EMBROIDERY BASICS
23
Common Hooping Problems
Proper hooping is one of the most challenging and important machine embroidery skills. Hooping the item
correctly is critical to obtaining a professional result. Improper hooping can cause a myriad of issues such as
misalignment of the design on the garment, puckering of the fabric , thread looping or breaking, or design reg-
istration issues (when the stitches don’t line up or “register” properly in the design, especially on outlines).
Hooping for machine embroidery is a challenge because the process requires you to handle multiple loose
layers of fabric and stabilizer simultaneously and it requires you to keep those layers straight and wrinkle
free while they are aligned precisely and placed under tension in the embroidery hoop so your design ends
up stitching out well and where you intend on the fabric. Hooping an item for machine embroidery can at rst
make you feel like you have ten thumbs, but with the help of the hints below and just a little practice you will
soon be hooping like a pro.
The hooping process is affected by several factors:
• The type of stabilizer
• The number of layers of stabilizer needed for the type of fabric you are embroidering
• The size of the object you are embroidering
• The texture of the fabric
• The size and type of the hoop required for the project
Below are the most common hooping problems and how to avoid them
Incorrect hoop choice
Thick fabrics in a low, exible hoop can lead to pop-outs. For thicker garments, such as jackets, invest in
double-high hoops. These sturdy hoops have taller sides that grip garments more securely.
Hoop catching on the machine
This can happen with tubular hoops that are not level and with conventional hoops that get snagged on a
screw that isn’t ush or other machine components. If a particular head has this problem consistently, mount
an empty hoop, and jog the pantograph in all directions to look for the catch.
Starting a design in the wrong place
The most common cause of this mistake is failing to reset the design or the pantograph start position after an
aborted start. If a design is stopped and restarted again, be sure to check both the data source and the hoop
location.
Sewing a garment to itself
This mistake is usually made by beginners but can still happen when experienced embroiderers work on rush
jobs and lose focus. You can avoid that sinking feeling you get upon realizing you can’t remove the hoop with-
out unscrewing it or cutting the garment. When you place the hoop into the machine, simply run your ngers
all the way around the hoop’s edges on all sides. Then you can be sure you’re in the clear.
Permanent hoop marks
The way to avoid spoiling a garment in this way is to hoop tautly, not tightly. Even experienced embroiderers
adjust the hoop more tightly than needed to securely hold the garment. Adjust the outer hoop so it requires
only gentle pressure to apply the inner hoop section, and except for thick, bulky goods, don’t tighten the hoop
after hooping.
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