Hooping Techniques; Frame Basics - Brother 882-T51 Operation Manual

Hooping techniques

"Use the right tool for the right job" is a statement
many of us have heard throughout the years. This
statement holds true even in the embroidery
industry. The wrong size or type of embroidery
frame may result in poor pattern alignment during
sewing or damage the product altogether. You can
take a perfectly created design and ruin the final
results by simply not using the correct frame size,
type or technique designed for its application.

■ Frame Basics

Tubular frames: This type of frame allows tubular
fabric or pre-assembled garments to be placed
around the hook assembly. It allows embroidering of
the front of a garment without stitching through the
back of it. Remember to rotate your embroidery
pattern when you have hooped a T-shirt from the
bottom up so that it can be placed around the hook
area.
Cap frames: These are specialized embroidery
frames (hoops) designed to hold caps for
embroidering. They are available in a variety of
styles for various machines, with two basic styles:
one that allows sewing a flattened cap (for use on a
flat machine) or one that allows sewing the cap in its
natural curved shape (for use on a tubular machine).
Hooping fabric: The framed fabric and backing
should be perfectly flat and free of wrinkles or
bubbles. If there are bubbles or wrinkles that must
be removed, be sure that you pull on the fabric and
backing together. Pull no more than is necessary to
make the fabric flat and smooth. Overstretching the
fabric during this process may cause puckers around
the finished design when the frame is removed.
Gaps may also be generated between design parts.
Inner/outer frame positioning: There should be a
slight ridge (3 mm (1/8 inch)) of fabric and backing
below the outer frame on the back side. Tighten the
screw only if the inner frame feels loose. Avoid
overtightening the screw as this will cause puckers
in the fabric and may "strip" the screw.
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