Magnetic embroidery hoops: how they work and how to choose

A magnetic embroidery hoop clamps fabric between a base frame and magnets instead of an inner ring you tighten. It hoops fast, avoids hoop marks and handles thick items, but it costs more, may hold some stretchy fabrics less firmly, and the magnets are strong enough to pinch fingers and to be unsuitable for pacemaker wearers. It must match your machine's hoop attachment and it cannot enlarge the machine's stitch field.

A magnetic embroidery hoop holds fabric with magnets instead of an inner ring that you push in and tighten. You set the fabric and stabilizer on a base frame, lower a magnetic top frame, and it clamps. It is faster than a standard hoop, but it has to be made for your machine, and it never gives you a bigger stitch field than the machine already has.

Brother, Melco, dime, OESD and Mighty Hoop are all mentioned below as examples of the market. This site is not affiliated with any of them.

How magnetic hoops work

Most magnetic hoops use one of two designs.

Two-frame snap hoops. A lower frame carries the attachment your machine recognizes. A magnetic upper frame snaps down over the fabric and stabilizer. Melco says the magnets clamp the fabric immediately, with no effort, once you hold the upper ring over the lower one. dime’s Snap Hoop is a well-known example.
Metal base plus loose magnets. A flat metal frame fits the machine, and separate magnets sit on top to hold the fabric. Brother’s magnetic frame for 5 × 7 in machines works this way, with six magnets and alignment guides.

Standard hoops squeeze fabric between two rings, which can leave a ring-shaped mark called hoop burn. A magnetic frame holds the fabric flat, so there is no ring to crush the surface.

Pros and cons versus standard hoops

	Magnetic hoop	Standard hoop
Hooping speed	Fast; little hand strength needed	Slower, needs tightening
Hoop marks	Rare	Can leave a ring mark on delicate fabric
Thick or bulky items	Handles towels, jackets, thick seams	Hard to close over bulk
Fabric tension	May hold some materials less firmly	Even, adjustable tension
Cost	Higher, and each size adds up	Lower
Compatibility	Model-specific	Standard with your machine

Where magnetic hoops shine. Towels, quilts, bags, jackets, leather and vinyl are the usual reasons people buy one. They also help if gripping and tightening a screw hoop is hard on your hands.

Where they struggle. Melco, a machine maker that sells magnetic frames, notes that they do not offer the same material tension on every fabric. In extreme cases this can reduce embroidery quality. Stretchy fabrics with dense designs are the typical trouble spot, because the cloth can shift and pucker. Brother’s own manuals also say to always use stabilizer, and to use fabric thinner than 2 mm (about 1/16 in), since thicker fabric can break the needle.

Keep your standard hoops. Most embroiderers treat a magnetic hoop as an addition, not a replacement.

Safety with strong magnets

These magnets are much stronger than fridge magnets. Treat them as you would any strong magnet.

Pinched fingers. Brother warns you to keep fingers out from between the upper and base frames, and to take care when removing or fitting the top frame.
Pacemakers and implants. Brother’s instructions say not to use its magnetic frame if you have a pacemaker. Melco says the strong magnets make its frames unsuitable for pacemaker wearers. If you have any implanted medical device, ask your doctor before using one.
Electronics and cards. Keep the frame away from smartphones, computer disks and magnetic-stripe cards.
Keep magnets off the machine. Brother’s manual for its magnetic sash frame warns against attaching the frame’s magnets to the machine, because it can affect the internal electronics.
Handle with both sides. When you lift the frame, support both sides so the project does not shift.
Store as the maker says. Brother’s manual for its magnetic sash frame says to store the frame with the magnets attached and fabric between them, because magnets stuck straight onto the frame are hard to pull off.

Follow the maker’s printed warnings for your exact hoop, and keep magnets away from children.

Mighty Hoops and other brands

Many people search for “Mighty Hoops” when they want a magnetic hoop. It is a specific brand, originally made for multi-needle machines and thick items such as jackets and leather. Dealer pages list Mighty Hoop options for several Brother machines, including the SE2000, PE900 and SE700, and the hoops are designed to work with the HoopMaster hooping station. Always confirm fit with the maker or a dealer.

Other options include dime’s Snap Hoop line, which is sold in separate versions by size and machine, Brother’s own magnetic frames, and several third-party metal-base-plus-magnet sets that list models such as the PE800 and SE1900. OESD’s 5 × 7 in Snap Hoop Monster, for example, lists PE700 to PE900, SE1800 to SE2000, NS1250E and several Baby Lock and Simplicity models. Check each seller’s list, because they differ.

How to choose the right magnetic hoop

Find your machine’s exact model and maximum field. A 4 × 4 in machine and a 5 × 7 in machine need different hoops. Our hoop sizes overview explains the standard sizes, with pages for 4 × 4 in, 5 × 7 in and 6 × 10 in hoops.
Match the attachment. The base frame must attach to your machine’s carriage. A hoop for a different machine line will not fit, even if the size sounds right.
Check the maker’s compatibility list. dime publishes a chart, Brother lists compatibility on its product pages, and Mighty Hoop asks buyers to confirm. Do not rely on size alone.
Check the field, not the label. Brother’s 4 × 7 in magnetic frame is listed for 5 × 7 in field machines like the PE800, PE900 and SE2000, but the hoop name and the field size do not always match.
Check software and fabric limits. Some newer Brother accessories need up-to-date machine software. Brother rates its 4 × 7 in frame for fabric up to 2 mm (about 1/16 in), so check the limit for the hoop you pick.
Start with one size. Buy the size you use most, usually 4 × 4 in or 5 × 7 in, before adding more.

The stitch area does not grow

A bigger hoop cannot make the machine stitch a bigger design. The embroidery field is set by the machine’s carriage and software. A magnetic hoop only changes how the fabric is held, so a design that is too large for your machine’s field still will not stitch.

Before every job, preview the design and trace its outline on the machine so the needle does not strike the frame. Brother’s sash frame manual warns that a magnet sitting slightly raised can hit the needle bar. The will-it-fit tool helps you check design size against your machine’s field.

If you are budgeting for hoops and other extras, our embroidery machine cost guide lists the typical add-on costs.

Frequently asked questions

Do magnetic hoops work on any embroidery machine?

No. A magnetic hoop must match your machine's hoop attachment and fall within its embroidery field. Check the hoop maker's compatibility list for your exact model before ordering.

Are magnetic embroidery hoops safe?

They are safe when handled with care, but the magnets are strong. Brother's safety sheet for its magnetic frame warns about pinched fingers, tells you to keep the frame away from phones, computer disks and magnetic-stripe cards, and says not to use it with a pacemaker.

What magnetic hoop fits a Brother embroidery machine?

Brother's 4 × 7 in magnetic frame is listed for the PE800, PE900, SE1900, SE2000, NS1250E and NS2850D series, which have a 5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm) field. Other makers sell magnetic hoops for various Brother models, so check each maker's list for your exact model.

Will a magnetic hoop make my embroidery area bigger?

No. The machine sets the maximum stitch area, and a hoop cannot exceed it. A magnetic hoop only changes how the fabric is held.