Hand Warmers, In-the-Hoop

Keep your hands toasty warm during the cold winter months with in-the-hoop hand warmers! Beautiful frosty blue embroidery means they're as beautiful to look at as they are great to have on hand. Simply pop them in the microwave, and they're ready to go!

When you download an in-the-hoop hand warmer design, you will find multiple files. Some are the embroidery files, and the others are dieline files marked with the letters "DL". Dielines are used to cut the fabric to the correct shape and size. Open and print each dieline file using an embroidery software. If you do not have an embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on using dielines.

Spray the backside of the front piece dieline with temporary spray adhesive. Smooth that onto the felt.

Cut out the shape and remove the paper.

Repeat this process for the back dieline piece, too.

Now that the fabric pieces are 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.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the full embroidery design (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 stitch. This marks the area on the stabilizer for the front fabric piece.

Spray just the corners of the back of the front fabric piece with temporary adhesive.

Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer. Place the fabric right inside the sewn dieline.

Reattach the hoop back onto the machine and continue with the design.

A running stitch tack down will sew next. This holds the front fabric in place for the remainder of the design.

All of the inside elements will sew next.

On the color change sheet, look for the note that says "finishing seam."

When you get to this section, stop the machine and remove the hoop from the machine. Do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Turn the hoop over and spray just the edges of the backside of the back fabric piece with adhesive.

Place the back piece right inside the shape on the backside of the embroidery.

The remaining steps will be seen from both sides. Wind a bobbin with the same thread used in the top.

Attach the hoop back onto the machine and continue with the design.

A running stitch tack down will sew. This binds all the layers together.

Remove the hoop from the machine.

Unhoop the stabilizer, and carefully tear it away. The dieline will be removed with the stabilizer.

Fill the hand warmer through the opening with beans, rice, or flax seed.

Hand-stitch the opening closed by stitching along the original tack down seam.

And your hand warmer is ready to go! Pop it in the microwave for about 30 seconds to warm it up.