Hooping Letterman Jackets

[djames]

After doing a search, I haven't found any posts relating to hooping letterman's jackets. These are high dollar items, and it needs to be done right the first time. I don't have a problem with the boys jackets, it's the girls jackets that have hoods. Even after 5 years having the Amaya's I depend on my EMC machines to do the girls Hoods. I used the wooden 14.1 x 9.3" double height oval hoop and it works great.
Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions for me, it would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Debbie

[Dorothy Compton]

I am doing well over 200 jackets a year. I finally have a grip on hooping the hoods and the smaller jackets (xsmall & small). For the hoods, I use the double high 17.25 rectangular hoop. The whole hood does not hoop...just the corners, sides and top end. The design is flipped. For the smaller jackets I use the square 16" double high as it will accommodate the narrower width at the top. I usally hoop a jacket three times: top, middle and bottom with the middle and bottom hooped upside down (along with the design flipped). I'm hoping to use the jackets with access ports next year as right now, after the initial hooping with a loosened hoop, I turn the jacket over, somewhat unhoop so I can straighten out the lining, rehoop, make sure the right side is still taut, then I tighten the hoop after mounting on the machine. For hooping, I learned a trick from Jan...I use a microwave table I purchased at IKEA. It fits the jacket nicely and at a good height so I use my whole upper body to hoop. If you have any questions, you can call.

By the way, I have also used the 16.8 x 19.5. The length is longer than the Amaya can sew, but it will fit on a jacket an allows a bit more width at the bottom because the doesn't curve until after the defined stitching area.

I did one xsmall jacket that was also shortened 5". The whole thing barely fit in the square hoop!

Dorothy Compton, Owner
Bee Embroidered
www.BeeEmbroidered.com
(916) 635-7467

[djames]

Thanks Dorothy for the info. I don't have a problem with the boys jackets. I use the All in One hooper and also use the two double height wooden hoops for the backs. They usually hoop up really slick. When hooping up the jackets with the access port it just slides over the top of the hooper, with the hoop upside down. Works really well. It is just the hoods that I have a problem with. I don't sell the jackets, and the kids have several shops to buy from so I get a variety of them. With snaps in the corners, without, with nylon zippers, with metal ones. Sometimes even the 17.25 hoop doesn't work.

[Carolyn]

Debbie, thankyou so much for asking this. I am pondering doing lettermans jacket but I have never ever done one and I am having a hard time figuring out what to do or should I say how to go about doing this. I decided to go with rock creek athletic for the jackets that has a quilted lining and then the lining unzips that allows full access to the back of the jacket but that is about it. What I really need help with is the hoop that I need to use. I think I am gonna go with the wooden one that is 16.92. I never gave any thought to having a hoop for various sizes of jackets. Also for a stabilizer which one cutaway is what I am thinking but not real sure. I also need a good digitizer who knows what they are doing. I have gotten some great recommendations from other here but just deciding on one is killing me especially because I don't have the funds for trial and error. This all has to be done right the first time from beginning to end. So please help if there is anyone out there that has a video of sort that would not mind sharing I would really appreciate this. Oh what about an order form, any ideas about that. I am a visual person so I have to see what I am doing in order to grasp. I know this is terrible but that is the way I learn.