5.5 × 8 in embroidery hoop (140 × 200 mm)
A mid-size Janome hoop, the RE20b, with a 140 × 200 mm (5.5 × 7.9 in) stitch area. Janome includes it with the Memory Craft 550E and lists it for the 500E and 400E. It is Janome's counterpart to the 5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm) hoop, 10 mm wider and 20 mm longer.
A 5.5 × 8 in hoop gives about 43.4 square inches of stitch area: 5.5 × 8 in (140 × 200 mm). 54 machines in our guide can stitch this size in one hooping.
What fits in a 5.5 × 8 in hoop
- Any 5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm) design, with 10 mm to spare on the short side and 20 mm on the long side
- Chest designs on T-shirts and sweatshirts up to about 5.3 × 7.7 in (135 × 195 mm)
- Towel monograms and pillow-cover designs up to about 7.5 in (190 mm) tall
- Tote-bag and apron designs in portrait or landscape
- Quilt blocks up to about 5 × 7 in (127 × 178 mm)
Needs a bigger hoop
- 6 × 10 in (160 × 260 mm) designs, which are 20 mm too wide and 60 mm too long
- 8 × 8 in (200 × 200 mm) quilt blocks, which need Janome's SQ20b hoop
- Jacket-back designs, which Singer's size guide puts at 6 × 10 in (160 × 260 mm) or larger
- Borders longer than about 7.5 in (190 mm)
Good to know: Embird lists the RE20b at 140 × 200 mm (5.5 × 7.9 in) for the Memory Craft 500E, and Echidna Sewing writes it as 5.5 × 8 in (140 × 200 mm) for the 550E, where it is one of four hoops in the box with the RE36b, SQ20b and SQ14b. Janome's own pages list the RE20b for the Memory Craft 400E, 500E and 550E. Embird also lists Janome's MC10000 hoop at the same 140 × 200 mm. It is not a 5 × 7 in hoop under another name. Brother and Baby Lock quote 130 × 180 mm for 5 × 7 in, and Embird lists Janome's MC15000 RE18 Essential hoop at 140 × 180 mm, so Janome hoops of similar size are not interchangeable. The size works in either direction: a 200 × 140 mm landscape design fits as well as a 140 × 200 mm portrait one once you turn it in your software.
Standard placements that fit at typical size: left chest, pocket, sleeve, cap front, cap side and back, beanie, towel, baby onesie, baby bib, quilt block, patch. See the design size chart.
Machines that can stitch a 5.5 × 8 in design
Machines whose largest field is 5.5 × 8 in
| Machine | Type | Formats | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janome Memory Craft 350E | Embroidery only | .JEF | — |
| Janome Memory Craft 300E | Embroidery only | .JEF, .SEW | — |
Machines with a bigger field (also fit 5.5 × 8 in designs)
| Machine | Field | Type | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janome Skyline S9 | 6.7 × 8 in | Sewing and embroidery | $3,999–$4,999 |
| Singer Futura XL-580 | 10 × 6 in | Sewing and embroidery | — |
| Singer EM200 | 10 × 5.9 in | Embroidery only | — |
| Singer SE300 | 10 × 5.9 in | Sewing and embroidery | — |
| Brother PRS100 | 8 × 8 in | Embroidery only | $3,999–$4,499 |
| Janome Memory Craft 400E | 8 × 8 in | Embroidery only | $1,399–$1,699 |
| Baby Lock Alliance | 8 × 8 in | Embroidery only | — |
| Brother NQ1700E | 6 × 10 in | Embroidery only | $2,399–$2,400 |
| Brother NQ1600E | 6 × 10 in | Embroidery only | — |
| bernette b79 | 10 × 6 in | Sewing and embroidery | $2,299–$2,999 |
| bernette b70 DECO | 10 × 6 in | Embroidery only | $1,699 |
| Brother NQ3700D | 6 × 10 in | Sewing and embroidery | $3,999–$4,999 |
| Baby Lock Flare | 6 × 10 in | Embroidery only | $2,299–$2,529 |
| Baby Lock Vesta | 6 × 10 in | Sewing and embroidery | $3,365–$3,599 |
| Baby Lock Flourish II | 6 × 10 in | Embroidery only | — |
| Singer Futura XL-400 | 10 × 6 in | Sewing and embroidery | — |
| Singer Futura XL-550 | 10 × 6 in | Sewing and embroidery | — |
| Janome MB-7 | 9.5 × 8 in | Multi-needle | $5,999 |
| Janome MB-4S | 9.5 × 8 in | Multi-needle | $4,999 |
| Pfaff creative 3.0 | 10 × 8 in | Sewing and embroidery | $3,599–$5,299 |
| Janome Memory Craft 500E | 11 × 8 in | Embroidery only | $2,099–$2,399 |
| Poolin EOC06 | 8 × 11 in | Embroidery only | $1,059–$1,299 |
| Brother PR680W | 12 × 8 in | Multi-needle | $12,999–$13,629 |
| Brother VM5200 | 8 × 12 in | Sewing and embroidery | $5,499–$5,500 |
| Brother PR655 | 12 × 8 in | Multi-needle | — |
| Baby Lock Array | 12 × 8 in | Multi-needle | $13,249–$14,574 |
| Baby Lock Pathfinder | 8 × 12 in | Embroidery only | $4,084–$4,299 |
| Brother PR600II | 12 × 8 in | Multi-needle | — |
| Ricoma EM-1010 | 12.2 × 8.3 in | Multi-needle | $5,079–$6,879 |
| Brother PR1055X | 14 × 8 in | Multi-needle | — |
| Janome Memory Craft 550E | 14 × 8 in | Embroidery only | $2,899–$3,499 |
| Brother PR1050X | 14 × 8 in | Multi-needle | — |
| Brother PR1000e | 14 × 8 in | Multi-needle | — |
| Baby Lock Venture | 14 × 8 in | Multi-needle | — |
| Brother PR1060W | 14 × 8 in | Multi-needle | $24,200–$25,700 |
| Bernina B 700 E | 15.7 × 8.3 in | Embroidery only | $2,999 |
| Melco BRAVO | 12.7 × 10.5 in | Multi-needle | $8,995–$10,887 |
| Brother Stellaire XE1 | 9.5 × 14 in | Embroidery only | — |
| Brother Stellaire XJ1 | 9.5 × 14 in | Sewing and embroidery | — |
| Brother Dream Machine 2 XV8550D | 9.5 × 14 in | Sewing and embroidery | — |
| Baby Lock Altair 2 | 9.5 × 14 in | Sewing and embroidery | $10,284–$10,999 |
| Baby Lock Meridian 2 | 9.5 × 14 in | Embroidery only | $7,947–$8,499 |
| Brother Stellaire XE2 | 9.5 × 14 in | Embroidery only | $8,449–$8,500 |
| Bernina B 880 PLUS | 15.7 × 10 in | Sewing and embroidery | — |
| Brother Luminaire XP3 | 10.7 × 16.1 in | Sewing and embroidery | $20,999 |
| Pfaff creative 4.5 | 14 × 13.8 in | Sewing and embroidery | $6,989 |
| Pfaff Creative Sensation Pro | 14 × 13.8 in | Sewing and embroidery | — |
| Husqvarna Viking Designer Ruby 90 | 14 × 13.8 in | Sewing and embroidery | $16,999 |
| Melco EMT16X | 16.1 × 15.5 in | Multi-needle | — |
| Ricoma MT-1501 | 19.7 × 14 in | Multi-needle | $9,569–$11,969 |
| Husqvarna Viking Designer Epic 2 | 17.7 × 17.7 in | Sewing and embroidery | $17,999 |
| Husqvarna Viking Designer EPIC 3 | 18.1 × 17.7 in | Sewing and embroidery | $23,999–$25,999 |
Frequently asked questions
What size is the Janome RE20b hoop?
It is 140 × 200 mm, or 5.5 × 7.9 in. Embird lists it at that size for the Memory Craft 500E, and Echidna Sewing writes it as 5.5 × 8 in for the 550E.
Will a 5x7 design fit in a Janome RE20b hoop?
Yes. A 5 × 7 in design is about 130 × 180 mm, so it sits inside 140 × 200 mm with 10 mm of room on the short side and 20 mm on the long side. Keep it a few millimeters inside the edge, as with any hoop.
Which Janome machines can use the RE20b hoop?
Janome lists it for the Memory Craft 400E, 500E and 550E. Hoops are made for specific models, so check the part and your machine in Janome's listing before you buy.
Is 5.5 x 8 the same as 5.5 x 7.9?
Yes. Both describe 140 × 200 mm. 200 mm is 7.87 in, so Janome writes 7.9 in and some dealers round it to 8 in. Use the millimeter size when you check a design.
Other hoop sizes
- 4 × 4 in
- 4 × 7 in
- 5.5 × 5.5 in
- 6 × 6 in
- 5 × 7 in
- 5 × 12 in
- 8 × 8 in
- 6 × 10 in
- 7 × 12 in
- 8 × 11 in
- 8 × 12 in
- 8 × 14 in
- 9.5 × 14 in
- All sizes chart