**Today** it is possible to stretch an object or selection using the **handles**. But this only works in the horizontal or vertical directions.  **The Problem:** Once the object has been rotated, refinements to the stretch are not possible, as the handles are reset to horizontal and vertical again. **Workaround:** Rotate the object back to a horizontal orientation first. Perform the stretch. Rotate it back to the angle. This is not good because A)it is extra steps to do. B) Stretching out of place you can't see if you have stretched enough. C) Rotating it back might not be accurate. **Requirement:** Add a new way to stretch objects at a chosen angle. Yeilding the same result as it was horizontal. This should enhance the current intuitive stretch commands single/multiple objects or **groups**, and not be a separate Path effect. **Commit** Aside from the extra efforts today, this limitation also forces users to pause to think, before they "commit" to a rotation. _Any_ barrier to _Draw Freely_ should be should be considered for enhancement. **Suggestions:** 1) Add a mode where the stretch handles align to a **path segment** under the mouse cursor position. Con: Less easy for rounded shapes. 2) Add a mode where the **direction of drag** determines the direction of the stretch. With the direction dynamically following the mouse so the result is visually predictable. **Direction follows the cursor:**  Pro: _Intuitive and cool_. Con: Less accurate to path segments by default. But maybe the direction could snap to a segment with a modifier and initiating the drag with the cursor over a segment of the right direction. **Tech**: The cursor delta displacement defines the alignment of the stretch bounding box dynamically. At zero initial delta no direction can be defined, so stretch begins only when enough delta (2%?) has been moved. Resulting in a slight delay before stretching begins. 3) Add an option to snap the handles to the **SVG transformation matrix** of the object. Pro: Automatic and easy. Con: Might not be the right direction. 4) Add a mode in **Edit Nodes** to allow the handles to be first aligned. Pro: Works with both nodes or single objects. Con: Command is hidden from casual users who might not have edited nodes. 5) Add the ability to **Rotate/Align the Handles**. _UX advantages_. Pro: Stretch with handles is **familiar UX**. Nothing new to learn. Pro: For classic horizontal stretch, this does not complicate the use and look of the handles. Pro: Rotate handles command is _separate_ from stretch, for **clearer UX**. ---- As the handle direction can be checked and adjusted before stretching. Rotate could **snap** to 15deg steps, segments, SVG transform, or "auto-smallest box". It only needs an angle input, by cursor, segment or numeric?. Bounding box is self centreing. Alignment could be **kept**, or temporary, or be reset with "Reset to Horizontal" command. **Rotate the handles:**  6) When rotating an object **Keep handle direction** could be a new option. The handles are ready to stretch at the angle of rotation at any time. Pro: No new command. Just an additional option switch. Like "Scale Stroke"  Pro: Visually clear what the effect of the switch is. No surprises later. Con: No so easy retrospectively. Forget, you'd need to un-rotate then re-rotate with the option ON. Con: These switches get left ON and annoy and confuse.