Hooping/Centering Issues

[lotto64]

Maybe I was just lazy today, but I couldn't get my burp cloth hooped all nice and neat and centered. I didn't pay any attention, but oh boy when I stitched out my design, it was VERY obvious!!!

I still wrestle with placement, and I don't know how to tell my machine to "tweak" the hoop placement...when I do and I hit the "go" button, the hoop defaults back to wherever it was. Does anyone have any helpful tricks? I mark the fabric, but the bulk in the center of the diaper seems to shift my hoop off some. I'm all anal about I won't sell or give away anything that's not perfect.

[Material Girl]

My machine will baste around the design before it starts sewing. That helps me make sure it is in the correct position. Do you have that function on your machine? I'm a newbie at this so I am sure others will have better ideas.

[lotto64]

If it does, I'm not aware of it....I will have to finish printing out the (giant, 600 page) manual and see. Thanks for the idea!

[Granny313]

I don't always hoop things. I use an adhesive spray and match up my dots for the center, etc. with the hoop. After this I also use the basting stitch around the design area to hold it in place.

[Sew So Happy]

I don't hoop burp cloths anymore, either. It is too hard to get them centered that way. I hoop the stabilizer and then use a spray. I then lay it as centered as possible on the stabilizer. I use my edit screen and those clear plastic templates that came with my machines to line everything up. So far, so good. Not sure if that is the official way or not, but it works for me!:)

[Crafty Connie]

I'm so glad to hear others are having a problem hooping burps too. So I started using spray as well. It works, but what do you use to get rid of the spray residue left on the hoop? Is there a cleaner I have to buy or is there a home product I can use? The outline base stitch around the design helps a lot!

[kidzbizz]

I'm so glad to hear others are having a problem hooping burps too. So I started using spray as well. It works, but what do you use to get rid of the spray residue left on the hoop? Is there a cleaner I have to buy or is there a home product I can use? The outline base stitch around the design helps a lot!

I read on a yahoo group one lady said to use WIlliams Lecxtric Shave to clean them. But you have to make sure you wash them well as this has alcohol and can cause drying of the hoops. Another person said she wraps her's with Glad Press and Seal so when they get dirty and gunky just peel it off and rewrap them. Haven't tried either one as don't use a lot of spray adhisive.

Judie

[StitchinGrandma]

Anything I am embroidering I fold in half lengthwise and again width wise and lightly iron in each of those directions. That way where the two meet is the center and I've never had a problem making sure things are in the center.

Diapers are just too thick for me to hoop so I hoop the stabilizer and then make sure using the "lines" I've ironed on them are lined up with the marks on my hoops in both directions and pin the diaper in place. After that I put on my machine and use the basting feature mine has to hold the diaper down onto the stabilizer.

I don't know what machine you have but if it's a Viking then you have the basting feature. If not, I know there are some places you can find basting files and download them but am not sure where those are right now. You could try doing a search for machine embroidery basting file and see if something comes up that way.

[kidzbizz]

Anything I am embroidering I fold in half lengthwise and again width wise and lightly iron in each of those directions. That way where the two meet is the center and I've never had a problem making sure things are in the center.

Diapers are just too thick for me to hoop so I hoop the stabilizer and then make sure using the "lines" I've ironed on them are lined up with the marks on my hoops in both directions and pin the diaper in place. After that I put on my machine and use the basting feature mine has to hold the diaper down onto the stabilizer.
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I do the same thing, but I have one of those marking pens that I mark the center with. It has a water eraser on one end and the marker on the other. Don't know I managed with out these pens.

Judie

[Granny313]

Kidzbizz - I use a cotton ball dipped in alcohol and rub the gunk off my hoops. Then I just rinse them off with plain water and dry really good. I've never had a problem getting the stuff off - you just have to do it often and not let it build up.

I have a blue marking pen I use alot but mine doesn't have a water eraser at the other end - I'm jealous!!!

[twin mom]

I mark the center of my design with an air erasable pen...the mark is usually gone in less than 24 hours. My Bernina has a "center" button for me to check that I have then center correct, and it also has a check placement button that I use that traces the outside of my design, so I use that everytime, also. Another one of those tricks that I have learned the hard way.

Also, when I spray, I move to the sewing table, away from the machine and hoops. I then put a piece of scrap paper under what I am spraying so that any overspray just goes on the scrap paper, and not anywhere else. I use 505 spray, and have found that it does wash out with soap and water, and haven't had any problems with it.

[lotto64]

I mark the center of my design with an air erasable pen...the mark is usually gone in less than 24 hours. My Bernina has a "center" button for me to check that I have then center correct, and it also has a check placement button that I use that traces the outside of my design, so I use that everytime, also. Another one of those tricks that I have learned the hard way.

Also, when I spray, I move to the sewing table, away from the machine and hoops. I then put a piece of scrap paper under what I am spraying so that any overspray just goes on the scrap paper, and not anywhere else. I use 505 spray, and have found that it does wash out with soap and water, and haven't had any problems with it.

Just wondered, what model do you have? I'm not aware of a "center" button on mine (430E).

[twin mom]

I have a 170E (about eight years old already). I'm not familiar with the 430, but on mine, it's on the first screen where you can modify the design (enlarge, decrease, move up and down, etc.). Like I said, I learned the hard way, and now use those buttons every single time, as a habit. Not too long after I got my machine, I decided I would try out every single button so I could learn what it does. I got into my stash of scraps, and payed for about a half a day, and that has really helped me.

Good luck!

[lotto64]

That was smart! I took the classes, and we pretty much tried every foot and stitch out, but that was the sewing part, not embroidery. I can't seem to make the software classes, guess I need to get the book and just work thru it myself.

[ElaineR]

Twin Mom, I have a Bernina 180 that is also 8 years old. I bought it 5 years ago, used, still paid an arm and a leg for it. It sounds a lot like yours. It has the button to push that centers it, ect. I have just had to have it tuned up, it had gotten off kilter with the locationing, and I figured it would be something major and a tune up did the job. I still love it. I think the 430 may be the quilter Edition that also has that wonderful $1000.00 foot that does the automatic-freemotion quilting. It could be the 440 that does that but I think it is the 430. I pray my machine lasts a lot longer because I am so happy with it. You get to have so much money in supplies you wonder what you would do if your machine gave up the ghost! My husband is retired and the prices of a new machine, at this point, would it be worth it for me>? so I don't want anything to happen to my machine!!!
Elaine

[lotto64]

No, it's the 440 that has the $1000 foot that if I had it, I'd have to list it on my homeowners!! That is the ONLY difference I saw between the 2 machines, and I decided I could buy lots of thread, designs, and stabilizer for $1000. I am very happy with my machine, but if Santa dropped the new 830 under my tree (it only costs about $10,000-12,000) I would not mind!! I know some lucky lady will get one for Christmas. Can you imagine!!!

The Berninas and the other swiss made ones tend to last a good 20 years or so if you maintain them. I baby mine.

[cand]

Good Morning everyone. I am enjoying reading that I am not the only one with hooping issues. Hooping is my least favorite part of embroidery. I read, on another site, that issues with spray adhesive and rotary cutters, they used Wd-40 on a cotton ball to clean the cutter blades. Could that be used for hoops also?!
I have tried, not entirely successfully, a fabric quilters glue stick. I think it works ok, but it is a bit gloppy. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with those and if there are larger size glue sticks that wouold work. The one I have is about the size of a large chapstick and was pricey. Thanks

[ElaineR]

No! I can't imagine someone paying $12,000. for a machine unless they were going to use it to make a living! We saw one about 6 weeks ago, when we (husband and I) took my machine in to the dealer for a tune up. My husband could NOT believe the price!!!
And about the adhesive: I think most of us here use something like the 505 adhesive that is for machine embroidery. I sure don't know about using quilters glue sticks. I have used the sticks for appliqueing, but not for much else.
Elaine

[ElaineR]

Debbie, I use and love the blue water soluble marking pen, didn't know they made one with the water eraser on one end! I haven't shopped for much except needles, thread and stabilizer for a while! I will try the alcohol!
Elaine

[StitchinGrandma]

I would be cautious over the alcohol because it's been warned that using that will dry and eventually cause your hoops to warp and crack. If you wanna know the best and cheapest thing to use for the gunk on your hoops? Use a Mr Clean Magic Eraser! Those are awesome things. We buy them from Sams in a huge box we use them so often in our house for everything.

If that doesn't work, which I very much doubt. Use vinegar and water. If that mixture can remove hard water stains, surely it will remove gunk from glue. ;)

[Granny313]

Debbie, I use and love the blue water soluble marking pen, didn't know they made one with the water eraser on one end! I haven't shopped for much except needles, thread and stabilizer for a while! I will try the alcohol!
Elaine

Elaine - I don't soak my hoops in alcohol (some people do) I just put some on a cotton ball (like I would finger nail polish remover) and use it that way. I don't soak it either. My dealer told me this and it has work for me without any problems. But, I don't know if you want to take any chances because of what Vicki said. But so far, mine has done the job.

[chrissyw]

Where is the cheapest you all have found the 505 adhesive????


No! I can't imagine someone paying $12,000. for a machine unless they were going to use it to make a living! We saw one about 6 weeks ago, when we (husband and I) took my machine in to the dealer for a tune up. My husband could NOT believe the price!!!
And about the adhesive: I think most of us here use something like the 505 adhesive that is for machine embroidery. I sure don't know about using quilters glue sticks. I have used the sticks for appliqueing, but not for much else.
Elaine

[lizanne]

I'm know this is an old thread and if someone has already suggested this and I've missed it please excuse.

I cut a piece of old shirt box lid (celluloid) to act as a frame it is several inches larger all around than my hoop, with a hole cut in the middle that is smaller than the hoop. I just hold it for the second or two that I'm spraying. You could do the same with stiff cardboard I guess, but the shirt box is free and I can replace it every so often when it gets too gunky.