Since lately we’ve been talking a lot about needle painting projects, today I thought to share with you a quick tutorial on how to bind an embroidery hoop. While binding an embroidery hoop may not always be essential, particularly for simpler projects, it can significantly improve your experience when tackling more complex embroideries.
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Why and When to Bind an Embroidery Hoop?
Binding an embroidery hoop is the process of wrapping either the inner ring or both the inner and outer rings of the hoop with material, in order to protect the fabric from damage and achieve a better grip and a drum tight fabric tension.
It may not always seem necessary, particularly for simpler projects, and some of you may consider it a waste of time. I thought the same initially, and I cannot tell you how much I regretted not taking an extra 30 minutes to bind my hoop.
When embroidering more intricate projects, such as needle painting or other techniques requiring extended periods of stitching, the hoop WILL damage your fabric. Regardless of the type of hoop used, it tends to leave stubborn marks that are challenging to remove.
Investing a few days into a project only to end up with a nasty hoop mark difficult to remove is disheartening. Lesson learned for me!
Here is when you should bind an embroidery hoop and the benefits of doing so:
- When embroidering on delicate or slippery fabrics, like silk. Binding the hoop in this case will protect your fabric from damage and provide a good grip to keep the fabric tight in the hoop.
- When working on complex projects that require long stitching hours. The longer your fabric sits in the hoop it’s more likely to be damaged and end up with a nasty, hard to remove hoop mark.
- When you plan to mount and frame your finished embroidery and aiming for a perfect finish.
- When using wooden hoops with rough edges with delicate fabrics. Regardless of the complexity of the project, binding the hoop in this case will protect your fabric from damage.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
Let’s have a look at the tools and materials you’ll need for binding your hoops.
MATERIALS NEEDED TO BIND EMBROIDERY HOOPS
- Embroidery hoop – wooden or plastic super grip hoop
- Wrapping material – cotton twill tape, bias tape or light weight cotton fabric strips
- Needle and thread
- Double sided tape (optional)
- PVA glue (optional)
- Scissors
I listed a few optional materials which you might need when starting and finishing the binding. Depending on what you have readily available, you can use either double-sided tape or PVA glue to secure the wrapping material at the start and end of the binding.
How to Bind Your Embroidery Hoop
Binding an embroidery hoop is a straightforward process that typically only needs to be done once or twice. I’ve already bound a wooden hoop and a Susan Bates super grip hoop some time ago, which I use for more complex projects.
Here are the steps for binding an embroidery hoop:
- Step 1: Prepare the wrapping material
- Step 2: Wrap the embroidery hoop
- Step 3: Secure the end and mount the fabric
Step 1: Choose the wrapping material
When it comes to wrapping materials there are a few options you can use. They all work pretty much the same and you can easily find them in any craft store or order them online.
Here are some materials you can use for wrapping embroidery hoops:
- Cotton Twill Tape: Binding your hoop using twill tape is one of the easiest options as it wraps smoothly around curves. It comes in different widths and thicknesses and works great for wooden hoops. However, it may not be suitable for super-grip hoops as it’s a bit more rigid and thick.
- Bias Tape: Another excellent option for binding is bias tape, which is thinner than most twill tape and comes pre-cut on a bias or diagonal angle.
- Cotton Fabric Strips: Cut the cotton fabric into 2-4cm wide strips and try use 100% cotton fabric as it gives you the best grip. If you’re using super-grip hoops make sure to use a light-weight cotton fabric.
I typically cut my own cotton fabric strips and I try to use 100% cotton for the best grip. For hoops ranging from 6 to 8 inches in diameter, I cut the strips to be 2-4cm wide, while for smaller hoops, I go for 1.5cm wide strips.
TIP
If binding a super-grip hoop use light-weight 100% cotton fabric strips. Thicker wrapping materials won’t work well, as they can make mounting the fabric into the hoop nearly impossible. If using a wooden hoop any of the other materials work just fine.
Step 2: Wrap the embroidery hoop
As I’m preparing to start a new needlepaiting project, I will show you my process of binding the inner ring of a Susan Bates super-grip hoop.
And yes, plastic super-grip hoops can be bound just as easily as wooden hoops, despite having a lip! In fact, I recommend binding them, particularly since they’re often used for intricate needle painting projects where the super-grip feature can be rough on the fabric.
Separate the two hoop rings, we’ll focus on the inner ring. If using Susan Bates super grip hoops just be mindful of the “Side up” mark of the inner hoop. Once wrapped you won’t be able to tell the correct side.
Place the end of the fabric strip or tape on the inside edge of the inner ring. You can eighter hold it in place as you start wrapping or apply a bit of double sided tape for extra security. If using a wooden hoop, instead of double sided tape you can also use a small drop of PVA glue to hold it in place.
Start wrapping the fabric strip around the hoop at a slight angle. If you need to use another strip, secure the wrapped end in place, then start wrapping the next piece, making sure it overlaps and secures the end of the previous strip.
As you wrap, make sure that the fabric strips remain taut and free from any twisting.
Step 3: Secure the end and mount the fabric
When reaching the end, you can either secure it with a few stitches or apply a small drop of PVA glue. If using PVA glue, just give it a bit of time to settle before mounting the fabric into the hoop.
With the inner hoop bound, you’re now ready to mount the fabric. You may need to slightly loosen the screw, as the inner hoop becomes larger with the binding in place. That’s why, if using super grip hoops, it’s crucial to use a light-weight cotton fabric for the binding, as the screws on them are not too long.
Mount the fabric into the hoop as you would normally do and you’re ready to start stitching.
For needle painting projects or more complicated patterns that require longer stitching hours, I always make a hoop cover too. This helps prevent leaving any stains on the fabric while handling the hoop.
Check out the tutorial on how I create my hoop covers here:
That’s all for today. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. While it may seem like a waste of time, binding your hoops can ultimately save you from a lot of headaches later on.
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below on how you approach your hoop preparation or any additional tips you have to avoid those stubborn hoop marks on fabrics.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best way to keep your hoop from slipping and achieve a good grip is to bind your embroidery hoops. You can bind both the outer and inner rings, or just the inner hoop ring.
While wrapping your embroidery hoop for smaller projects may not always be essential, it comes with a few advantages. It helps create a better grip, resulting in a tighter working surface, and also protects the fabric from damage. For more comples projects, I personally consider it a must.
When binding embroidery hoops you can use cotton twill tape, bias tape or cotton fabric strips. Choose 100% cotton materials for a better grip.
Download Free Embroidery Patterns
Remember that you can download a wide range of free embroidery patterns from the Free Pattern Library and start stitching straight away. To access it just fill out the form below and I will send you an email with your password.
More Articles You’ll Love
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Let me know in the comments below what’s your favorite transfer method. Or even better, come and join our Facebook Group to share your magic tricks.
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