About HoopWise: Who We Are and How We Work
What HoopWise is, how we research embroidery machines, sewing machines and supplies, and how the site makes money without selling recommendations.
HoopWise exists because most answers about embroidery and sewing machines come back as “it depends.” This site answers with the numbers that decide the purchase, shown in tables with the reasoning beside them, so you can choose once and get back to stitching.
What HoopWise covers
HoopWise is an independent editorial site for home embroiderers, sewists and small embroidery businesses. It covers four areas:
- Embroidery machines: single-needle, combo and multi-needle machines, what the embroidery field size means for your projects, and what a machine really costs once supplies are added. Start with the embroidery machine buying guide.
- Sewing machines: first machines, heavy-duty and quilting machines, and where a serger fits.
- Thread and supplies: thread fibers and weights, stabilizers and hoops.
- Software and files: embroidery software and the file formats each machine reads.
How we research
Published specs first. Field sizes, stitch speeds, needle counts and file formats come from the maker’s own specification pages and manuals. Hoop and field sizes are always given in both inches and millimeters, and we say whether a number is the stitchable field or the outer hoop.
Prices carry a date. Machine and supply prices are US retail prices, and each one says the month and year we checked it, because embroidery machine prices move with bundles and holiday sales.
No invented testing. We do not claim to have used a machine we have not used, and our byline is the HoopWise editorial team, not an invented expert.
Trade-offs are named. No machine is right for everyone, so every recommendation says who it is not for.
The thread converter
The Thread Converter matches a thread color across 17 thread lines. Its color data comes from the open thread palettes published by the Ink/Stitch project (GPL-3.0), checked line by line before use, and each match is scored with the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula. The tool page explains the method and its limits, including why a physical color card is still the final check.
How the site makes money
Some links are affiliate links that pay us a commission at no extra cost to you. Recommendations are chosen before affiliate status is checked, and plenty of our picks earn us nothing. The full policy is in the affiliate disclosure.
Corrections and requests
We would rather be corrected than confidently wrong. If a spec, price or thread color here does not match what you see on the maker’s site or the spool in your hand, tell us and we will check it and update the page.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to what readers ask us most
Is HoopWise affiliated with Brother, Janome, Singer or any thread brand?
No. HoopWise is independent and is not owned by or paid by any machine maker, thread brand, hoop maker or dealer. Where products differ, we describe the differences and name the trade-offs.
Do you test machines yourselves?
We do not run a test lab, and we do not claim hands-on testing we have not done. Our guides are built from manufacturer specifications and manuals, dealer listings, published prices with the month we checked them, and the documented experience of embroiderers and sewists, with sources named where it matters.
How does HoopWise make money?
Some product links earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you, disclosed wherever it applies. Commissions never decide a recommendation.
Can I submit a correction?
Please do. A wrong field size, an outdated price or a thread color that does not match its card is exactly what we want to hear about.