Multi-hooping concepts

The software allows you to specify multiple hoopings manually or automatically. Manual hooping is generally better than automatic, except for simple designs. However, it does require greater understanding of both design and production processes.

 

When a large design requires multiple hoopings, it is important to establish the stitching order so that objects in the foreground are sewn after those in the background. This is normal practice for any design. See also Sequence objects.

Creating multi-hoopings

The goal of multi-hooping is to:

  • Accommodate a design within a minimum number of hoopings.
  • Maximize overlaps between successive hoopings.
  • Hoop the design within the maximum registration mark margin.
  • Set splitting lines, in overlapping areas, where an object cannot be accommodated within a single hooping.

‘Hooping’ is not the same thing as ‘hoop position’ – you can have more hoopings than hoop positions but you can never have less. In other words, a single hoop position may involve more than one hooping in order to preserve the design sequence.

Multi-hooping rules

When the software calculates multiple hoopings, it attempts to include whole objects within sequential hoopings. Where one object overlaps another, the overlapped object must be stitched before the overlapping object. Thus:

  • Hoopings should be placed as near as possible to the order of the actual design object sequence.
  • Each successive hooping overlaps a previously stitched hooping.

For any design that requires multi-hooping, use the largest hoop available for the specific machine model.

Multi-hooping characteristics

Multi-hooping includes the following characteristics:

  • Designs are automatically split on objects. This provides better stitching results.
  • Registration marks are created.
    • No need to manually digitize marks.
    • Automatically recalculated if hoop positions change.
    • Automatic registration marks are not a permanent part of the design.
  • Objects that are too large for any individual hoop can be manually split. Splitting is done without additional needle penetrations, thus maintaining object appearance.
  • Underlay is automatically recalculated for split objects in order to provide better stabilization.
  • Designs can be saved with all hoops as a single ‘master’ multi-hooping design.
  • Registration marks can be turned off if you want to digitize your own.

Calculation time

The time to calculate design hoopings depends more on the number of objects and hoop positions than stitch count. Designs converted from machine files will generally result in a larger number of objects than a native design. Hence, these designs will take longer to calculate. However, even with pure EMB files, if the design is complex, large, and contains many hoop positions, calculation can take time.