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Hoopless embroidery for difficult items and materials

Silk, velvet, leather, suede and corduroy are just some material that shouldn’t be hooped –the pressure of the hoop causes a hoop ‘burn’ that cannot be removed so these materials are embroidered using the hoopless embroidery technique. This means that only the stabilizer is hooped and the material is stuck to the stabilizer using double-sided tape or spray on adhesive.

 

How to use double-sided tape for hoopless embroidery:
  1. Select and hoop the correct stabilizer (type and weight) for the design.
  2. Remove the backing paper from one side of the tape and press it to the hooped stabilizer ensuring that it is not placed in an area that will be embroidered.
  3. Remove the remaining backing paper from the tape.
  4. Lay the fabric on the tape ensuring that the fabric is smooth and even then gently press the fabric to the tape to secure it. If you have the basting stitch function on your machine, use it to provide more stability.
  5. After completing the embroidery, gently lift the fabric and peel away the tape.

 

How to use spray on adhesive for hoopless embroidery:
  1. Select and hoop the correct stabilizer (type and weight) for the design.
  2. Spray the back of the fabric with the spray adhesive – outside and away from the machine. Some people prefer to spray the hooped stabilizer instead of the fabric but you must cover the hoop itself to prevent the adhesive from sticking to it.
  1. Lay the fabric on the stabilizer ensuring that the fabric is smooth and even and press the fabric to the stabilizer. If you have the basting stitch function on your machine, use it to provide more stability.

Use either of these two methods to embroider towels and items that can’t fit into a hoop, e.g. the edge of a napkin and collars.

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