How To Wrap Embroidery Hoops – A Fabric Stash Buster!
Wrapping an embroidery hoop with fabric may not solve all your frustrations, but it will solve many of them! This optional step in your embroidery setup is well worth the extra few minutes it takes to set up before you start stitching.
I’ll share with you how I like to wrap embroidery hoops and their benefits, and I’ll even show you a handy way to use up some of those fabric scraps (I always seem to have a never-ending supply) instead of purchasing twill tape from the store.
How To Bind An Embroidery Hoop
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Whether you call it hoop binding or hoop wrapping, the technique is all the same.
Adding fabric to a hoop helps:
- protect and cushion delicate fabrics to prevent them from getting damaged
- lessens the amount of “hoop burn” (those stubborn creases that occur when you take the fabric out of the hoop)
- adds some extra friction and texture, which helps to keep the fabric tight, preventing it from slipping
Materials Needed
- An embroidery hoop
- Bias tape, cotton twill, binding ribbon, or fabric scraps (3/4 – 1 inch wide is best)
- Heavy-duty sewing thread and a needle
- Scissors
What do you use to wrap an embroidery hoop?
There are several materials you can use to bind an embroidery hoop.
Seam binding, cotton twill tape, and silk ribbon are popular materials to use.
Whichever fabric you end up choosing should be relatively thin and even throughout. If the tape is layered or has an inconsistent thickness, it may not work as well.
I recommend shopping in person instead of ordering something online, at least for the first time. There are many types of binding and bias tapes, making it hard to find the right one. It will be easier to look at and feel the tape, so you get one suitable for embroidery hoops!
I have used rayon seam binding ribbon, cotton fabric scraps, and twill tape, all of which have worked well.
Wrapping The Hoop
I prefer to wrap the inner ring when I bind my embroidery hoops. However, some people like to bind both or just the outer ring.
I embroider with durable fabrics like cotton and linen, so I don’t feel the need to bind the outer ring, which is beneficial when working with delicate materials. Experiment to see what works best for you!
Separate the rings.
Begin wrapping the fabric at a slight diagonal around the hoop. The wraps should overlap slightly and not have too many wrinkles or irregularities. Go slowly to be sure you are wrapping it evenly.
After you have wrapped around the hoop, secure the end with a small clamp or a piece of tape.
Then, secure the end of the tape with a few basting stitches and secure it with a knot.
Make sure to secure the stitches on the inside of the inner ring and the outside of the outer hoop so that the stitches won’t get disturbed!
You may be tempted to skip the sewing, but the tape will eventually wear out. Once you’ve secured everything, you can keep a bound embroidery hoop for years and repeatedly use it for different projects. Save yourself the time it would take to redo it and secure it more permanently!
Now, you’re ready to use your wrapped embroidery hoop! You’ll immediately notice the difference when you put the fabric back in the hoop. It’s tight like a drum and has no fabric slippage.
Video Tutorial
How To Use Fabric Scraps To Bind An Embroidery Hoop
This method is my favorite way to recycle fabric. You’d be surprised how much even a tiny square of fabric will make.
To turn a piece of square fabric into a long piece of hoop tape, you’ll cut 1/2 – 3/4 inch wide strips in a zigzag fashion.
Cut across one fabric edge until you’ve cut all but about a 1/2 inch.
Then cut another 1/2 inch piece of fabric from the opposite side, again stopping when you’re about 1/2 inch away from the opposite edge of the fabric.
Keep cutting and alternating the sides until you have a long piece of squiggly fabric like this!
Now, all that’s left to do is to wrap the hoop. The edges where the fabric connects can be awkward to wrap at first, but I find it easiest to double up the wraps to secure any edges that may poke out.
I was worried the first time I did this that it would make the wraps a little too uneven, but I’ve had great success with this method and use it all the time to wrap my hoops!
Learn More
Okay, hear me out. If you want immaculate fabric tension, I have another recommendation. Slate frames are by far the best tools for providing even and tight tension to your fabric. They take more time to set up, but they are well worth it in the long run. Take a look at this tutorial to learn how to use a slate frame.
Amanda is a hand embroidery teacher and artist. With over 15 years of experience in the craft industry and embroidery, she owns and runs Crewel Ghoul, sharing accessible tutorials and patterns to help inspire fellow crafters to get creative. In addition to running this website, she teaches on Skillshare and Youtube.
