Lightning Bolt Abstract

About This Design

This lightning design stitches out at 232.3 × 516.0 mm (9.1 × 20.3 in) and uses 10 thread colors across 12 color changes. Total count is 22,507 stitches at a density of about 18.8 stitches/cm².

At The Machine

• Estimated stitch-out time: ~38 minutes at 600 spm
• Color changes: 12, automatic trims: 5
• Follow the color sequence table above — thread numbers refer to the chart programmed in the file; match them to your brand by color.

Fabric & Hooping

At about 18.8 stitches/cm² this is an open, low-density fill, so it sits happily on quilting cotton, linen or lightweight shirting with a single layer of tear-away behind it. At 232.3 × 516.0 mm this needs a large-format hoop, or splitting across several hoopings with alignment marks — check it against your machine's maximum field first.

Thread Colors in This Design

DST files store stitch data but no thread information, so the colors below are our suggested DMC match. Swap in whatever you have in a similar shade:

• 820 Very Dark Royal Blue
• 208 Very Dark Lavender
• 3777 Very Dark Terra Cotta
• 738 Very Light Tan
• 317 Pewter Gray
• 815 Medium Garnet
• 776 Medium Pink
• 721 Medium Orange Spice
• 444 Dark Lemon
• 702 Kelly Green

Stitching Notes

10 colors across 12 changes makes this a real thread-management job: lay the spools out in sequence order first and keep the color chart to hand. DST stores stitch data only, which is why the color list is a suggestion rather than the digitizer's original choice.

What to Make With It

A picture-style design wants a flat, stable surface where it can be seen whole: a framed hoop piece, a quilt centre, a cushion front or the back of a jacket. Avoid stretchy garments, which distort the shape.