The one that I read, said to buy pencil grips to use to tighten or loosen the screws on your embroidery hoops. A good hint, but what I use is a rubber fingertip that you purchase at an office supply store that is used to count money. Not only do I use it on my hoop screws, I use it to install my needle in my machine and also to remove it. What are your favorite tips? ;)

My tip is to get a roll of non-slip shelf liner. Hoop and cut out the center area, leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch inner boarder. I find this works best when using WWS or floating fabric on top. Everything stays in place and no spray adhesive residue to deal with.

My hubby has trouble trying to get the thread after he threads the needle so I gave him a tiny crochet hook and he snatches it right up. Might help ladies with a little stiffness in the fingers.

jrob, so you are LQQKing for TIPS???? I spent my last dime already - sorry! Hehehe! *4U

I have a small square that I made - with really cute embroidery on one side and the same silver heat resistant material on the other setting next to my embroidery machine - so that when I have something that needs a quick ironing - I can do that - without getting the big ironing board out and set up. I will have to take a picture and put it in the projects, I guess - so you can see what I mean. Hehehe! *4U

*Cute* folks, don't use your good *expensive* fabric scissors to cut anything other than fabric - especially paper, this includes stabiliser, which is really only paper. Paper blunts them. Hugs and flowers to you all.

I use baby-size hair scrunchies to wrap around my bobbins, it keeps the loose ends tucked in, no more tangles. They can be used on spools that don't have a click-base too. Hugs and flowers.

Keep a pair of tweezers by your machine, they're useful to grab thread ends with, like when threading your machine, the bobbin thread needs pulling up, or for holding thread while you snip. I have straight and angled tweezers. Hugs and flowers everyone.

Ok...I'll give this a shot! I don't hoop my stabalizers with my fabric. I just cut a strip the width of the hoop and lay it under the hoop before starting the embroidery. I seem to like using an iron on tear-away, which of course I will iron-on, but when I use a regular tear-away or cut-away, I just place the strip under my hoop. Ok...be nice to me on this tip! It may or may not work for you...but it does for me...and less waste in stabalizers!

Even before I needed them I kept a cheap pair of dollar store reading glasses in with my thread scissors, seam ripper and 'hemostats' so when I need to get at loose threads what I'm pulling out is thread not bits of material.
'Hemostats', locking tweezers like used for medical/surgical procedures, can be found at most flea markets for a buck or two... no need to buy the expensive 'new' ones.

Small,cheap spring-type clamps, girls big 'gator- type' hair clips or 'chip clips' (you know like you use to keep the bag shut)can be helpful when you have 'sneakier' fabrics hooped. If they look like they are pinchy sort of things then they are the right sort. When placed on the edge of the hoop they can aide in keeping the two parts of the hoop from starting to pop apart. They don't need to be real strong, just enough to keep the two pieces from edging apart. Pretend you are using them in a pinching/biting fashion on the edge of the hoop. They usually need just enough force to keep slipping from starting not to actually hold the two pieces together. Be sure that they are not so strong a to bite into the plastic of the hoops. If they work but you're worried about them biting the plastic then modify them ahead of time by gluing (using a glue like E6000..strong yet flexible) fabric with some 'texture' onto the teeth part of the clamp/clip's 'teeth'.

jrob, HaHa, Go to bed early, don't stay up and get caught up in the Q&A's and the project pages for hours and hours. HaHa Loretta