After starting this design from 8Claws & Paws I realized I forgot to add stabilizer? If any of you have done this before you can understand the challenges in re-hooping a design that has already started. I have heard that using the wipes from Wal-Mart are a good sub for stabilizer.........So I added a pc to the back & taped it in place & then started to re-sew it only to discover my hoop was not tight enough & in the end it came off anyway! So I tried my best to scootch it back in place & as you can see on the purple one side is a tad wider then the other.............. Only the trained eye will notice right? This is a thanksgiving gift for my 91 yr old M-I-L
Instead of fussing with the stabilizer when you forget, try just "floating" a piece of stabilizer behind the design. It requires minimal interference with the stitching process and usually works great. I float most of my stabilizers because I use the heavy ones that are really hard to hoop. To float stabilizer, just gently lift the hoop once installed and slide a piece of stabilizer underneath. The first stitches should secure it just fine.
I'm sure MIL will love your thoughtfulness, and be none the wiser.