I try to get my hoops tight but then I get the burns. Is there anyway to get rid of them? Also I'm working on some very thin 100% polyester and am getting puckering help I have tried more backing and the tensions guess my tensions aren't correct any ideas
Thanks
Kristy

I recently quit hooping altogether. I hate what it does to my fabric. Instead, I hoop sticky-back, then apply the material to the hoop that way. You can also get those fast hoops that allow you to just apply the sticky-back to one side, then the fabric to the other. This technique was a little scary at first, but it (so far) holds tight and I've had no problems.

I love sticky-back. I use Floriani and I go through a lot of it. Not only do I use it to apply fabrics to the hoop, I like to use it directly on delicate and stretchy fabrics first to help stabilize them before I even begin to float additional layers of stabilizer, or apply the fabric to the hoop. I feel like it helps me keep stretchy fabrics from changing shape during stabilizing, marking and hooping, and helps prevent puckering caused by fabric sliding under the needles. Of course, if your tension is off that is still a factor, but I think the sticky-back makes the fabric a little more forgiving if applied carefully. In fact, I use it when I sew on my regular sewing machine when working with stretchy and delicate fabrics. It helps to prevent gathering in the seams as they go under the needle.


Vickie