Move, Merge and Delete Color Blocks
Use the arrows below the color worksheet to change the order (
and 
) of the color blocks, and to select color blocks to merge 
together selectively. For example, you can keep two adjacent identical color blocks in case you wish to vary them later.
Note: This may be useful if you want to merge two blocks of an identical thread color without affecting the color order of the rest of the design.
To select and change colors, see Color Selection.
Move and Merge Colors in the Worksheet
-
Select a color block in the worksheet to highlight it.
-
Click the Move Color Up arrow
button below the worksheet to move the block up the stitching order. -
Click the Move Color Down arrow
button below the worksheet to move the block down the stitching order. -
Click the Merge Colors
arrow button below the worksheet to combine the selected color block with the block above it. -
Use Delete Color
to remove the selected color, and all stitches using it, from the design.
Use Merge Colors to delete color changes easily. Also use it to combine color blocks with the same thread color, after first moving one of the color blocks so that they are adjacent.
The order of colors in the Color Select also controls the order of colors in the finished embroidery. While you are creating your cross stitch design, new colors are added when other designs are inserted or when you use shapes, patterns and text. Hence, the order of colors may not be the best order for stitching out when taking into consideration which areas may 'pull in' the most or which colors are on top for stitching out backstitch and French knots.
Generally, the largest area of stitches (usually crosses) will pull the most. The effect of this can be avoided by stitching the largest area first. So it may help to move the color with the most stitches to the top of the palette. You can check the stitch counts in the Design Information, and by printing the embroidery worksheet.
Alternatively, change the color order so that the design stitches from the inside out. This is effective when stitching designs that have complete cross coverage, such as designs created with the Cross Stitch Design Wizard.
Backstitch and French knots are stitched out together in each color, after all the crosses have been stitched. However, backstitch is stitched before French knots. If you are using French knots for decorative details on top of any backstitch in a different color, move the colors in the palette to ensure that the French knot color is stitched out after the backstitch color.