Method and apparatus for hooping an article for an embroidery machine

Abstract

A method and apparatus for aligning a design template on a fabric article to be embroidered is disclosed. The method and apparatus allows for alignment of the template on the fabric article while hooping only the embroidery backer. The alignment apparatus comprises a base having a slide bar and knobs. The slide bar and knobs may be positioned to hold an embroidery hoop in a secured position on the base. The base is configured so that an inner edge of a hoop placed on the base is only partially obstructed by the base. A user may hoop a backer only, and not an article to be embroidered, by the method of hooping the backer, placing the hoop on the alignment apparatus, placing the article to be embroidered over the backer, and placing pins around the inner edges of the unobstructed portions of the hoop.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.