There is disclosed a method of converting a bitmap to an object-based embroidery pattern by generating a skeleton from the bitmap and traversing paths and nodes identified in the skeleton, the embroidery pattern objects being generated during the traversal. The outline of the bitmap is used to define parts of the boundaries of the generated objects, which are laid down using a linear stitch type on the first traversal of a skeleton path and a fill stitch type on the second traversal of the skeleton path.