By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Carrie_Gibson]

Correct embroidery machine hooping is one of the most important elements of good machine embroidery. The fabric should be taut in the hoop but should not be stretched or distorted. If you pull the fabric too tightly, it will pucker around the design once the fabric is released from the hoop.

Basic Embroidery Machine Hooping Steps

Open the outer hoop (usually by loosening a screw on the rim) and place it on a flat surface such as a table or counter.

Place a single layer of fabric (with stabilizer if needed) over it. If hoping a ready-made garment be sure that other portions of the garment are out of the way.

Position the inner hoop over the fabric and push it down into the outer hoop. Smooth the fabric and pull it taught without stretching or distorting it. Tighten the screw of the hoop.

Use the plastic template provided with most machine embroidery hoops to make sure the fabric is hooped on-grain and the placement is as desired. (Embroidering on-grain is very important for your design piece. Otherwise the finished piece will not lay correctly.)

Embroidery Machine Tips For Best Results

It's also important to remember to make sure your fabric or garment is washed before embroidering as well as ironed. If you neglect to prewash your fabric you may find that when your finished project is washed the color bleeds ruining your design or that the fabric shrinks which will ruin your design by puckering the fabric the design is on.

Ironing your fabric after prewashing it is recommended so your fabric is truly taught while embroidering. This will ensure the best finished piece possible.

Also always be sure and use the right weight of stabilizing fabric for your designs. Many fabrics will simply fall apart or pull and pucker horribly if you embroidery on them without a fabric stabilizer. It gives your piece the necessary strength and body to hold the many stitches machine embroidery requires.

Small projects can be stitched mostly or entirely in the hoop, allowing the embroidery machine to construct as well as embellish. Card cases, pocket purses, paper dolls, and cosmetic bags are examples of projects that can be made. Some of these are digitized to stitch completely in the hoop and once the stabilizer (usually water soluble) is removed, the project is finished. Others are created in pieces and once the parts are embroidered, they are removed from the hoop and construction is completed using the sewing machine.