Create multi-hoop designs

The software provides a multi-hooping function which allows you to create multiple hoop positions. This means you can stitch out embroidery designs that are larger than can be accommodated within a single hoop. The aim is to add hoops and move them around until you get the least number of hoopings necessary to accommodate the entire design. These are then stitched out consecutively.

Select a hoop

First choose the hoop you want to use. Click the Select Hoop icon to access settings and choose a hoop. Since a given stitchout can use only one size of hoop, you need to choose a hoop that will cover the largest object in the design.

Create automatic hoopings

The easiest way to work out hoop positions is with the Automatically Add Hoops tool. Bear in mind that this method uses a purely rule-based software algorithm. It works best with simple designs.

• It's always a good idea to reduce the number of potential color changes in a design before creating automatic hoopings. You can activate color optimization via the Embroidery Settings > Multi-Hooping tab. See also Output multi-hooped designs.
• Use the Automatically Add Hoops tool to automatically generate hoop positions. These are calculated according to the object sequence.
  

• Use the Preview Hoopings tool to preview hoop positions in the Hooping Sequence docker. Click and hold to isolate the hooping in the design workspace.

  

• The software always attempts to include whole objects within sequential hoopings. Where this is not possible, it will split objects between hoopings. Although split lines are only visible in Multi-Hooping, they are maintained when switching to other modes. They do not affect object integrity. See also Split objects between hoopings.
• The same hoop position may be repeated, depending on the object sequence. Moving a hoop slightly to cover an excluded object may reduce repeat hoopings. Alternatively, try adjusting the stitching sequence.
• Each hoop position contains objects that can be stitched out in a single hooping. These are stitched consecutively to form the whole design.
• You are now ready to save the design to one or more files or send it to machine. See also Output multi-hooped designs.
• Optionally, print a copy of the design showing the hoop positions to help you stitch it in the correct hooping order. See Print multi-hooped designs.

Create manual hoopings

When you enter multi-hooping mode, covered objects – those that fit wholly within a hoop – display as green stitches. Uncovered objects – those that do not fit – display as black stitches. If you are planning to add hoops manually, select a hoop outline, and drag it till it covers the largest object in the design. Click to access rotation handles, and rotate into position as necessary.

Add more hoop positions

Use the Add Hoop tools to add more hoop positions. As soon as a hoop is moved or joined by others, automatic centering is deactivated, meaning that the hoop no longer centers itself automatically around objects in the design.

Adjust hoop positions

Re-position additional hoops and, if necessary, rotate them so that they completely cover all objects in the design. Nudge selected hoops into position using the arrow keys. Use the Rotate Hoop buttons on the Context toolbar to rotate hoops in 15° increments or by a specified amount. Alternatively, click twice to activate rotation handles and drag to rotate. Use the Delete Hoop button to remove any unwanted hoopings.

Calculate hoopings

Finally, click the Calculate Hoopings icon to evaluate the hoopings that will result from the current hoop layout. Bear in mind that a calculated 'hooping' is not necessarily the same as a 'hoop position'.

The software always preserves the original stitching sequence. However, hoop placements which follow the object sequence will reduce the number of calculated hoopings. The time taken to calculate hoopings depends more on number of objects and hoop positions than actual stitch count. Designs converted from EXP, PES, HUS, etc, will in general result in a larger number of objects than a native embroidery designs. 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.

The file is split into at least as many files as there are hoopings, depending on whether you have split some objects between hoopings. You are now ready to save the design to one or more files or send it to machine. See also Output multi-hooped designs.