Centering/Leveling

[Jason]

I am a newbie and have my first large order of left chest size logos. I am having a problem with getting the design level when hooping. Any device or tricks that could help me make them level. When I hoop I mark a cross hair on shirt and then hoop in middle. But I am still getting a slight tilt once the logos are done.

[signman]

take your hoops, and with a black marker and a ruler-mark the dead center of horizontal and vertical on the top frame of each hoop. Go down the 'inside' of the hoop also-so the line will touch the shirts when you start hooping. Using seamstress chalk to make your lines on the shirt-make them long enough so the hoop will land on them-now you can line up dead on.
If you are still crooked-then it is from whatever part of the shirt you are using as a 'straight edge' to get your alignment. On polos-button them all the way up and see if it is straight. Usually people don't button them up-and that makes the design look tilted but it is still correct. If you hold them up in front of you after sewing it will do the same thing.

[Rod or Sharon]

Are you using a hooping system? If using a hooping system or flat hooping, be sure you have your bottom part of the hoop loose enough that the top hoop goes in fairly easy--just tight enough to hold the two together. Apply even pressure from both sides at the same time. If you walk it from side to side, you may risk a slight "tweek" of the fabric which will throw the design off just slightly. If you are flat hooping, I mark my hoops as well as the fabric so they all line up evenly. (Then be sure your markings are all straight too!).
Sharon

[EarlsEmbroidery]

I invested in a hoopmaster hooping system and its been working great! I also button polos all the way before I hoop.

[The Embroidery Authority - OLD]

Jason,
Find where the center of your design will be on your garment and then place a piece of scotch tape across this point with the edge of the tape right on the center mark.
Hoop your garment and decide whether or not your scotch tape is still straight or needs alignment.
Remove tape right before you sew your design.
Good Luck,
Ed Orantes

[TinaK]

Jason:

This is what we do when doing left chests. We invested in this little tool called the embroidery buddy you can find it on www.embroidery.com or sometimes Ebay has them as well. They will help you measure to get the center point. Instead of getting there colored dots to go with it to mark the center we just use the sides of the shipping labels we print out and a hole punch to make dots with to lay on the fabric for center.
You will also want to make sure that your grain of your fabric is running up and down straight as if your grain is not straight it will give you the slightest tilt once sewn.
At least that is what happened to us a few times.

Good Luck!

[Jason]

Thank you everyone.