Welcome to Cute Embroidery... As for u'r ? I'm sorry but no u can't... U need the hoop attached to the arm of the unite as its the arm that moves the hoop around... Besides the embroidery machine wont even start w/o the hoop in place... I too have a Viking machine...
U can however, sew the name in on a patch or even by using the fonts in u'r machine w/o embroidery... Just go threw ur machine sewing stitches & fonts and u will fine it there...

Welcome Jill, I don't have a Viking, do you have utility stitches? I have a brother, and I can "free hand" embroidery if I drop the feed dogs. But My Brother is a sewing, quilting and embroidery, so I'm able to do more than embroider on it. I'm not good at free hand so I wouldn't attempt it. :)
Again, Welcome! Terre

You can use sticky stabilizer and just lay the part you want to embroider on the stabilizer. I also have a Viking SE Limited.

I don't hoop a lot of designs. Just hoop your stabilizer of your choice and spray and pin your project to it an stitch away.

I have a Designer 1 and things that can't be hooped I embroider by hooping the stabiliser and pinning and then automatic basting the machine offers. Works well, not only for things like bags and backpacks, but also with materials like velvet that easily get 'hoop burn'.

Hi I do not have a Viking but I just want to say I hope that you put the name on the inside of the back pack for safty reasons for there are a lot of crazy people out there that can read the name and give a chaild a false sense of security, to lead them off. also it is much better to make a label and then sew it to the inside.It is also not wise to put childrens names on the back or front of their clothing in plain view of public.It is much better to add a symbol or picture for her to reconise straight off.

Welcome to Cute!
You could try to use bull-dog clips to fasten the bag to your hoop. Most stationery shops have these type clips, I use these to hold my towels in place on the hoop.
Happy Stitching,
From Bev

I have the same machine, but I don't think it's possible to embroider without a hoop. Like someone else said you might could use the utility stitches, but they just don't look the same as emb. I made a name tag and put it on my GS's lunch bag. I hope you come up with an idea that works for you. Happy Stitching!!!

I have to agree with ezzeml, please use a design she will recognize, not her name, too many crazy people who will take advantage of see the child's name. You have to use the hoop because it attaches to the part of your machine that moves for the design, but you can pin or use spray adhesive (found in the embroidery area of you sewing/craft store) or use the office clips mentioned by bevgrift. Good luck and Welcome to Cute!

What about an application?
You could embroider what you want on a fabric and add it to the bag.

If I have haevy or tricky things to hoop I sometimes fasten it with some stitches around the hoop frame by hand together with the backing. I don't know the material of your bag, but at some materials it's not wise to fix it around because you can see the stitchholes later. If it is fabric fixing is perfect.

Hope you find a good solution

Make the design like a patch and then machine stitch it on.

I see you have your answer, but why not think about stitching the design you want to organza, or even felt, and then applique that to the backpack? I had to do something like that once to a project for my grandson. There are even products that will attach the design without stitching after your have it embroidered.