Sewing workpiece holders for sewing machines and associated methods

A sewing system comprising:

• a sewing machine including a working part for sewing a workpiece;
• a sewing embroidery machine attached to the sewing machine for cooperatively operating with the sewing machine to embroider the workpiece;
• and
• a workpiece holder comprising:
• a first frame that defines an opening;
• a second frame that defines an opening, wherein the second frame is configured to attach to the first frame and to hold the workpiece therebetween, wherein the openings of the first frame and the second frame substantially align when the second frame is attached to the first frame such that a portion of the sewing workpiece is exposed for embroidery within the aligned openings when the workpiece is held;
• a first bracket attached to a first side of the first frame, the first bracket being attachable to the sewing embroidery machine;
• and
• a second bracket attached to a second side of the second frame, the second bracket being attachable to the sewing embroidery machine.

A method for embroidery comprising:

• placing a sewing workpiece between a first frame and a second frame of a sewing workpiece holder, wherein the first and second frames define an opening when attached together for exposing a portion of the sewing workpiece, wherein the sewing workpiece holder comprises a first bracket and a second bracket, the first bracket being attached to a first side of the first frame, and the second bracket attached to a second side of the second frame;
• attaching the first bracket to a sewing embroidery machine for orienting a first side of the sewing workpiece in a direction towards a working part of a sewing machine attached to the sewing embroidery machine;
• detaching the first bracket from the sewing embroidery machine;
• and
• attaching the second bracket to the sewing embroidery machine for orienting a second side of the sewing workpiece in a direction towards the working part of a sewing machine.

A sewing workpiece holder for a sewing embroidery machine, the sewing workpiece holder comprising:

• a frame assembly configured to hold a sewing workpiece, wherein the frame assembly defines an opening for exposing a portion of the sewing workpiece when the sewing workpiece is held;
• a first bracket attached to a first side of the frame assembly, the first bracket being attachable to the sewing embroidery machine;
• and
• a second bracket attached to a second side of the second frame, the second bracket being attachable to the sewing embroidery machine,
• wherein the second bracket defines at least one feature configured to interface with the sewing embroidery machine and to indicate to the sewing embroidery machine when the second bracket is attached to the sewing embroidery machine.