Output multi-hooped designs

When working with designs that are larger than the available physical hoop, the software will split them into parts, each containing an object or group of objects. When a multi-hooped design is output, each part is stitched separately after the fabric has been re-hooped. When saving to stitch file or sending to machine, multi-hoopings and split lines are applied. Hooping Sequence mode is activated, showing the separate hoopings.


Hoopings vs output files

It is important to realize the numbers of hoopings in a multi-hooped design do not necessarily correspond to the number of output files. It all depends on the layering of objects within the design. In order to preserve the digitized stitching sequence, the same hooping may need to be visited more than once. Take the simple scenario illustrated here. Here we have one design with three objects and two hoopings. Object #1 gets stitched first. But then a change of hooping is required to stitch Object #2. To stitch Object #3, we need to return to our first hooping. That’s how we come to have more output files than we have hoopings.

Click View > Show Hoop to show or hide hoop. Right-click for settings.

Add registration marks

In order to help you correctly align multiple hoopings during stitchout, the software can stitch out registration marks for each hooping. These do not form part of the design and are not saved with the design file. However, they are added during output and are viewable in the production worksheet hooping sequence.

  • To set registration marks, right-click the Show Hoop icon and choose the Multi-Hooping tab.
  • Choose 'Add registration marks' and set a margin. The larger the margin, the greater the distance between the registration mark and the maximum embroidery area of the hoop. This makes it easier to align but there may be some trade-off in the precision of your registration.
  • To check that registration marks have been added, activate the hooping list in Print Preview. See also Print multi-hooped designs.

Correct alignment of multi-hooped designs requires some practice. Third-party training programs are available on the internet which demonstrate correct technique. Most recommend using a sticky-back tear-away stabilizer, heavy enough so that the registration marks do not tear the stabilizer. Use pins through the registration marks of one hooping to align the corresponding marks of the next hooping

Use Output Design > Save Design As to save the current design with a different name, location or format.

Save multi-hooped design as a design file

To save a multi-hooped design as a design file, simply click the Save Design As icon. A standard MS Windows® Save As dialog appears allowing you to browse to any folder. You will be prompted to save the design as a single EMB file or separate files for each hooping. Generally, you will only need a single design file. All hoopings are preserved in the one file.


Use Output Design > Export Design to convert current design to a format other than your selected machine.

Save multi-hooped design as machine files

When you want to output multi-hooped designs as machine files, you have a choice of using the Export Design function or writing designs to machine card or USB. In either case, you are prompted to split the design into separate files for each hooping. To save a multi-hooped design...

  1. Create or open your multi-hooped design. See also Creating multi-hoop designs.
  2. Click the Export Design icon. A standard MS Windows® dialog appears allowing you to browse to any folder.
    Alternatively, use the Write to Card/USB command to output files to memory card.
  3. Change the file name as required, and choose a destination folder and/or file format.
    The system checks that all embroidery objects are covered. You will be warned if they are not.

    Otherwise, all hoopings needed to stitch the design are calculated and displayed in the Hooping Sequence dialog. Hoopings are named as files with the chosen file extension. Any split lines which may have been applied are calculated on output and objects split between their respective hoopings.
  4. Select a hooping and click Save Selected Now.
    Alternatively, click Save All Now to save all files in the list, named as indicated in the Hooping Sequence panel. The software outputs the hoopings to their individual files.
  5. Click Close to return to the normal design window.