Embroidering an Asics Backpack: Fast Frame on Ricoma EM‑1010 + Floating on Brother PE800

Primer: What this project achieves (and when to use each method)

You’ll embroider two locations on an Asics backpack: a paw print on the smaller pocket and a last name on the front pocket, both stitched in orange. The paw print is stitched on a Ricoma EM-1010 multi-needle using a Fast Frame with sticky stabilizer. The name is stitched on a Brother PE800 single-needle using a 5×7 hoop and the floating method with basting adhesive.

Why two methods? The largest Fast Frame on hand couldn’t accommodate the name area, so the plan pivoted: Fast Frame for the small pocket, floating for the larger name pocket. This split approach also shows how a single-needle can handle bag work just fine when set up correctly. brother embroidery machine

Decision point

• If your frame can hold the name area with safe clearance → Use the multi-needle throughout.

• If not → Float the name on the PE800 (or similar single-needle) with a 5×7 hoop.

Watch out - Don’t assume your Fast Frame size fits every pocket. Dry-fit with the paper template and frame before you prep stabilizer.

Prep: Materials, files, and workspace

You’ll need:

• Machines: Ricoma EM-1010 (multi-needle) and Brother PE800 (single-needle)

• Frames/hoops: Fast Frame for the paw print; 5×7 hoop for the name

• Stabilizers: Sticky tear-away (for Fast Frame), standard tear-away (for floating)

• Adhesive: Basting adhesive spray for the floated pocket

• Thread: Orange (both designs use the same color)

• Printouts: Paper templates of both designs with crosshairs

• Tools: Scissors, clamps or binder clips, acrylic ruler, pins

Files and setup:

• Load the digitized paw print and name designs to their respective machines.

• Print both designs with crosshairs visible for centering.

Needle and thread: The project used a 75/11 needle; orange thread is consistent across both stitch-outs.

Quick check

• Do a fast dimension check: can your intended frame/hoop cover each design with at least a few millimeters of safe clearance? If not, resize or change the method.

From the comments

• Needle size: Multiple confirmations point to 75/11 for this job.

• Aftermarket PE800 hoops: some users report snap-in fit issues; use genuine or proven-compatible hoops.

• Sticky brand: not specified in the original project.

Prep checklist

• Designs loaded; orange thread on both machines

• Paper templates printed with crosshairs

• Fast Frame + sticky tear-away prepped; 5×7 hoop with tear-away ready

• Clamps/binder clips at hand for managing bulk

Setup: Frame, hoop, and alignment strategy

The alignment philosophy is consistent for both methods: crosshairs control everything. On the backpack, place the paper template where you want the design. Match those template crosshairs to the frame/hoop center marks so your needle lands dead-center later.

Pro tip

• Draw crosshair lines on the hooped stabilizer for the 5×7 setup using an acrylic ruler. That way, when you float the pocket, you align fabric crosshairs to stabilizer crosshairs—not by guesswork but by lines you can see and feel.

Fast Frame alignment cues - Many Fast Frames include V-notches that indicate center. Align the template’s vertical line with the notches and confirm the design will stitch within the frame’s inner edges—by feel and by trace.

Single-needle hoop alignment (floating) - Mark a vertical and horizontal center on the hooped tear-away. Turn the backpack inside out to access the pocket and minimize bulk. Align the pocket’s template crosshairs to the drawn lines, baste in sections, and keep the pocket flat.

From the comments

• Beginners on compact machines (like an SE-series) ask why templates matter: templates and crosshairs deliver reliable placement and reduce rehoops and do-overs.

Setup checklist

• Template positioned; crosshairs visible on paper and stabilizer

• Fast Frame notches aligned; safe clearance confirmed by touch and trace

• 5×7 hoop marked; pocket turned inside out and ready to float

Operation: Step-by-step stitching (two machines, two methods)

Part A — Paw print on a Fast Frame (Ricoma EM-1010)

1) Prep the Fast Frame with sticky tear-away. Cut a piece to cover the entire sewing window. Peel the paper, apply it smoothly, and patch any short edges if needed—waste nothing.

2) Place and align. Open the small pocket and slide it onto the sticky surface, aligning the template’s vertical crosshair with the frame’s center notches and the horizontal line by eye. Feel the edges of the frame to confirm the design won’t hit metal.

3) Secure with clamps. Add binder clips or small spring clamps around the frame to keep the pocket flat and resist shifting. Avoid pulling the fabric; aim for smooth, even tension.

4) Mount the frame. Bring the backpack to the Ricoma EM-1010. Move slowly so clamps don’t collide with the machine. Center needle 1 over the template center and perform a trace to confirm clearance on all sides.

Quick check

• If the trace path approaches clamps or the frame edge, stop and re-seat. Adjust position so the needle path is comfortably inside the sewing window. magnetic hoops for embroidery machines

5) Stitch. This paw print runs roughly 6,500 stitches in orange. No topper is needed: backpack fabric here isn’t textured like minky or fleece. Keep an eye on bulk near the sewing arm to ensure nothing folds under.

6) Remove, tear, and tidy. After stitching, remove clamps and peel away the sticky tear-away from the back. Trim jump stitches between the paw print details.

Watch out

• Ensure no part of the backpack is folded under the arm. A hidden fold can sew itself to your design.

Outcome expectation

• A centered, crisp paw print, edges clean, no frame hits or clamp trails.

Part B — Name via floating (Brother PE800, 5×7 hoop)

1) Hoop tear-away and mark centers. In a standard 5×7 hoop, draw a vertical and horizontal line that intersect at the hoop center. Use the notches at top/bottom/sides as guides.

2) Confirm design size. The original plan used a 1-inch-tall font, but the PE800 flagged the design as too big; the name was resized to about 0.75 inch to fit comfortably. brother 5x7 hoop

3) Turn the backpack inside out. This exposes the front pocket and reduces bulk in the throat space of the PE800. Pin the paper template to the pocket as a visual anchor.

4) Baste in sections. Lightly spray basting adhesive onto the hooped tear-away (not the machine). Working in sections, align the pocket’s crosshairs to the drawn hoop lines, press flat, then lift and spray the next section. Keep the pocket smooth—don’t over-flatten surrounding bulk that doesn’t need to lay flat.

Pro tip - After the first section is down, re-verify that the crosshairs still meet. Check both sides to confirm horizontal alignment before committing the remainder.

5) Mount on the PE800. Carefully slide the hooped stabilizer under the needle plate without shifting the backpack. Lift the presser foot to help settle the hoop and listen for the frame “click” when it’s correctly attached.

6) Center and trace. Use the PE800’s on-screen controls to confirm the needle hits the crosshair center and to check extremes of the design. The little “needle/outline” tool helps preview where outer points will stitch.

7) Manage bulk. Clamp excess backpack body down away from the sewing field so it can’t ride up and snag the foot or arm. fast frames embroidery

8) Stitch the name. Start the run in orange. Expect only a few jump stitches between letters; these are easy to trim afterwards.

9) Remove and clean up. Take the hoop off, gently peel the backpack away from the tear-away, and trim any remaining jumps on the back and front. Turn the backpack right-side out to admire your work.

Quick check

• Letters should read straight along the pocket; vertical stems should look perpendicular to the pocket edge with consistent density and no puckers. embroidery hoops magnetic

Operation checklist

• Crosshairs aligned on both template and hoop

• Clearance confirmed via trace

• Bulk secured clear of the arm and needle path

• Clean tear-away removal and jump trim

From the comments

• A viewer asked why not use sticky stabilizer in the 5×7 hoop to avoid spray. The creator noted it simply wasn’t considered in that moment. Either approach can work; choose what you control best.

Quality Checks: Verify alignment, clearance, and stitch quality

Placement

• Center hit: Does the needle land at the intersection of your template crosshairs?

• Parallelism: Are the design’s baselines parallel to pocket edges when viewed straight on?

Clearance

• Trace again with the pocket loaded to be sure no clamp or frame edge risks collision.

• Use your fingers to feel the frame perimeter; your design should sit comfortably away from metal.

Stitch quality

• Top thread coverage should be even; no looping, tunneling, or long gaps.

• On the paw print, curved edges should be smooth, not jagged; on the name, letter interiors should be clear and readable.

Cleanup

• Tear-away should release without distorting stitches. Trim jumps on both sides for a professional look.

Quick check

• If the PE800 flags size issues, confirm the actual height measurement and resize conservatively. In this project, reducing from about 1 inch to around 0.75 inch resolved the warning. magnetic embroidery hoops

Results & Handoff: Clean up and present

The finished backpack features a crisp orange paw print on the smaller pocket and a clean, straight name on the front pocket. The resized name stitches look intentional and balanced; community feedback even favored the smaller letters. This job used one backpack and two machines to get around a frame-fit limitation while keeping quality high.

From the comments

• When asked if the colors were for Clemson, the creator clarified it was for a local school. Share any school or team guidance with your stitcher up front so they can match thread and scale accordingly. brother se600 hoop

Handoff tips

• Brush away stabilizer crumbs, snip any tiny fuzz left from jumps, and confirm no adhesive overspray remains visible.

• Photograph both stitch-outs straight on to verify alignment and keep a client record.

Troubleshooting & Recovery

Design flagged “too big” on PE800

• Symptom: The on-screen warning appears even when you think the sizing should fit.

• Likely cause: Actual design extents or safety margins exceed hoop area.

• Fix: Reduce height modestly (as done here, to about 0.75 inch) or reposition to fit safely. magnetic hoops for embroidery machines

Fabric shifting on the Fast Frame

• Symptom: Slight drift or misalignment during the run.

• Likely cause: Insufficient sticky coverage or not enough clamping.

• Fix: Re-prep with full-coverage sticky tear-away and add clamps at edges; don’t stretch, just flatten.

Hoop collisions

• Symptom: Needle path grazes frame or clamp during trace or stitch.

• Likely cause: Tight placement without margin.

• Fix: Recenter and re-trace; remove or reposition clamps; feel the frame edges before stitching.

Bulk snags on the single-needle

• Symptom: Backpack body rides up near the foot or arm.

• Likely cause: Unmanaged bulk or gravity pulling fabric into the field.

• Fix: Clamp body sections down and away; keep the pocket area flat and isolated. fast frames for brother embroidery machine

Sticky residue or dirty hoop

• Symptom: Adhesive build-up on the hoop.

• Community tip: A viewer suggested cleaners (e.g., common household products) to wipe frames; the creator acknowledged easy clean-up ideas while noting not all accessories are necessary for success. Test any cleaner carefully off-garment first.

Tension questions on PE800

• Community note: The creator no longer has the machine and doesn’t recall settings. When in doubt, run a small test stitch-out on scrap to fine-tune tension.

Quick diagnostic routine

• 30-second check: template center alignment → trace edges → tug test on the pocket → confirm bulk is clamped → go.

From the comments: Quick answers and tips

• Needle size used: 75/11 (confirmed multiple times by the creator).

• Can a single-needle handle backpacks? Yes—“these single needles can handle a lot,” especially with careful floating and clamping.

• PE800 aftermarket hoops not snapping: Some users report fit issues; stick to hoops that positively lock into the carriage.

• Why templates and crosshairs? They’re the simplest way to achieve reliable placement on pockets and other constrained areas.

• Spray vs sticky in the hoop: Either can work for floating; in this project, basting adhesive was used.

Reference Steps at a Glance

• Paw print (multi-needle + Fast Frame): Prep sticky → align with V-notches → clamp → trace → stitch → tear and trim.

• Name (single-needle + floating): Mark 5×7 → resize to fit → turn backpack inside out → template align → baste in sections → clamp bulk → center/trace → stitch → peel and trim. embroidery magnetic hoops

Pro tip

• If you frequently embroider bags, consider keeping a small set of clamps handy at the machine and pre-marked center lines on your most-used hoop. It removes variables on each setup. brother 5x7 hoop

Watch out

• Never let a clamp sit where the foot could ride over it. Re-trace after any adjustment.

Quick check

• Before pressing Start: center hit confirmed, extremes traced, bulk clamped, fingers felt the frame edges—green light. embroidery hoops magnetic