freesewing/markdown/dev/guides/patterns/paths/en.md

***

title: Paths
order: 20
---------

\<Example
part="docs\_overview"
caption="Paths are the lines and curves of your pattern"
options={{focus: "Paths"}}
/>

Paths are the lines and curves that make up your pattern.

They are made up of a set of drawing operations that together make up the path.
FreeSewing supports the following types of drawing operations:

*   The **move** operation moves our virtual pen but does not draw anything.
*   The **line** operation draws a straight line
*   The **curve** operation draws a [Bézier curve](/guides/overview/about/beziercurves/)
*   The **close** operation closes the path

To crucial thing to keep in mind is that, with the exception of the **move** operation,
all drawing operations start from wherever you are currently on your virtual sheet of paper.

For example, you might expect the **line** operation to take a start- and endpoint.
But in fact, it only takes and endpoint, and will draw a straight line from where our virtual pen
currently is to said endpoint.

Because all but the **move** drawing operations are relative to their operation preceding it,
**all Paths must start with a move operation**.

<Note>

Understanding that each drawing operation builds upon the next one is an important insight.

</Note>

<Tip>

Our example image (which, if you hadn't realized was created with FreeSewing) has a lot of
paths in it. Each box, the arrows, the lines in the React logo, and so on.

</Tip>