Fill Stitch (Tatami)

Fill stitch, also called tatami after the Japanese mat pattern its needle penetrations resemble, is the standard fill for any solid embroidered area larger than about half an inch in any direction. Instead of long unsecured floats like satin, tatami uses short stitches arranged in offset rows so the thread is anchored into the fabric at regular intervals.

The needle penetration pattern can be uniform (standard tatami), randomized to reduce visible lines (random tatami), arranged in patterns (motif fills), or rotated within shapes for a multi-directional look. Density is typically 0.4mm to 0.5mm between rows, with stitch length around 4mm to 4.5mm. Higher density gives full coverage but adds stitch count, time, and stiffness.

Fill stitch produces a flatter, more matte look than satin. It does not catch the light the same way because the surface is broken up by penetrations. For this reason, large logo areas often combine fill bodies with satin borders, giving a textured fill with a clean reflective edge.

Fill direction matters visually. A single fill angle can leave visible lines in the design that read as banding. Digitizers split large shapes into multiple sub-shapes with different angles, or use random fills, to break up these lines. Underlay for fill stitch is typically a parallel or zigzag layer at a different angle to stabilize the fabric before the top stitches land.