cannot be changed. You can always stitch designs that are smaller than the sewing field, but not anything larger without editing them to fit one of the machine’s hoops.

Software – the programs that control how the mechanical parts of a computer (hardware) operate. Both operating systems and embroidery programs are forms of software.

Splitting – using embroidery software to separate a design into parts that will fit within a specific hoop. Stitching out a split design will involve 2 or more hoopings. For example, if your machine only comes with a 4×4” hoop, and you want to use a design for a 5×7” hoop, you will probably have to split the design into 4 sections (or hoopings) so that no section is larger than 4×4”. Splitting is usually only effective with filled designs, not applique or in the hoop designs.

Stabilizer – specialty fabric designed to help support project fabric in the hoop. It also helps to prevent stitches from bunching, knotting and even ripping the fabric, which they might do if stabilizer is not used. Stabilizers come in a wide range of varieties to be used with differing fabric types and applications.

Underlay – stitching placed underneath the final decorative stitching of an embroidery design. Like stabilizers, underlay stabilizes the fabric, helping to prevent bunching, rippling and shifting, but it does not replace it.  Embroidery designs need both stabilizer and underlay to stitch out well.

USB (Universal Series Bus) – a type of connection used to allow computers to work with additional devices like mice, printers and graphics tablets.

Vector file – a computer file type in which the image is created using mathematical formulas. Vector images have crisp edges and flat areas of color, which means that they are generally less realistic-looking than raster images. On the other hand, the fact that vector images are derived from equations means that they can be re-sized successfully over a very wide range. Vector files are generally smaller than raster images, because the computer stores the image information as equations instead of pixels. Vector image formats include .svg, .dxf, and .wmf.