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Multi-hooping guidelines

When the software calculates multiple hoopings, it attempts to split whole objects between sequential hoopings. Where one object overlaps another, the overlapped object must be stitched first.


The following guidelines apply when manually placing hoops. The 'Automatically Add Hoops' command optimizes hoop placement according to the current object sequence. It also attempts to optimize colors in each hooping. See also Create multi-hoop designs.


Use Multi-Hooping > Add Hoop to add a new hoop to a multi-hooping layout.

Hoop positions

Of course it is always important to establish the stitching order so that objects in the foreground are sewn after those in the background. When a large design requires multi-hooping, the software allows you to set up the position of each hoop. Multiple hoop positions are color-coded as follows, according to the order in which they are placed:

HoopColor
1Dark Green
2Blue
3Red
4Brown
5Orange
6Purple
7Teal
8Aqua

In the unlikely event that you use more than eight hoopings, the color sequence is repeated, as long as none of the previously created hoop positions is deleted.

Hint

A 'hooping’ is not the same 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 stitching sequence and overlaps.

General rules

Ensure that...

  • Each successive hoop position overlaps a previously stitched hoop position.
  • Hoops are placed as near as possible to the order of the actual design object sequence. This will assist in minimizing the number of eventual hoopings.

Use Edit Objects > Sequence >> to open the Sequence docker. Click again to close. Also available via Windows > Dockers menu.

Check design sequence

Knowing the design object sequence helps you place hoops in the best possible order. A good technique is to use the Sequence tool. As you select objects or color blocks from the list, they are highlighted in the design. This will help you understand the order in which objects are sewn, and hence the order in which they should be hooped.

The Sequence docker cannot be used in Multi-Hooping mode, only in normal view. Thus, study the stitching sequence carefully before you attempt to multi-hoop the design.

Use View > Stitch Player to simulate embroidery design stitchout onscreen in either stitch or TrueView.

Another useful tool is Stitch Player. When you run Stitch Player, you are checking to see if the start and end point of a particular object may have a bearing on the number of hoopings. For example, if you split a large object but the first half is in the second hoop, this may result in an additional hooping. With Stitch Player, you are aiming to make sure that any split objects are split between adjacent hoops (both in terms of position and hoop placement sequence) and that the object starts stitching in the earlier hoop.


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Adjust design sequence

While correct hoop placements reduce the number of calculated hoopings, sometimes the design object sequence may not be ideal for multi-hooping. You may find that the only way to reduce the number of hoopings is to re-sequence the design itself. As a general guideline, bear in mind the following...

  • Stock designs which have been created for a single hoop are generally sequenced by color in order to reduce the number of color changes. This is important for single needle machines.
  • Enlarging a stock design to the point where it requires multiple hoopings may require the design sequence to be changed in order to reduce the number of hoopings.
  • Since a given stitchout can use only one size of hoop, choose a hoop that will cover the largest object in the design.
  • Always try to place hoops as near as possible to the order of the actual design object sequence.