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Watch the video: “How to Embroider Hats to sell on Etsy” by Kristal
If you’ve been eyeing custom caps as your next Etsy bestseller, this tutorial shows exactly how to set up a Melco EMT16X for hats, hoop a cap with backing, verify alignment, and stitch cleanly—then finish it for photos and shipping. It’s a compact workflow you can repeat for boutique orders, gifts, or drops.
What you’ll learn
- How to attach and lightly tighten the cap driver on a Melco EMT16X
- Hooping a hat with tear-away backing for a smooth, stable stitchout
- Centering with the laser, mirroring your design, and tracing to avoid metal
- Loading the hat, starting the stitch, and removing backing for a clean finish
Introduction to Hat Embroidery for Etsy Sellers Turning a blank hat into a sellable piece comes down to three things: stable hooping, smart alignment, and a smooth stitch run. In the video, the creator walks through a practical, no-nonsense setup—great if you want to add hats to your Etsy lineup without guesswork.
From preparing the machine and cap driver, to hooping close to the brim for maximum real estate, every step focuses on the details that keep stitches crisp and placements correct. If you’re already comfortable with basic machine embroidery, you’ll feel right at home here. For brand context, this walkthrough uses a Melco EMT16X and its cap driver system; the approach is specific to that hardware. melco embroidery machine
Why Embroider Hats for Your Business? Hats are high-impact, low-footprint items: easy to ship, easy to size, and perfect for monograms or short text. The video also highlights side placements as a popular look—an on-trend way to offer personalization in your shop. While pricing and software specifics aren’t covered, the core mechanics you’ll need to produce reliable results are all here.
Understanding Your Melco EMT16X Machine This process relies on the machine’s cap driver attachment. You’ll remove the standard components, install a base bar, and mount the driver so a hooped hat can rotate and clear the needle area. The video focuses on the physical setup and safety considerations for that hardware. Software screens aren’t shown; mirroring is mentioned as a must-do but not demonstrated step by step. hoops for melco embroidery machine
Setting Up Your Melco EMT16X for Cap Embroidery Attaching the Cap Driver Base Start by preparing the machine for the cap driver: - Remove the black piece underneath the bobbin by unscrewing it.
- Slide the cap driver’s base bar into place and hand-tighten the two knobs to secure it.
Quick check
- The base bar should feel secure with hand-tightened knobs—snug, not loose.
Removing and Storing Side Arms Next, clear space for the driver: - Use the largest Allen wrench in your toolkit to loosen the arm screws.
- Finish untightening by hand and remove both arms.
- Keep two of the screws for reinstalling on the cap driver; store the others safely.
Watch out
- Don’t misplace those two screws set aside for the driver—you’ll use them in the next step. melco hat hoop
Installing and Preparing the Cap Driver Mounting the Cap Driver on Your Machine With the base bar installed and arms removed, mount the driver: - Slide the cap driver’s large hole over the bobbin arm.
- Slide the small hole onto the base bar you installed earlier.
- Align the driver’s mounting holes with the first set of screw holes closest to the driver.
- Insert the two saved screws—one on each side.
Properly Tightening for Stability Use the same Allen wrench to tighten the screws lightly—just enough that you can’t easily push them with one finger, but not so tight that you’re forcing it. The goal is stability without overtightening.
Watch out
- Overtightening can stress the hardware. Aim for “lightly tightened” so it holds firmly without strain. melco magnetic hoops
Hooping Your Hat: The Key to Perfect Stitches Using the Hat Hooping Station and Backing Move to the hooping station, which clamps onto your table for stability.
- Clamp the station securely to a sturdy surface.
- Firmly hold the hoop mechanism when releasing it; it can snap up if you let go.
- Lay a piece of tear-away backing over the hoop. If needed, curl it slightly on the table so it conforms to the hoop’s curve.
Pro tip
- A gentle pre-curve helps the backing settle neatly, reducing wrinkles that can distort stitching.
Securing the Hat and Sweatband - Lift the internal sweatband completely up and away from the embroidery area.
- Position the hat on the hoop with the sweatband tucked all the way up against the metal.
- Ensure everything is smooth—backing flat, crown consistent—before you clamp.
Clamping the Brim for Maximum Embroidery Area - Clamp the hat as close to the brim as possible to maximize design space.
- Optional: add small clips to hold sides down against the backing (the exact clip type isn’t specified in the video).
- A properly hooped hat will show the hoop very close to the brim, with the fabric smooth and stable.
Watch out
- If the clamp snaps up unexpectedly, it could hit your face. Keep a hand on it at all times when releasing. melco mighty hoop
Loading and Starting Your Embroidery Project Aligning the Hooped Hat on the Machine - At the machine, rotate the hooped cap to the right so the bill can slide under the needles and machine components.
- Rotate back to the left and snap the hat into the cap driver at three points: right, left, and bottom. Confirm each click.
Quick check
- All three snaps clicked in? Give the cap a gentle tug to confirm it’s fully seated.
Design Mirroring, Laser Alignment, and Trace Check Before pressing start:
- Mirror or flip your design upside down for cap embroidery orientation.
- Use the laser pointer to center the design precisely on the hat.
- Run a trace to make sure your stitch path clears the brim and any exposed metal on the driver. Adjust slightly back from the brim if needed.
Initiating the Embroidery Process Once centered and traced, press the green start button. The video accelerates the stitching to 8x speed so you can see the run without waiting in real time.
Pro tip
- The trace is your friend. If the trace passes too close to metal, back the design off slightly to prevent contact during stitching. mighty hoops for melco
From the comments
- A viewer asked how to embroider on the side of hats. The video calls side monograms popular but doesn’t show side-specific steps.
- Another viewer asked about machine cost; a community member suggested contacting a representative named Ron for pricing. The video itself does not specify pricing.
- Several comments were simple thanks and greetings.
Finishing Your Custom Embroidered Hat Removing the Hat and Backing After stitching, remove the hat from the cap driver and gently tear away the backing from the inside. The result in the video is a clean, crisp monogram on a leopard-print cap.
Quality check
- Inspect for clean edges and complete coverage.
- Confirm all backing is removed and the sweatband sits comfortably back in place.
Exploring Sales Opportunities on Etsy and Beyond The creator notes that this style of monogrammed cap is trendy and giftable, with sales potential across Etsy, a boutique, or your own site. While lighting was a challenge in parts of the video, the core process—from setup to finish—comes through clearly, and it’s repeatable once you’ve practiced the hooping and alignment steps.
If you’re building a hat line, standardize your process: keep backing, cap driver screws, and hoop station workflow consistent. Consider batching similar designs to reduce setup time. The video doesn’t go into pricing, software screens, or file prep beyond mirroring, so you’ll want to document those in your own shop SOPs.
Watch out
- The video emphasizes staying just shy of the brim and metal during the trace. If the trace looks tight, adjust before pressing start to avoid needle strikes.
Pro tip
- To maximize embroidery space without risk, position the clamp as close to the brim as shown during hooping and then step back a hair during alignment to clear metal on the driver.
From the comments (threaded)
- Question: “How do you do the side of the hats?”
Answer status: Not shown in this tutorial.
- Question: “How much do these machines run by chance?”
Community response: A viewer suggested contacting a representative named Ron for pricing. The video does not provide price information. melco embroidery machine price
Troubleshooting quick list
- Hat shifts during stitch: Re-check that all three snaps are fully engaged and the hoop clamp is as close to the brim as shown.
- Wrinkling on the crown: Curl the tear-away backing to match the hoop’s curve and re-hoop with the sweatband fully lifted.
- Misaligned design: Use the laser to re-center and run another trace; mirror the design if text appears reversed.
- Needle path too close to metal: Nudge the design back slightly from the brim before starting.
What’s not specified in the video
- Software interface steps for mirroring and alignment are mentioned but not demonstrated.
- Exact clip brand/type used for extra hold isn’t named.
- Machine pricing isn’t provided.
Closing thoughts With methodical setup and hooping, you can achieve repeatable, shop-ready hat embroidery on the Melco EMT16X. Keep the cap driver snug (not overtight), hold the hoop mechanism firmly when releasing, and depend on your laser and trace before pressing start. That’s the formula shown in the tutorial—and it delivers a clean finish suited for listings and gift orders alike. melco hoops
Resource notes
- Hardware shown: Melco EMT16X with cap driver and a hat hooping station.
- Materials shown: Hat, tear-away backing.
- Safety callout: Secure your grip on the hoop mechanism to prevent it from snapping upward. melco embroidery machine