If you want to personalize caps and hats with designs such as logos, initials, names, you’ll need a cap hoop.
The cap hoop attaches to your regular 4×4 inch hoop and holds the bill of the cap firmly in a clamp outside of the embroidery frame. The cap itself is attached to the hoop with adhesive stabilizer. Some people also pin the cap for extra security.
The only negative that people report is that sometimes they can’t get the embellishment as close to the brim as they would like. However, this seems to be a limitation of all home embroidery machines and not the particular hoop.
This Cap Hoop clamps to 4×4 inch embroidery hoops and will work with the Brother SE400, SE350, SE270D, HE120, HE240, Innovis 500D, Innovis 900D, Innovis 950D, LB6770PRW, LB6800PRW Embroidery Machines.
Where To Buy The Cap Hoop
Cap hoops for the Brother SE400 are hard to find, but Amazon finally got a reasonably priced one back in stock. To check the availability and price @Amazon.com and get started embroidering your caps, click here:
Here’s what one reviewer had to say:
Great — 5.0 out of 5 stars, May 15, 2010
By LatinaSunRise (Manhattan, NY), Amazon Verified Purchase
Used it on my Greatgranddaughters hat and it works great… Doing a few more. Amazon you guys are great.
How To Embroider A Cap With The Brother SE400
- Cut a piece of adhesive stabilizer slightly larger than the cap hoop frame and pull the backing off. Stick the stabilizer to the bottom frame of the cap hoop. Try wrapping the stabilizer around the edges of the cap hoop, if it doesn’t stick tightly enough.
- Using a water-soluble pen, mark the center of the design on the cap.
- Loosen the back strap on the cap. Unscrew the thumbscrew on the hoop clamp to and slide the cap bill under the clamp. Using the markings you made on the cap and the template grid, arrange the cap so that the center of the design aligns with the center of the hoop.
- Before you tighten the clamp, make sure the sweatband and backing are pulled away from the embroidery area so that you don’t stitch it to the cap. You may have to tape or pin the sweatband to keep it out of the way. The buckram (stiff backing) under the sweatband also has to be pulled back. If necessary to pull it back neatly, cut the buckram an inch or two where it is stitched to the cap bill on each side. Tighten the clamp with the thumbscrew.
- Starting in the middle and working out to the edges, press the cap down firmly against the adhesive stabilizer. The cap must be as flat and smooth as possible.
- Clamp the cap hoop to the regular 4×4 inch hoop on the side opposite where it attaches to the embroidery unit.
- Turn the SE400 on and set it up for embroidery as usual. Turn the embroidery unit on and attach the regular 4×4 inch hoop with the cap hoop attached. You may have to remove the foot and/or shank to do this. Use the curser keys to center the needle and begin to embroider your design onto the cap. Remember, the design must be rotated clockwise a quarter turn because the cap is hooped sideways and you want the design vertical.
Using the cap hoop is easier to show than to write about. Someday, maybe I’ll get a camera and make a video. Practice a few times on an old hat or cap and you’ll have the hang of it in no time.
To check the availability and today’s price of the hoop at Amazon.com and get started embroidering your caps, click here:
Will this work with a brother se625?
I have a xl machine are they must different than the(410 are should I get a 410fo you know if I can do like you flowering you tips???
very educational information about the Brother se400. I learned a lot.. Can’t wait for my mine to come. I ordered mine today.
Hi Lois, Thanks for visiting. Happy sewing and embroidering.
Will the cap hoop that fits the SE 400 fit my PE 500 ?
Hi Robin, I don’t know because I only have the SE400.
Just received my SE400 for Christmas. I’ve been sewing and doing machine embroidery for years. It was just time for a new sewing machine. I have a Babylock Embroidery Machine, so the embroidery feature was not the most important part of the SE 400 for me. I have the new machine set up, but can’t get the needle threading feature to work. Or it works, but won’t get the thread through the eye of the needle. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Esther
Sometimes that happens. Be sure to pull that bar fast and release quickly. It should work.
Hi Esther,
Also, make sure the pressure foot is down; the needle is all the way in and all the way up (press the Needle Position Button first); the thread is threaded correctly through all the steps on page 34-35 of the manual, and the you firmly press the needle threader lever down as much as possible.
I was wondering, I have as far as the stailizer is concerned, will tear away sheets combined with temporary spray adhesive work–instead of the self adhesive stabilizer you suggested–as that is what I have. Thank you. K.
i use tear away with spray only. Works great!
Hi Rosanne, Thanks for visiting and sharing.
any suggestions on how to keep my thread (both main thread and bobbin thread) from breaking? i get a few stitches going on my hat then the thread breaks!
Any chance you could shoot a video showing the best way to embroid onto a beanie hat?
Hi George, I’m sorry I don’t have time to shoot the video now because I started a new job that’s very intense and leaves me little time for embroidery. My favorite tutorial on beanie hats is from Urban Threads. Maybe it’ll help even though she’s also making the beanie from an old sweater. But the appliqué designs are very cute.
I was wondering if you knew if this cap/hat hoop would work on the Brother SE425?
i have the brother pe-400 i want to embroider a knitted beanie how do i line it on the hoop?