How to Use an Embroidery Hoop

Are you a complete beginner to embroidery? The very first question you may have is how to put the fabric in the hoop. Or you may have figured this out already but cannot seem to get your work to stay in the hoop or have loose stitching...

This post is aimed for absolute beginners with no previous embroidery experience or knowledge. That being said I do cover a couple of tips that will be really helpful for those who have tried a little bit of embroidery and not had much success with their fabric and hoop. Here you will find easy step by step instructions on how to use an embroidery hoop and how to secure your fabric, the proper way!

  • wooden embroidery hoop with two hoops and screw at the top for holding fabric for hand sewing.

    So what exactly is an embroidery hoop and how does it work?

    The hoop consists of two rings; a small plain ring and a larger ring with a screw attached at the top. A piece of fabric sits between the two rings and the larger ring is adjusted in size using the screw to tighten both the outer ring and the fabric. which sits inside of a larger ring which is secured at the top.

    Why does it matter how I put my fabric in the hoop?

    The correct tension in your fabric is often overlooked but key to successful stitches and an enjoyable stitching experience. Give it a try with a loose hoop and you will soon see what happens....did your fabric just pop out of the hoop when you stitched? Did your stitches end up looking loose and wobbly? Read on for the correct way to ensure your fabric is the correct tension.

How to load your fabric into your embroidery hoop

  • wooden embroidery hoop with two hoops and screw at the top for holding fabric for hand sewing.

    1. Unscrew the pin at the top of the hoop and take the inner hoop out of the outer hoop.

  • placing fabric in embroidery hoop for hand sewing projects

    2. Place fabric over the smaller inner hoop, your fabric should be about an inch bigger than your hoop, ensure the fabric is central.

  • ensuring fabric is tight in embroidery hoop

    3. Place the larger hoop with the screw on it over the top of both the small inner hoop and fabric, push it down. Turn the screw to tighten it securely.

WAIT….THERE IS MORE…to avoid the common mistake if not pulling your fabric taut enough, you need to keep tightening until your fabric makes a tinny, drum like sound when you tap it and there should be no give in the fabric, if there is…its not tight enough! Read on for how...

  • pulling fabric to gain correct tension for needle craft projects.

    5. Gently pull your fabric at the edges around the whole hoop not just on one or two sides as this can lead to wonky fabric tension. Turn the hoop over and repeat, pulling from the other direction can sometimes be easier, do this several times tightening the screw each time you go round the ring. If your fabric is still not tight enough you can use a small screwdriver and tighten the screw further and then pull the fabric all around the hoop again. This is the point where you might be grunting and a bit puffed out...that's supposed to happen!

Click here if you prefer to see the video tutorial on how to place fabric in an embroidery hoop

Now you are ready to transfer your design onto your fabric and get stitching!