How to Make Custom Embroidery Designs

When you're preparing to sew out an embroidery design, one of the most important factors for a good outcome is the hooping process. Every machine has its own hoop design, but the basic set up is the same. By following a few steps every time you hoop a project, you'll have more success when you sew out your custom embroidery design.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Select the smallest possible sized hoop that can accommodate your design. You may want to print out your design and make sure it fits inside the hoop you've chosen. For a design to sew out properly, the fabric should be taut in the hoop, which is more difficult the larger the hoop is.

2. Mark the design placement on your fabric with a temporary fabric marker. Lay the outer hoop on a flat surface and place your stabilizer and fabric on top of it, using the mark as a placement guide. The design should be in the center of the hoop for best results.

3. Place a hand on each side of the inner hoop, pressing down with equal pressure. The hoop should pop into place, securing the fabric and stabilizers much like a sandwich inside the inner and outer hoops. It's important to have the fabric taut, but you shouldn't have to force the hoop into place. The adjusting screw on the outer hoop allows you to increase or decrease the tension.

4. Continue by following your particular embroidery machine instructions for attaching the hoop to the machine, tracing the design and sewing it out.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you perform the final hooping, adjust the screw on the outer hoop to accommodate your fabric, stabilizer and the inner hoop. It's easier to do this first than to have to keep fidgeting with it after you have everything in place.
• You may want to consider using one of the many hooping devices available if you're doing a lot of embroidery. There are many different varieties and a wide range of prices, from which to choose.
• Always use the trace function on your embroidery machine, if available. Your embroidery machine traces around the parameter of your design, without the needles working, to make sure the design isn't too large for the hoop. Damage to the needles, hoop or machine is possible if the needles hit the hoop during the embroidery process.

Resources

• More information on hooping devices at Impressions.