The different ways to create a double line for stitches.

There are a few ways to create a double line, some editable some not. Here are the ways I have discovered so far. It's up to you to choose the best method for you.

You could use the Outline Path method:
This involves enlarging the line, outlining its path, giving it no fill and a coloured stroke.
Outline method

Or you could create a custom brush:
By making a square guide shape, drawing the pattern you want repeated inside, removing the stroke colour of the guide square and adding to the Brushes palette.
Brush method

Or using the Appearance panel create a line that has two stroke paths, one above the other.
Appearance method

Or use something called a Knockout:
Knockout method

These are arranged in order of difficulty from easiest to most complicated and some are more flexible than others.

Using the Appearance panel to make a dashed line

You can use the Appearance panel to change the attributes that make up the object. You are able to change the colour of the fill, stroke, it's opacity, it's colour mode and add effects to change its appearance.
So the example shown here has a 2pt black stroke and no fill.

You can also add multiple attributes, all in the same object. These attributes can be treated like layers.

Moved one above the other enabling you to change the stacking order.

So the example below is still one object, just with three individual strokes applied. Black at 5pt, Yellow at 10pt and Red at 20 pt.

The visibility of each layer can be turned on or off by clicking on the eye icon.

You can see here in the next image how I have managed to crate the illusion of a dashed line.

You will need to set the Dashed line above the solid line and make it slightly wider. If it's the same size even you will see a slight outline around the clear or white part.

The main problem with this method is that the dashed line will work when over a white background or whatever colour the dash is in, but not work if over a different colour. In this example the green shape.

You also can't have true stitch lines with rounded ends, only square end caps or Butt Caps.

To create a double stitch line you will need to reverse the layers. The dashed line below and the solid line above.

Masking in Photoshop, without masking.

How to mask without masking in Photoshop by Russell Brown

If you have a chance to check the Russell Brown website. He used to work for Adobe Systems and knows his stuff. You can also see his tutorials here at Adobe TV.

Vectips Best of 2010

Lots of links and resources relating to Illustrator:

Best of 2010

Starting from scratch...

So you have a flat to draw and are stuck for where to start.
Try this:

In reality the garment is made up of separate shapes of fabric. The sleeve is going to be a separate shape, as is the cuff, as is the front panel and the collar stand etc. So think of the illustration as being made of separate drawn shapes. Some shapes can be placed on top of others and some below. The ones on on top can hide the ones below.

A frequent misconception is that when drawing like this some feel you have to make the drawing in one continuous line from start to end. But when you draw with pencil on paper, you take the pencil off of the paper, place it somewhere else, continue and so on. Breaking the drawing down to parts can make it easier to understand.

Getting a handle on the Pen tool.

Learning how to use the Pen tool in Adobe Illustrator can appear to be a bit of an uphill struggle sometimes but persisting and practicing will pay off eventually. Within a short space of time you will be able to draw much quicker and more accurately.

Remember the curve has three parts to it. The anchor points, the line and the direction handle. Without any direction handles the line will be straight.
Where you do have a direction handle it pulls the curve toward it, changing it's shape.

You can think about the curve made from a wooden board, two nails and elastic stretching between the each.

To practice drawing with the Pen tool, single-click with the mouse to draw straight segments.
Or click-hold and drag to create the direction handles and curve lines.

Have a look at this comprehensive guide to find out all of the tips and shortcuts for this tool.
Comprehensive guide

Here is an exercise to practice with.

Exercise files