| Correct embroidery machine hooping is one of the | | | | well as ironed. If you neglect to prewash your fabric |
| most important elements of good machine embroidery. | | | | you may find that when your finished project is |
| The fabric should be taut in the hoop but should not be | | | | washed the color bleeds ruining your design or that the |
| stretched or distorted. If you pull the fabric too tightly, it | | | | fabric shrinks which will ruin your design by puckering |
| will pucker around the design once the fabric is | | | | the fabric the design is on. |
| released from the hoop. | | | | Ironing your fabric after prewashing it is recommended |
| Basic Embroidery Machine Hooping Steps | | | | so your fabric is truly taught while embroidering. This |
| Open the outer hoop (usually by loosening a screw on | | | | will ensure the best finished piece possible. |
| the rim) and place it on a flat surface such as a table | | | | Also always be sure and use the right weight of |
| or counter. | | | | stabilizing fabric for your designs. Many fabrics will |
| Place a single layer of fabric (with stabilizer if needed) | | | | simply fall apart or pull and pucker horribly if you |
| over it. If hoping a ready-made garment be sure that | | | | embroidery on them without a fabric stabilizer. It gives |
| other portions of the garment are out of the way. | | | | your piece the necessary strength and body to hold |
| Position the inner hoop over the fabric and push it | | | | the many stitches machine embroidery requires. |
| down into the outer hoop. Smooth the fabric and pull it | | | | Small projects can be stitched mostly or entirely in the |
| taught without stretching or distorting it. Tighten the | | | | hoop, allowing the embroidery machine to construct as |
| screw of the hoop. | | | | well as embellish. Card cases, pocket purses, paper |
| Use the plastic template provided with most machine | | | | dolls, and cosmetic bags are examples of projects |
| embroidery hoops to make sure the fabric is hooped | | | | that can be made. Some of these are digitized to |
| on-grain and the placement is as desired. (Embroidering | | | | stitch completely in the hoop and once the stabilizer |
| on-grain is very important for your design piece. | | | | (usually water soluble) is removed, the project is |
| Otherwise the finished piece will not lay correctly.) | | | | finished. Others are created in pieces and once the |
| Embroidery Machine Tips For Best Results | | | | parts are embroidered, they are removed from the |
| It's also important to remember to make sure your | | | | hoop and construction is completed using the sewing |
| fabric or garment is washed before embroidering as | | | | machine. |