{"id":2970,"date":"2026-02-11T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/?post_type=knowledge-base&#038;p=2970"},"modified":"2026-02-11T13:33:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T13:33:31","slug":"how-to-create-and-edit-rotated-clones","status":"publish","type":"knowledge-base","link":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-create-and-edit-rotated-clones\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create and Edit Rotated Clones for Complex Patterns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most efficient ways to create complex, symmetrical embroidery patterns (like mandalas or flower <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-insert-and-customize-ready-made-shapes\/\">shapes<\/a>) is by using <strong>Rotated Clones<\/strong>. This feature allows you to replicate an object in a circle and ensures that any changes made to one object are automatically applied to all of them.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><div  style=\"display: block; margin: 0px auto;\"  id=\"_ytid_73770\"  width=\"1290\" height=\"725\"  data-origwidth=\"1290\" data-origheight=\"725\" data-facadesrc=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wVN8Kd5uHhw?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;rel=0&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;disablekb=0&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__ epyt-facade no-lazyload\" data-epautoplay=\"1\" ><img decoding=\"async\" data-spai-excluded=\"true\" class=\"epyt-facade-poster skip-lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"YouTube player\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/wVN8Kd5uHhw\/maxresdefault.jpg\" title=\"\"><button class=\"epyt-facade-play\" aria-label=\"Play\"><svg data-no-lazy=\"1\" height=\"100%\" version=\"1.1\" viewBox=\"0 0 68 48\" width=\"100%\"><path class=\"ytp-large-play-button-bg\" d=\"M66.52,7.74c-0.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79,.13,34,0,34,0S12.21,.13,6.9,1.55 C3.97,2.33,2.27,4.81,1.48,7.74C0.06,13.05,0,24,0,24s0.06,10.95,1.48,16.26c0.78,2.93,2.49,5.41,5.42,6.19 C12.21,47.87,34,48,34,48s21.79-0.13,27.1-1.55c2.93-0.78,4.64-3.26,5.42-6.19C67.94,34.95,68,24,68,24S67.94,13.05,66.52,7.74z\" fill=\"#f00\"><\/path><path d=\"M 45,24 27,14 27,34\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Follow the steps below to create a rotational pattern and edit all instances simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1: Enable Clones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before creating any copies, you must ensure the software links the new objects to the original.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Locate the toolbar options.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enable the <strong>&#8220;Add new objects as clones&#8221;<\/strong> option.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Note:<\/strong> When this is enabled, any copy you create is marked as a &#8220;Clone.&#8221; If you edit the shape of one clone, all others will update to match.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\"><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: Adjust the Rotation Center<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To create a circular pattern, the object needs to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-transform-designs-move-resize-rotate-skew\/\">rotate<\/a> around a central point rather than its own center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Select your object.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click on the object again to reveal the rotation handles (curved arrows at the corners) and the <strong>Rotation Center<\/strong> (a small circle usually in the middle of the object).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click and drag the <strong>Rotation Center<\/strong> to the position where you want the center of your pattern to be.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Create the First Rotated Duplicate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now you will define the angle of the pattern and create the first copy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hover your mouse over one of the corner <strong>rotation handles<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click and drag to rotate the object.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Optional:<\/strong> Hold down the <strong>Ctrl<\/strong> key while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-transform-designs-move-resize-rotate-skew\/\">rotating<\/a> to snap the rotation to fixed 22.5-degree increments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Crucial <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-use-step-fill-stitches-density-styles-underlay-and-gradient-blending\/\">Step<\/a>:<\/strong> Before releasing the mouse button, press the <strong>D<\/strong> key on your keyboard.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Release the mouse button. You have now created a rotated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-move-scale-and-duplicate-objects\/\">duplicate<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 4: Complete the Pattern<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the first copy is made, you can rapidly fill the rest of the circle using the &#8220;Repeat&#8221; function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Press <strong>Ctrl + R<\/strong> on your keyboard (or select the &#8220;Repeat last transform&#8221; option).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Continue pressing <strong>Ctrl + R<\/strong> until your circular pattern is complete.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 5: Edit the Pattern using the Node Editor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The power of cloning becomes apparent when you need to refine the design. You do not need to delete and recreate the pattern; you simply edit one petal\/shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Select one of the objects in your pattern.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Activate the <strong>Node Editor<\/strong> tool.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Modify the shape by moving nodes or curves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Observe that <strong>all other clones update instantly<\/strong> to match your changes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udca1 Useful Tips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Efficiency:<\/strong> Using clones minimizes your workload. You can create a complex 12-point <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-insert-and-customize-star-shapes\/\">star<\/a>, realize the points are too sharp, round off one point, and the entire star fixes itself immediately.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Precision:<\/strong> Always use the <strong>Ctrl<\/strong> key during the initial rotation if you want a mathematically perfect circle (e.g., to ensure your last copy meets the first one perfectly).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shortcuts to Remember:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>D<\/strong> (while dragging): Creates a duplicate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ctrl + R<\/strong>: Repeats the last action (Transform).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most efficient ways to create complex, symmetrical embroidery patterns (like mandalas or flower shapes) is by using Rotated Clones.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2971,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":""},"categories-kb":[333],"class_list":["post-2970","knowledge-base","type-knowledge-base","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","categories-kb-how-to-training"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"categories-kb":[{"value":333,"label":"How to Training"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/creating-and-editing-rotated-clo-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"DRAWings Embroidery Software","author_link":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/author\/drawings\/"},"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge-base\/2970","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge-base"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/knowledge-base"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"categories-kb","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories-kb?post=2970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}