Joining Internal Lines

This feature allows you to join two internal lines together, and to join two ends of a non-straight internal line so as to make a closed shape.

The lines must be:

• Open lines - in other words, not forming a closed shape, and

• Inside the same pattern piece.

In addition, you cannot use this feature to join the end of a line whose point has the Glue property.

When joining two lines together, the new line inherits its name, layer, materials, and properties from whichever of the two original lines was dominant. For further information, refer to Stitches, Materials and Properties.

To join internal lines:

1. On the Main toolbar, click Select.

   

2. On the Horizontal contextual menu, ensure Edit Points is selected.

   

3. In the 2D window, click the end point of the first line.

4. Press Shift and click the end point of the second line.

5. Do one of the following:

   • Go to the Context view, in the Actions section, and click Join.

   • Right-click either selected end point. A menu is displayed. Click Join.

   • Press J.

   • On the Main menu, click Edit then Join.

The internal lines are joined.

The following image shows two internal lines being joined.

To join two ends of a non-straight internal line:

1. On the Main toolbar, click Select.

   

2. On the Horizontal contextual menu, ensure Edit Points is selected.

   

3. In the 2D window, click one end point of the line.

4. Press Shift and click the other end point of the line.

5. Do one of the following:

   • Go to the Context view, in the Actions section, and click Join.

   • Right-click either selected end point. A menu is displayed. Click Join.

   • Press J.

   • On the Main menu, click Edit then Join.

The ends of the internal line are joined and a closed shape is created.

The following image shows two the ends of an internal line being joined.

Dominant Line

The dominant line is the one with the higher layer order.

To view the layer order:

1. Go to the Resources tabs, then click 2D.

2. Click the pattern piece to view the layer order.

For example, in the following image, in pattern piece Shape 2, internal line 18 is higher in the layer order than internal line 17. If the lines are joined, line 18 is the dominant line.

Stitches, Materials and Properties

When joining internal lines, stitches, materials and properties are affected according to set standards.

Stitches

If either or both of the joined internal lines have stitches (on the whole or part of the line), these stitches remain unaffected. No new stitches are added.

Materials

The new line inherits the material settings of the dominant line.

Properties

The new line inherits the properties settings of the dominant line. If both lines had the same property, but with different settings, the new line inherits the settings of the dominant line.

Note the following special cases:

• Glue - A glued point cannot be joined.

• Symmetry:

  • If both joined lines were symmetrical, the new line is symmetrical.

  • If only the dominant line was symmetrical, the new line is symmetrical.

  • If only the non-dominant line was symmetrical, the new line is not symmetrical, and the non-dominant line loses its symmetrical property.

  • If the dominant line was symmetrical, and the non-dominant line had the Cross property, the new line is symmetrical and does not have the Cross property.

• Cross:

  • If both lines had the Cross property:

    • The new line has the Cross property, keeping the name of the dominant line in all pieces.

    • In pieces where both original lines existed, the new line inherits the layer order of the dominant line.

    • In pieces where only one of the original lines existed, the new line inherits the layer order of that line, even if it was the non-dominant line.

  • If only the non-dominant line had the Cross property:

    • The new line does not have the Cross property.

    • The old non-dominant line is divided into separate lines in all the relevant pieces. (The same effect as clearing the Cross property of a line.)

  • If the dominant line had the Cross property and the non-dominant line was symmetrical:

    • The new line has the Cross property and is not symmetrical.