Sock Embroidery Frame for the Brother Skitch PP1

Purpose

This sock frame (or sock hoop) is an add-on for the 10x10cm frame for the Brother Skitch PP1, a cheap free arm embroidery machine, for printing on socks and similar items. It replaces the standard the magnetic cover and you will have to attach it with clips or tape. You could try to glue small and strong magnets to the frame.

Usage

1. Create an embroidery file that fits. Size depends on the configuration of the frame (roughly between 3 and 5cm
2. Insert the sock into the sock frame according to instructions below. Do check that the pressure foot does not touch.
3. Insert the frame and attach it in the four corners with clips (strong tape can also do)
4. In Artspira, set frame size to 70 (to avoid that the head bumps into the clips)
5. In Artspira, center the design. It must be in the middle
6. Stitch & enjoy your lovely socks.
    

Inserting the sock (see the picture from a prior version).

1. Insert the sock in the mouth (front)
2. Attach right side first, upper corner first
3. Attach left side
4. Now make sure that the bottom is stretched enough, pull behind and move to front
5. At the bottom you will a rather fat “sausage”. Pull it through the mouth and secure with a needle if necessary
6. Cover the whole button with an adhesive stabilizer, e.g. Filmoplast.
7. Check that the pressure foot does not touch the frame, because it will make weird jumps to the 7cm border once it stichted a section. If it does touch: 1) Verify if the frame is well inserted and check point 5, no sausage underneath.

I will upload a better “how to” picture sometimes.

Customizing

The model is made with OpenScad and you can use the customizer to play with parameters. I use both global default parameters and modules with parameters. You can also generate an SVG file for laser cutting two 3mm pieces that you must glue together. An example is in the files. Sorry for the ugliness of the code, I am not a programmer and in addition I am getting old and forgetting ;) 

The default frame is OK for printing on men's socks (Size M/L). For other sizes you may have to print a different version. Sorry, I did not test much in that respect because I do not need this frame (I got a professional embroidery machine with tiny hoops). 

Possible improvements: hooks that will hold it without clips, or at least one side; a better way to deal with the sausage; refactor the code. Also, testing of various sock sizes.

Printing

Any printer with any setting and any plastic will do. It's just a 2D1/2 structure. I used PLA+ and 15% infill and printed on a cheap 150Euro printer I got at home. You should heat the bed or put glue on it.

Laser cutting

You can also generate an SVG for laser cutting in two pieces that must be glued together. One Version is in the files.

Prior and other work

I made a sock hoop a few years ago and started from its code . This one is much simplified since there is only one frame, but does have two layers so that you can just put it on top. Someone else made a Skitch frame and it may work better, but I wanted mine in order to create frames for different sizes.