Above the Pocket

[Debbie Garifi]

I am trying to get a logo to line-up straight above a left pocket, I can't seem to get it not to be at a very very slight slant. It wouldn't be so obvious if it wasn't a word going across the bottom of the logo and you're comparing it to the top of the straight pocket.
I have a "all in one" but it isn't helping thus far.....
Please offer me some advice ASAP!
Thanks

[Aaron]

I hoop everything by eye so I can't help much with the hooper but if you hoop it so its snug but not too tight once you put it on the machine you can actually turn the hoop and use the grabber or the spring as a reference and make the pocket parallel to the grabber.

[Debbie Garifi]

Wow, never thought of that!
I will attempt to sew it (again) now that I think
it is lined up according to the grabber!
Thank goodness I order extra's being a beginner & all......
Thanks for the help.

[Loyda]

I always align embroidery with the top edge of the pocket, even if the pocket is a little cockeyed. You will find that pockets are rarely level and the pocket of every shirt is sewn on just a little different.

To align with the top edge of the pocket this is what I do. I take the height of my design and divide it by 2 (to get half the height). I add 1/4 inch (space between edge of pocket and bottom of the embroidery design). Then I take the measurement, measure it up from the pocket edge and then draw a line with air erasable marker (used for quilting) using a ruler.

I also measure the width of the pocket and find the center. Then I mark the center on the line I drew again with a ruler and air erasable marker. You will find that the width of the pockets for the same style shirt may vary as much as a 1/4 inch.

Then I align the line I drew with the center markers on either side of my hoop, making sure the center mark is close to the center of my hoop.

It is really not as complicated as it sounds. It goes pretty quick and it takes the guesswork out of aligning embroidery with a crooked pocket. I love my all-in-one hooper, but it does not work for shirts with pockets because of the pockets!

Hope this helps!

[Pure Embroidery]

I had the same problem starting out. What a nightmare!

I bought a hoopmaster with the pocket guide and have NEVER sewn a crooked design since. It works for all kinds of things, couldn't recommend it enough.

If you have already invested in the "All in One" you can keep working hard to get it right or sell it and buy a hoopmaster.

It takes me less than 20 seconds to hoop above a pocket and have it come out perfect every time. No measuring, no guessing.

[Debbie Garifi]

I have one on the way, actually was hoping it would be on my doorstep today......

[Theresa S.]

I do it as Loyda does. I use one of those quilting rulers with the grid on it in 1/8 in inch increments. Goes quickly. Perhaps next investment will be hoopmaster.

[Debbie Garifi]

Thanks everyone for all the great advice. I used Aaron's suggestion and did a shirt and it turned out perfect! The funny thing is that right when I finished that shirt my HoopMaster showed up.
Now I am trying to figure out how to set it up....Time to watch the DVD.