A Quick Guide from Eagle Digitizing to Machine Embroidery Hooping

Hooping for embroidery will depend on a number of factors. Before you begin, you'll need to check your type of machine, as each hooping method is unique. Select the right hoop size and shape based on your machine and materials. Learn proper technique and tips from Eagle Digitizing for using hoops on an embroidery machine.

Step 1: Prepare your fabric and hoop

Hold the fabric to be embroidered and fold it in half. Pinch the center of the material to feel its thickness as you fold it. Doing so will provide a visual line to guide your placement between the two halves of the hoop.

Next, loosen or tighten the hoop, leaving enough space between each side to match the size of the folded fabric. Pre-adjusting the hoop reduces the chance of the hoop burning on the material.

Step 2: Hoop the fabric

Place the bottom half of the hoop on the table and place the adjustable corners or sides opposite you. Place the stabilizer and fabric on the bottom half, then quickly push down the half so that it is firmly inserted into the bottom. Gently pull out the protruding material to adjust correctly, then tighten the hoop.

Step 3: Embroider your fabric

At this point, you can now place the hoop stabilizer and fabric into the embroidery machine. If used correctly, you should see a clean, problem-free embroidery design.

Hoop technique

Tip 1: Choose the right size

When choosing hoop size, measure your embroidery pattern and increase its width and height by about an inch. Too large a hoop may produce an adverse embroidery effect.

Tip 2: Knitted fabric in rectangular hoop

Embroidery machine hoops sometimes resemble rectangles rather than circles. Increase the chances of beautiful embroidery by using a T-pin around a straight edge, tightening the material and preventing movement.

Tip 3: Use double-sided tape to make flexible or transparent materials

Using silky, stretchy fabrics often results in wrinkled or twisted designs. Place double-sided tape inside the hoop to reduce movement and distortion.

Tip 4: Choose your preferred embroidery stabilizer

You can choose from three types of stabilizer materials:

Cut off: stable and durable, after embroidery can cut off the redundant back.

Tear off: Useful for more stable materials, a removable stabilizer allows you to tear off embroidery backing.

Water soluble: Once submerged in water, this backing dissolves and leaves the embroidery design behind.

Fusible: Similar to the stability of cut materials, fusible stabilizers are ironed and left in the garment after embroidery.

Float with hoop embroidery

Floating embroidery uses a piece of stabilizer as a base to attach the fabric without placing the material in a hoop. You can better control this form of embroidery with the following tips:

The flaking stitch around the edge of the fabric prevents it from moving on the stabilizer.

Use an adhesive spray to hold the material in place.

Place dowel pins or tape around the outer edge of the material.

When you have mastered the embroidery hoop, you need professional embroidery design. Eagle Digitizing has been digitizing high-quality embroidery files for over 20 years. Contact us now for quick and accurate quotes or by using our online contact form.