BIG HOOP & AUTO TRACE
                          by Diane Newren     <DianEdward@aol.com>

     The new Big Hoop clips into the Fantasy Unit and essentially there are
two sewing fields which overlap within the hoop.  This makes new software
unnecessary since you are essentially able to sew two field's worth without
having to rehoop.

     The hoop itself is connected on the right to the clip on a sliding
system with a large round screw you need to tighten down securely once you
have determined each new position.   The sliding system allows you
mutli-positionining, so in  order to align a large design do the following:

     1.  When you auto trace the bmp of your design the auto trace will
automatically set stitch number one on the furtherest-lefthand-side of the
bmp.  Therefore, draw a line from the place you want stitch point number one
to start and continue to the outside edge on the left of the PC-Designer
screen (make sure your line doesn't intersect any other lines of your bmp
design or the last intersection closest to the left hand-side will become
stitch number one).  Once you have auto traced your bmp you can then delete
the line you added until the original design is left.  This will set the
stitch you want to be number one on the bmp.  For instance, if you were
sewing a large flower with a stem you could set the first stitch where the
flower and stem meet.  Draw a line from where the flower and stem meet to the
left-hand side of the PC-Designer screen until you can go no further.  Do the
auto trace, then delete the line you aded up to the flower which will make
the stitch at the flower and stem point stitch number one.  Then when you sew
both halves of the pattern stitch number one would be the connecting point.

     2.  Place the big hoop into the clip after both pieces of the pattern
are loaded into the sewing machine screen.  Check the upper field for enough
room to sew the upper part of the pattern by tracing around the sewing field.
 You may want to check the lower half of the pattern at this time also to
make sure you aren't too far to the left or to the right for how the pattern
will sew out once it is connected. 

     3.  The first needle posiition of the Fantasy Unit will center the
pattern (which it will do automatically).  the next needle position will be
the first stitch you set on your bmp.  You get to this position by taping the
foot control once.  When you are at the first stitch position you can check
to make sure you are aligned correctly to sew both halves of the pattern.

     4.  After sewing out the first half of the pattern you load the second
pattern and tap the foot control so you are at the first stitch position.
 Now the needle will be directly above the place you set your first stitch on
the bmp for the lower part of the pattern.  Slide the hoop until you are
aligned up and down.  Use the cursor keys on the sewing machine to align the
hoop from side to side.  Once your needle is directly above stitch number one
you can sew out the second half of the pattern. 

     5.  You can use the above method to align a larger pattern without
having to use the big hoop.  Just rehoop your fabric making sure the fabric
remains positioned up and down and side to side.  The use of sticky paper so
you can lift the fabric to the correct position might make it easier. 

                                  AUTO TRACE

The line from your bmp must be bmp also.  In other words, it must be a 
part of the actual bmp design when you load it in.  Then do the auto 
trace.  Then delete the stitches that were made on the extra line until 
you reach the stitch you want to be stitch number one.  So, if you have a 
large pattern like the flower, and it has to be loaded in two bmp parts, 
you merely draw a line from the same point on the flower over to the far 
left-hand side of the PC-Designer.

For example, draw a line from the bottom of the flower where the stem 
meets.  Load that into your first screen and do the auto trace.  Draw a 
line from the top of the stem where it meets the flower over to the 
left-hand side of the PC-Designer.  Now load that separately and do your 
auto trace.  When you make the connecting point stitch number one you can 
follow my other diretions to align two separate patterns up.