An in-the-hoop patch is a great way to bring embroidery to hard-to-hoop places. Add a touch of your personal style to apparel, hats, bags, and more by following these helpful instructions.
Supplies
Project Needs & Notes:
- 1/4 yard quilters cotton
- Tear-away stabilizer
- Temporary spray adhesive (Gunold's KK100)
- Medium-weight (2.5 ounce) cutaway stabilizer
- Patch glue, hot glue, or sewing machine (for application)
The design featured in this tutorial is:
Designs Used
![](https://public.emblibrary.com/production/commerce/projects/624/PR1384-3.jpg)
Each in-the-hoop patch design has two files. One is the full embroidery file. The other is a dieline file marked with the letters DL.
Open the dieline files with embroidery software, and print them.
If you do not have embroidery software, Wilcom's TrueSizer is a free program to use.
![](https://public.emblibrary.com/production/commerce/projects/624/PR1384-4.jpg)
Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer and smooth the fabric onto it.
Spray the back of the paper dieline and smooth it onto the fabric and stabilizer.
![](https://public.emblibrary.com/production/commerce/projects/624/PR1384-5.jpg)
Cut out the shape and remove the paper.
![](https://public.emblibrary.com/production/commerce/projects/624/PR1384-6.jpg)
Now that the fabric piece is cut to the proper shape and size, it's time to embroider the design.
Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer.
Madeira E-Zee Tear 1.5 oz. or Floriani Tearaway Medium are good choices. Those brands are more fibrous, less paper-like, and will tear more cleanly.
![](https://public.emblibrary.com/production/commerce/projects/624/PR1384-7.jpg)
Attach the hoop to the machine and load the full embroidery file (not the dieline files).
Use a size 11 or 75/11 sharp sewing needle, rather than an embroidery needle. A sharp sewing needle has a smaller, finer point than an embroidery needle, so that will make smaller perforations in the stabilizer.
Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be a dieline or outline. This marks the area for the front fabric piece.
![](https://public.emblibrary.com/production/commerce/projects/624/PR1384-8.jpg)
Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer.
Spray the back of the fabric piece with a small amount of temporary adhesive.
Place the fabric right inside the sewn outline.
![](https://public.emblibrary.com/production/commerce/projects/624/PR1384-9.jpg)
Attach the hoop back onto the machine and continue with the design.
A tack down will sew next to hold the fabric in place for the remainder of the design.
Then the inside elements and finished edge satin will sew.
![](https://public.emblibrary.com/production/commerce/projects/624/PR1384-10.jpg)
Once the embroidery is finished, remove the hoop from the machine.
Unhoop the stabilizer, and carefully tear it away (the dieline will be removed with the stabilizer).
![](https://public.emblibrary.com/production/commerce/projects/624/PR1384-11.jpg)
Use patch glue or hot glue to add your patch to your favorite items, or sew the patch on with your sewing machine.
Apply an in-the-hoop patch to apparel for a "lovely" look! Here we added style to a pair of denim jeans with a highlight on the back pocket.
![](https://public.emblibrary.com/production/commerce/projects/624/PR1384-12.jpg)
Or, try featuring the design on a jacket sleeve or pocket to give to your favorite fashionista!
![](https://public.emblibrary.com/production/commerce/projects/624/PR1384-13.jpg)
A little bit of hot glue or patch glue will allow the patch to even add interest to a pair of shoes, too!