I don't use a hoop but a Q-Snap floor frame. I always start by having all the sandwich taut in the frame with no wrinkles. I then gently push down in the center of the sandwich in the frame to creat a little slack for quilting. I think the same principal would work for a hoop. Put your sandwich in the hoop taut with no wrinkles and then push down gently in the sandwich center to create the lack.