SewWhat‑Pro Tutorial: Add Names to Embroidery Designs (Two Proven Methods)

Video reference: “How to Add a Name to a Design in Sew What Pro” by Sweet Threads Gifts

Make any stitch file feel custom—with a name that’s perfectly aligned and balanced. This guide distills two beginner-friendly ways to add names in SewWhat-Pro, from meticulous manual letter merging to a faster, tool-driven approach.

What you’ll learn - How to open a base stitch file and confirm hoop settings in SewWhat-Pro

• Two ways to add a name: merge letters (precision) vs. Lettering tool (speed)

- Grid-line alignment, spacing adjustments, and centering that actually looks centered

• Practical checks, common pitfalls, and quick fixes for clean results

Primer: What You Can Achieve (and When to Use Each Method) Personalizing a design with a name is a core embroidery workflow—useful for gifts, kids’ apparel, and keepsakes. In SewWhat-Pro, you can do this in two ways: - Method 1 (long way): Merge each letter file individually. You’ll place and space letters by hand for precise control.

• Method 2 (easy way): Use the Lettering tool to add characters quickly, then make a few spacing tweaks for balance.

When to choose which

• If you already own digitized letter files you love, or you want granular control, use Method 1.

• If you want speed with sensible defaults, use Method 2.

Pro tip Centering decisions should come last. Place and space first, then center the entire name block under the main design.

Prep: Files, Folders, and a Quick Orientation You’ll need:

• SewWhat-Pro installed on a computer

• A base embroidery design (the tutorial shows a number “1” with a guitar and stars)

• Either: digitized letter files (e.g., 1-inch letters), or fonts accessed via the Lettering tool

Folder hygiene helps. Keep your base designs and letter files in clearly named folders so “File > Merge” is quick and predictable.

From the comments

• Cost/access questions come up. The video doesn’t state pricing or links; check the software developer’s official sources for current access options. hoop master embroidery hooping station

Prep checklist

• Base design file is ready

• Letter files or the Lettering tool are available

• Folders are organized for quick merges

Setup: Open Your Base Design and Hoop Settings 1) Launch SewWhat-Pro and open your base design (File > Open).

2) Confirm hoop settings (Hoop > Hoop Calibration). The tutorial shows selecting a 7.87 x 7.87 inch hoop.

Why it matters

• The hoop defines the working area for centering and alignment. You want the name to sit proportionally beneath your main design.

Watch out If the hoop setting is off, your centering reference will be misleading. Confirm hoop size before placing any letters.

Quick check

• You can see your design in the workspace

• Hoop size is set as intended

Setup checklist

• Base design is open and visible

• Hoop size confirmed

• Zoom level comfortable for fine placement

Operation Method 1: Merge Individual Letters (The Long Way) This method uses “File > Merge” to pull in each letter as its own object—ideal when you’ve got a specific alphabet or need per-letter finesse.

Step-by-step 1) Merge the first letter (File > Merge), then position it where the name will sit. Align the bottom of the letter to a grid line—this becomes your baseline.

2) Merge the second letter and drag it into place along the same grid line. Keep a natural gap.

3) Repeat for all letters. Keep checking that bottoms align to the same grid line so nothing drifts. 4) Select all letters (hold Ctrl and click each) to adjust spacing as a group. Use small nudges to refine balance.

5) Center the name block under your design (Center pattern in hoop).

Why it works

• The grid line keeps letters on a straight baseline.

• Selecting letters together helps you evaluate overall balance before final centering.

Decision point

• If a letter looks taller or lower, realign its bottom to the baseline grid. Don’t center prematurely—fix the baseline first.

Pro tip Nudge with arrow keys for micro-adjustments after selecting letters. It’s easier to achieve consistent visual rhythm this way. magnetic embroidery hoops

Quick check

• Baselines line up across all letters

• Spacing feels even when you squint or zoom out

• The entire name block sits centered beneath the main design

Operation Method 2: Use the Lettering Tool (The Easy Way) The Lettering tool accelerates the workflow by letting you add characters directly, then tweak spacing and position.

1) If you tested Method 1, select and delete any temporary letters so you’re working clean. 2) Click the Lettering button in the toolbar (blue outline box). This opens the panel to add characters.

3) Enter the name by selecting characters; they’ll appear in sequence on the workspace.

4) Adjust spacing by dragging letters until the word looks balanced.

5) Center the name block in the hoop for a polished arrangement.

Why it works

• The tool handles basic placement so you can focus on subtle spacing and centering.

Watch out Automatic spacing isn’t always perfect. Always step back or zoom in to judge balance before centering.

Quick check

• Every character is present and correctly spelled

• Spacing looks even, with no letter crowding or wide gaps

• The final name block is centered below the main design

Operation checklist (both methods)

• Letters share a clean baseline before you center

• Spacing passes the squint test

• Centered only after placement/spacing are done

Quality Checks: Alignment, Spacing, and Centering Use these tests before committing:

• Baseline test: Toggle grid view and confirm all letter bottoms ride the same grid line (Method 1) or appear level (Method 2). brother 5x7 hoop

• Spacing test: Look for visual consistency—similar intra-letter gaps across the word.

- Center test: With all letters selected, ensure centering references the entire name block, not a single letter’s midpoint. The tutorial highlights that “dead center” lines up relative to the block’s start and end, not just a middle letter.

Pro tip Zoom out slightly to judge spacing—your eye catches imbalance faster at a reduced scale. Then zoom in to refine with nudges.

Results & Handoff: Save and Share Your Custom Design Once you’re satisfied with placement and centering, save your project copy in your preferred format. The host notes you can open designs and save them as different types within SewWhat-Pro, so keep an editable version and an output version for stitching.

Naming conventions that help later

• Keep the base design’s filename intact and add the name as a suffix (e.g., RockStar-1_name-ERIN). This prevents accidental overwriting and speeds reorders. mighty hoops for brother

Troubleshooting & Recovery Symptoms → likely cause → fix

• Letters look stair-stepped

• Cause: Baselines weren’t aligned on the grid

• Fix: Reposition each letter so the bottom touches the same grid line; re-space, then center

• Name looks off-center under the design

• Cause: Centering was done before spacing, or referencing a single letter

• Fix: Select the whole name block and center again; make sure the main design itself is centered in the hoop first

• Crowded or uneven gaps

• Cause: Auto spacing left inconsistencies

• Fix: Manually drag letters or nudge with arrow keys until gaps look even

• Wrong hoop proportion visual

• Cause: Hoop setting doesn’t match your target size

• Fix: Confirm Hoop > Hoop Calibration matches your intended hoop; re-center if needed dime snap hoop

Recovery checklist

• Re-check hoop configuration

• Verify baseline alignment

• Re-space, then re-center

Pro tip Keep an incremental save before big adjustments. It’s faster to revert to a “good state” than to re-build letter placement from scratch. janome embroidery machine hoops

From the comments

• “Is this software free?” The tutorial does not state pricing. For accurate, current info, consult the software’s official resources. hoopmaster

• “Where can I get the embroidery drawing program?” The tutorial references SewWhat-Pro by name; check official sources for access details and downloads.

• A general thank-you from the channel underscores that this is aimed at beginners looking for straightforward, time-saving techniques.

Closing thoughts Both methods get you to a clean, centered name quickly. Start with the Lettering tool for speed; switch to manual merges when you need per-letter precision. Center last, trust the grid, and use small nudges for professional spacing. That’s the difference between “it’s fine” and “it looks fantastic.” magnetic embroidery hoops for babylock