How to Hoop the back of a hat with a 9cm hoop? The best way is to watch a training video like this on hooping a the back of a hat with a 9cm hoops
I need some tips for sewing and Digitizing cap embroidery?
There are two rules for digitizing on six-panel caps. First, start the design at the bottom of the cap where it is most securely held by the frame and work your way up. Likewise, start from the center where the seam creates bulk and sturdiness and work out to each side, one side at a time. These two rules will result in more color changes and trims than if you digitized the design in one fell swoop, but the perfect registration and excellent runnability will make the extra time and effort worthwhile
Another problem with six-panel caps occurs when a fill pattern is placed on top of the center seam. The thread falls into the seam creating a valley and preventing a nice smooth fill throughout that portion of the design. This problem is easily rectified by digitizing a column over the center seam, then placing the fill pattern.
The column levels the surface and helps to eliminate thread breaks as well as providing a superior appearance. When using this technique, it is imperative that the embroiderer start with the needle dead center over the seam and that the digitizer has the design centered. Otherwise, the column will not fall on the seam, resulting in a hill in the fill pattern that is worse than the original problem.
Fill patterns with a diagonal stitch direction should be avoided on six-panel caps. Because the sides of the cap are so unstable in the hoop, diagonal stitches will push the fill outside of the border causing a problem that cannot be corrected by your embroiderer. It can only be corrected at the digitizing board. Fills are best going straight across but can run up and down. I find that up and down fills, especially over the center seam, do not cover as well, and our machines do not like them. We have more thread breaks with a fill that runs vertically than with the same pattern run horizontally.
Visors hooped in a cap frame have special problems. First of all, the working space is only about an inch tall, although the design can be as wide as the hoop allows. Secondly, the top of the visor has virtually no support in a conventional frame.
Communication with the customer is the key to success for embroidering this item. He must be convinced that the same design that will work on a cap will definitely NOT work here. Simple designs are best, and small ones are a must. Up and out are the two words that work here, as well. Stability for visors can be provided by hooping backing that is large enough to reach all sides of the hoop at the same time as you hoop the visor. Another option for visors is a flat hoop with sticky backing. This provides more work space on the visor and turns it into an easier-to-work-with flat substrate.