So many of the things we like to embroider are best "hooped" without actually hooping... towels, sweatshirts, velvets or other fabrics with nap, quilts where hoop marks may show. There are several options for doing this.

One method to get these set to embroider is to use either a self adhesive sticky stabilizer such as Floriani Perfect Stick or Wet n Gone - find either of these in any Moore's location in a variety of sizes.

But many prefer to hoop the stabilizer and use a spray adhesive to stick things down. For this we recommend using a good tearaway or cutaway.

Floriani Tearaway or Cutaway are also available in a variety of sizes and colors to fit all your needs!  (Please come in to any of our locations for a free stabilizer consult!) Then use a spray adhesive such as 505 or KK2000 to affix the item to the stabilizer.  (For best stitching results, use a basting stitch a little larger than your design to tack your project to the stabilizer. Some machines have a built in basting functions and some have built in frame designs that can work as a basting function.)

Spray adhesive is a great tool, something always good to keep on hand as it has more uses than just hooping (it's an excellent quilt baster!). But it can leave a sticky residue on your hoops, allowing dust or dirt to stick to them, eventually looking and feeling pretty grimey. Cleaning can be time consuming and troublesome.  Here's our really quick, simple solution -- fast to make, it doesn't have to be perfect, but it will keep your hoops in perfect shape!

We used regular craft felt to create these "hoop guards".  Start with a piece of felt larger than your hoop. Lay it on top of your hoop. Use a marking pen that works on felt and draw a line on the felt a bit inside the hoop - about 1/2" inside the inner hoop.  Cut out that inner portion to create a felt "frame".  Once you've hooped your stabilizer, lay your hoop on a flat surface, lay the felt frame on top, and spray the adhesive aiming straight down onto the stabilizer.  Lift your felt frame and - your hoop's nice and clean!

Now go stitch something... then bring it in to show off! We'd love to see what you make!

April 06, 2016 by Daniel Galyean