You're using a stabilizer, right?
Don't actually have any of that. I'm doing this by hand since I don't have a machine, but I don't even think the hoop would have helped (at least, that's what I heard). The outline was stitched (by hand) on a cloth backing on the inside of the sweater, and some of the stitches I've done have gone through and scrunched up that cloth a bit.
I'm kinda out of time since con is tomorrow, but at least I have everything filled in. I just have to hope these threads don't come loose. One of these days, probably after this weekend, all the threads will get popped and this will be done for real, but for now... well, it's rough, but it's mine.