Embroidery Hoops And Machines: Essential Tips for Beginners

Embroidery is often seen on your garment, hats or pants. I believe that everyone should have some clothes with embroidery patterns. We know that in addition to printing, most of these exquisite patterns are embroidered by machine. Speaking of machine embroidery, we must talk about embroidery hoops and frames, which are indispensable parts of making finished embroidery. Every embroidery machine will be equipped with suitable embroidery frames. In this time, I want to let you know more about embroidery hoops technique and embroidery machines.

1: What is the use of hoops and frames in embroidery?

When you have an embroidery project, you can make your embroidery hoop freely, enjoying your textile art journey. But you need to know that each hoop has its own maximum embroidery area. If it exceeds this value, you will not be able to complete your embroidery work. As long as your pattern fits with the maximum value, you can be free to embroider. Embroidery hoops and frames provide the essential support needed to keep your fabric secure, ensuring precise and clean stitching throughout the entire project. In needlework, you can focus on your craft and creative designs without the distraction of sagging or shifting fabric.Besides, it also minimizes the time you spend managing the fabric and makes your sewing experience better. In addition to embroidery, hoops and frames are good for quilting. A hoop holder can be employed to secure the frame in place, allowing embroiderers to work with both hands freely. Through the use of a ring around the fabric, you can have a supportive structure. This supportive structure can aid in maintaining tension on the fabric, and you can work with various types of cloth without shifting materials. Without the tool, you would be faced with many more challenges. Likewise, you need to spend more time in dealing with your complex patterns in another way and you could have a trouble to stabilize your fabric. Therefore, you should buy the right and suitable embroidery hoop and frame.

2: What are the sizes of embroidery frames?

The sizes of round embroidery hoops commonly purchased on the market are 5, 6, 7, 9.5, and 11.8 inches, while square embroidery hoops are 4x4, 5.1x5.1, 5x7, 6x10, 9.5x9.5, and 10.5x12.4 inches. You should know that it is impossible to install embroidery hoops with all sizes on every embroidery machine. Some embroidery machines can only be installed with one size of embroidery hoop. Therefore, when purchasing embroidery frames, you need pay special attention to whether the embroidery machine and embroidery frame are matched together, and read the product details page carefully. Embroidery hoops on the market can generally be divided into small, medium and large sizes: 

(Figure 1: 3.9x3.9 inches)

Small embroidery hoops are usually 3 to 5 inches wide and are suitable for beginners or those with small hands. This embroidery hoop is lightweight and to operate easily, which is perfect for embroidery newbie. With this kind of embroidery hoop, you can customize baby clothes with cute patterns and deal with delicate fabrics such as silk or lace. 

(Figure 2: 6.5x6.5 inches)

Medium embroidery hoops are usually 6 to 8 inches wide. Basically, most people would choose the medium hoops for their embroidery projects. For instance, if you want to make designs on your garment, you can choose that hoop. If you could not complete your embroidery task with the medium hoops, you can choose an embroidery frame of 9 inches or larger.

(Figure 3: 10.5x12.4 inches)

Here are standard sizes of magnetic hoops at Sewtalent for your reference.

Notes: Embroidery hoops are displayed in size and millimeters. When buying an embroidery frame, you must focus on its product information to check if it is suitable for your embroidery machine. For example, if this pattern design requires an embroidery frame with 6x8 inches, but your embroidery machine couldn’t install this hoop, in that case how should you do? Of course, if you have larger hoop,you can also make your embroidery project, but if not, you need to adjust your design. That makes yourself more troubles. Therefore, be more careful to choose the embroidery hoop. The hoop size doesn’t equal to the actual embroidery area. The actual embroidery area is smaller than the embroidery hoop size, smaller 1 inch. For instance, if your embroidery hoop size is 6.75 inches, then your maximum embroidery area is 5.75 inches. Detailed as shown in the below picture.

2.1 What is a small embroidery hoop?

Generally speaking, the sizes of embroidery hoops we see on the market usually start from 3 inches in diameter and go up, while small or mini embroidery hoops usually refer to these embroidery frames below 3 inches.

For example, here is a small embroidery frame product of Bernina. Based on the product specification, 2x2.8 inches is your maximum embroidery area. This product is very suitable for free-arm embroidery.

The other type of small embroidery hoop is for display or can be your accessory, such as brooches or necklace pendants, as shown in the above picture.

3: Do you take embroidery out of hoop?

Yes, you do. Your embroidery hoop should be taken out between the stitching times. Removing the embroidery hoop makes your fabrics not be stretched out, and prevents any potential damage to the stitching that has been completed in previous areas of your embroidery project. Because if the fabric is under tension for too long, it will lose its original shape and then your embroidery will be affected overall. Removing the embroidery hoop allows the fabric to relax and return to its natural state, which makes your embroidery within your expectation.

4: Does all embroidery need backing?

Yes, all machine embroidery need backing. The use of backing is a must for all embroidery machines. For that, you can get beautiful, and professional results with your embroidery, and protect the design on your garment or fabric from damage.

4.1 Why should you need embroidery backing?

Backing is a piece of material that is hooped and embroidered together with the embroidery fabric. In reality, we also call embroidery backing as stabilizer. When you are embroidering, you can get a lot of benefits by using the embroidery backing. For example, backing can prevent fabric from stretching, curling, or wrinkling; the backing can make embroidery patterns become clearer and keep the design shape unchangeable. That are crucial for making complex designs. If you don’t use the backing, your fabric maybe shift or wrinkle. What’s worst, your design would be damaged and your fabric is useless. When you use the high quality backing, the stitching work of your machine will be much better, and then you can get a wonderful embroidery. Here is a suggestion for you. When your fabric is heavy, you had better choose a light backing.  And if your fabric is light, but you need to select a heavy backing.

5: Do embroidery machines sew as well?

 Yes, you can sew something on your fabrics on most home embroidery machines. However, it can’t get the same result when you wan to use the industrial embroidery machines. In detail, you can take most high-end home embroidery machines as good sewing machines. When you want to sew or embroider your design, you can select the home embroidery machine. With that embroidery machine, you can sew clothes, embroider on clothes, and design your own patterns to make yourself unique. However, the specific features of each embroidery machine are different, so it is best to look through its user instruction or consult it customer service before sewing with the machine. However, for industrial embroidery machines, you can’t use them to sew even if they have more features than home embroidery machines.

Conclusion

In this time, we have introduced how useful embroidery hoops are. And you might know about the differences between the hooping size and actual embroidery area. After you know that, you can choose your hoop based on the method I have introduced. After that, you can know some basic knowledge of embroidery machines. When you are embroidering, we advise that you should always use the backing, and you need to remove your embroidery hoop during the stitching times. What’s more, you should know that you could not use the industrial embroidery machines as the sewing machines, but most home embroidery machines could. It would be great if the paper could help you. If you would like to buy an embroidery hoop or get more information about it, you can click www.magnetichoop.com. If you have any questions or other things, you can leave a message.