Tag: MagneticEmbroideryHoops

Many embroiderers are familiar with both HoopMaster and Mighty Hoop, but not everyone knows how they are related—or how they differ. Both patented products come from Midwest Products, Inc., and while they work together seamlessly, they serve distinct purposes in the embroidery process.

The Origins of HoopMaster

The original HoopMaster system was designed as a precision hoop placement tool to work with the standard hoops that come with your embroidery machine. Before its invention, embroiderers often struggled with consistent hoop placement, leading to alignment issues and wasted time. HoopMaster solved this problem by introducing:

• A Station, which provides a stable base for hooping shirts, sweatshirts, jackets.
• A Fixture, designed to securely hold the hoop while placing garments.
• A Portable Mounting Base with Fixture and FreeStyle Arm, which allows for hooping smaller garments, Onesies, bags, and anything else that can’t fit on the Station.

While the HoopMaster system tremendously improved accuracy and consistency, there was still a major challenge when using traditional hoops:

• You still had to manually adjust the inner and outer rings to match the fabric thickness.
• The tightening process was hard on your wrists, especially after repeated use.
• Traditional hoops could cause fabric distortion and hoop burn, particularly on delicate or thick materials.

These challenges made hooping tedious, especially in high-production environments. That’s where Mighty Hoop came in.

The Introduction of Mighty Hoops

Over time, as embroidery technology evolved, Mighty Hoops were developed and patented as an industry first magnetic hooping solution. Unlike traditional hoops that rely on tension and pressure, Mighty Hoops use strong magnets to hold the fabric securely in place. This offers several advantages:

• Less strain on fabric – No need to over-tighten the hoop, reducing the risk of hoop burn.
• Faster hooping – Simply place the fabric and let the magnets do the work.
• Easier hooping of thick materials – Works exceptionally well with items like leather, Carhartt jackets, and heavy sweatshirts.

While Mighty Hoops provided a new way to hoop garments, they were designed to be fully compatible with the original HoopMaster Station. Instead of the HoopMaster Fixture holding a standard hoop, Mighty Hoop Fixtures were introduced to securely hold Mighty Hoops in place during the hooping process. This allowed embroiderers to continue using the same HoopMaster setup while benefiting from the ease of magnetic hooping.

HoopMaster & Mighty Hoop: A Perfect Pair

Even though they were developed at different times, HoopMaster and Mighty Hoop are designed to work together. The HoopMaster Station remains a critical tool for ensuring precision placement, while the Mighty Hoop provides a stress-free and efficient hooping experience.

Today, embroiderers can choose to use HoopMaster with either traditional hoops or Mighty Hoops, depending on their needs. Regardless of the choice, the same fundamental concept applies—using the HoopMaster system to ensure accuracy and efficiency in the hooping process.

Midwest Products, Inc.: The Company Behind It All

HoopMaster and Mighty Hoop are both embroidery tools specifically invented, engineered, and patented, by Midwest Products, Inc., a US company dedicated to improving efficiency in the embroidery industry and inventing new and innovative embroidery accessories. HoopMaster and Mighty Hoop are manufactured, assembled, and distributed worldwide from their manufacturing facilities in Germantown, Wisconsin. Their products have led them to become the world leader in commercial embroidery hooping systems. Helping embroiderers of all skill levels throughout the world streamline their workflow and improve the quality of their work.

By understanding the differences and connections between HoopMaster and Mighty Hoop, embroiderers can make the best choice for their production needs, whether sticking with traditional hoops and the original HoopMaster setup or upgrading to the magnetic ease of Mighty Hoops while still benefiting from the precise placement of the HoopMaster Station.

Midwest Products, Inc. takes great pride in manufacturing all of our products in the USA. Our patented HoopMaster and Mighty Hoop products are designed to be the best in the industry, which we are! We are also committed to providing outstanding customer service, ensuring that every customer receives the support they need. Our sales and customer service team are located right here in our home office and warehouse in Germantown, WI, so you can always count on talking to a knowledgeable representative who truly understands our products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do you still sell HoopMaster Products?
A: Yes! The HoopMaster system is still available and continues to be a reliable tool for precise hoop placement.

Q: Do you sell the traditional hoops that come with embroidery machines?
A: No. We do not manufacture or sell the standard hoops that come with your embroidery machine.

Q: Why would someone still buy the traditional HoopMaster setup when the Mighty Hoop system is far superior?
A: We understand that our patented Mighty Hoops are an investment. Large embroidery shops needing 200+ Mighty Hoops of just one size can see costs add up quickly. Many shops slowly invest in our line of products while still using the hoops that came with their machine. By using the HoopMaster setup, they can continue to achieve consistent placement while gradually transitioning to Mighty Hoops over time.