Apparatus, sewing machine, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

A sewing machine, comprising:

• one or more needle bars, each of the one or more needle bars being configured to be mounted with one of a cutting needle and a sewing needle;
• a sewing device configured to move one of the one or more needle bars up and down;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes comprising:
• acquiring pattern data representing a plurality of stitches for sewing, by a sewing device, an embroidery pattern that includes an outline pattern,
• specifying an outline of the embroidery pattern based on the pattern data,
• creating, based on the specified outline, hole data for causing the sewing device to form a plurality of holes along the specified outline, the hole data representing positions of needle drop points for forming the plurality of holes including one or more first holes and one or more second holes,
• creating, based on the hole data, first stitch data for causing the sewing device to sew one or more stitches for the one or more first holes, the first data representing positions of needle drop points for sewing the one or more stitches that connect two regions separated by the plurality of holes, by spanning one of the plurality of holes,
• creating, based on the pattern data, the hole data, and the first stitch data, embroidery data for causing the sewing device to form the one or more first holes, sew the one or more stitches for the one or more first holes, and causing the sewing device to form the one or more second holes, before causing the sewing device to sew the outline pattern, and
• causing, in accordance with the embroidery data, the sewing device to, form the plurality of holes by using the cutting needle, sew the connecting stitching, and sew the outline pattern.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed, instruct a processor of an apparatus to perform processes comprising:

• acquiring pattern data representing a plurality of stitches for sewing, by a sewing machine, an embroidery pattern that includes an outline pattern,
• specifying an outline of the embroidery pattern based on the pattern data,
• creating, based on the specified outline, hole data for causing the sewing machine to form a plurality of holes along the specified outline, the hole data representing positions of needle drop points for forming the plurality of holes including one or more first holes and one or more second holes,
• creating, based on the hole data, first stitch data for causing the sewing machine to sew one or more stitches for the one or more first holes, the first data representing positions of needle drop points for sewing the one or more stitches that connect two regions separated by the plurality of holes, by spanning one of the plurality of holes,
• creating, based on the pattern data, the hole data, and the first stitch data, embroidery data for causing the sewing machine to form the one or more first holes, sew the one or more stitches for the one or more first holes, and causing the sewing machine to form the one or more second holes, before causing the sewing machine to sew the outline pattern.