Connectors & travel paths

This page covers what a connector is, how to make and select one, the three travel modes (and when to pick each), turning a connector on for export, and what the warnings mean.

When the machine finishes one shape and moves to the next, the needle has to get there somehow. That move between shapes is the travel path, and a connector is the little object that controls it. Getting connectors right is the difference between a clean back and a finished piece full of loose threads, snags, and stray stitches across the fabric.

You don't have to touch connectors — bisect routes travel automatically. Reach for them when you want to take control: hide a travel run under cover stitching, force the needle to jump a gap instead of sewing across it, or cut a thread before a long move.

The mental model: a connector links two shapes and answers one question — what does the needle do between them? Sew its way across, lift and move with no thread, or cut and move.

What a connector connects

A connector (its technical name is a TravelRun) always bridges two shapes that sew one right after the other: the exit of the first shape and the entry of the second. It follows the shapes — move or resize a shape and the connector end stays attached automatically. There's no line left behind.

Because a connector lives in the gap between two neighbours in sew order, it only makes sense when those two shapes are actually next to each other in the stitch order. If a reorder pulls them apart, the connector tells you (see Warnings below).

Creating and selecting a connector

Use the Connect tool, then click the first shape and the second shape to drop a connector in the gap between them. Once one exists, click it on the canvas to select it — the Connector inspector opens in the right panel. That panel is where everything below lives: the mode, the export toggle, the status line, and the fix-it buttons.

The inspector always shows you, in plain words:

From / To — the two shapes this connector bridges.
What the needle does — the travel mode (next section).
Use in export — whether it's a real machine path or just a draft.
A status line with the one next action to fix or change it.

The three travel modes

The What the needle does dropdown sets the mode. Here's what each one tells the machine to do, and when to use it:

Mode	What the machine does	Use it when…
Stitch through (running)	Sews running stitches (visible or hidden) along the path between the two shapes.	Both shapes use the same thread colour. A stitched travel can't cross a colour change.
Move only (jump)	Lifts the needle, moves the frame, lays no thread.	You're crossing a gap (no cover stitching to hide under) or changing colours. This is exactly how the machine bridges a colour change.
Cut thread (trim)	Cuts the thread first, then moves the frame.	The loose thread between the shapes would otherwise be too long and snag or need trimming by hand.

Important — jump and trim are real frame moves. The dotted line you see on the canvas for a Move-only or Cut-thread connector is not stitched. The machine doesn't sew along the dots; it lifts the needle and the hoop travels. Only Stitch through actually lays thread along the path.

Picking a mode in one breath

Same colour, want it hidden under your shapes → Stitch through.
Crossing open fabric, or about to change thread colour → Move only.
The float between shapes is long enough to snag → Cut thread.

Active vs. Draft (Use in export)

A connector only counts if you tell it to. The Use in export checkbox controls that:

Checked → Active. This is a real machine path. It will sew and it will be written into your exported file.
Unchecked → Draft. A planning line only. It stays visible in the editor so you can see your intent, but it won't sew and won't export.

The status line at the top of the inspector reads "Active — this path will export" when it's on, or "Draft — won't sew or export" when it's off. If you drew a connector and it isn't doing anything at export, check this box first.

Warnings — and how to fix each one

The inspector gives you one honest status line and the single action that fixes it. Here's what each warning means:

Status	What it means	How to fix it
Broken — a connected shape was deleted	One of the two shapes this connector linked is gone, so it has nothing to bridge.	Delete the connector (the inspector offers the button).
Needs fixing — the shapes aren't next to each other in sew order	A reorder moved the two shapes apart, so they no longer sew back-to-back.	Click Make the shapes adjacent to put them next to each other again.
Needs fixing — a stitched path can't cross a thread-colour change	It's set to Stitch through, but the two shapes use different thread colours — sewn travel can't cross a colour stop.	Click Switch to Move only (jump). A jump is how you bridge a colour change.
Active — but it crosses open fabric, so the thread will show	It's a real Stitch through path, but part of it runs over bare fabric with no shape to hide under, so the thread will be visible on the finished piece.	Reshape the path so it runs under a shape, or switch it to Move only so no thread is laid.

The "crosses open fabric" warning only appears for Stitch through connectors that are actually active — a Move-only or Cut-thread connector lays no thread, so there's nothing to expose.

Next step

With travel under control, head to Exporting to write your machine file — only Active connectors are included.

See also: The editor · Drawing & stitch types · Exporting · FAQs