Add Alignment Marks Tool

What it Does

Adds small marks along a line or curve. You can add a series of marks at even distances, or a single mark at one distance. When you sew two pattern pieces together, you match their marks so the seam lines up. The marks can have colors and numbers, which makes it easy to see which marks belong together. Use this tool for long seams, where a few marks along the way keep both pieces from drifting apart.

The tool can also copy the same mark or marks onto the seam of the matching pattern piece, using the same numbers and color.

To learn more about alignment marks, see Pattern Markings & Annotations in the Academy.

How to Use

1. Activate the tool by clicking the Add Alignment Marks icon.
2. Select the line or curve to mark.
3. Choose the type. Series of marks adds marks at even distances along the line. Single mark adds one mark. Series of marks is selected at first. Then select Continue.
4. The two ends of the line are listed. Select the end to measure from. Hover over a name in the list to see that point in the workspace.

Series of Marks

1. If you have made alignment marks before, you can choose them from the Copy settings from existing marks list. This fills in the distance, start number and style for you, and you can still change them.
2. Enter the Distance Between the marks.
3. To number the marks, enter the Start Number. Leave it at 0 for no numbers.
4. Select a color/style for the marks.
5. Select Preview to see the marks.
6. Select Save to keep the marks, Save & Match to add the same marks to another line, or Cancel to abort.

Single Mark

1. Enter the Distance From End, which is how far along the line the mark goes. You can type a number or a formula, so the mark can follow your measurements.
2. To number the mark, enter the Number. Leave it at 0 for no number.
3. Select a color/style for the mark.
4. Select Preview to see the mark.
5. Select Save to keep the mark, Save & Match to add a matching mark to another line, or Cancel to abort.

Matching Marks on Another Piece

1. Select Save & Match after you have previewed the marks.
2. Select the line or curve on the matching pattern piece, then select Continue.
3. Select the end of that line to measure from.
4. For a series of marks, the same marks are added to that line right away.
5. For a single mark, the Distance From End starts at the distance of the first mark. Change it if this seam is a different length, then select Preview to see the mark.
6. Select Save to keep the marks on both lines, or Cancel to remove all of them.

info

A series of marks remembers its distance, start number, style, line and the point it was measured from. Other series you make later can copy these settings. A single mark is not in the Copy settings from existing marks list.

info

For a single mark, if the distance is 0 or longer than the line, a message tells you and no mark is drawn. The layer is named Alignment Mark, followed by the line, the distance and the point it was measured from.

tip

On the two pieces, measure from the matching end of the seam and use the same distance. Then the marks will line up when the pieces are sewn together.

tip

If one seam is eased or gathered, the matching mark often needs a different distance on that piece. Use a single mark and change the distance when you match it.