Floating means hooping only the stabilizer and attaching the fabric on top — essential for items that can't be hooped. This guide walks through the technique step by step, with practical tips to get clean results — and shows where a free tool like SewFlow fits in.
Step by Step
- 1Hoop your stabilizer alone, pulled drum-tight.
- 2Spray the stabilizer with temporary adhesive or use sticky-back.
- 3Smooth the fabric onto the stabilizer, aligning placement marks.
- 4Stitch as normal, optionally pinning edges outside the design.
Tips for Best Results
- •Floating prevents hoop marks on velvet, leather, and coated fabrics.
- •Use sticky-back stabilizer for the most secure float.
- •Add basting stitches around the design for extra hold.
No Hoop Marks
Floating is the answer for anything too thick, too small, or too delicate to hoop directly.
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