Patches are a brilliant way to transform a garment into something fresh and new. Perhaps you have a faded denim jacket or pair of jeans in need of new life. Or maybe you like the idea of transforming a fabric tote bag into something more appealing for your trips to the grocery store. Patches are also great for kids’ clothes because you can get all kinds of designs and images to reflect their personalities and passions.
However, there is a potential hurdle here if you aren’t that keen on the idea of sewing patches onto your clothes. Anyone that lacks confidence with a needle and thread may worry about doing a good job at fixing a patch in the right place, or making it look neat enough. Or, perhaps you just want a process that isn’t so time-consuming. That is where iron-on patches can help.
How to make iron on patches
Ironing on patches is such a great way to add some color and personality to a garment. However, it is even better if you can create your own patches for even more customization. There is a lot to consider here, from the process of designing your patch, to getting that design on the material, to then fixing your patch onto your garment. But, with some practice and experimentation, you are sure to find a solution that suits your needs.
In this guide, I want to look at some of the different ways that you can create a patch, including the processes and material choices. This includes some sewing techniques as well as printing an image with a transfer sheet. Then, I will talk about how to iron the patches onto your clothes.
What is the best material to use for an iron on patch?
Before we can think about creating any designs for your patch, we need to look at the material used. Ideally, you want a nice piece of cloth that isn’t going to stretch on become difficult to use. It shouldn’t be too thin either, as this could be an issue when creating a design and fixing the material to the garment. Where possible, you can try to use the same time of fabric as the garment. Therefore, you could use a denim patch on a denim jacket or a linen patch on a linen shirt.
Choosing your design.
Designing a patch is either the really fun part or the nerve-racking part – depending on your confidence as an artist or graphic designer. There are two ways that you can go here. Some people will prefer to use pre-existing designs and transfer those over to the fabric. This is absolutely fine and can allow for some cartoon characters and other fun logos for kids’ clothing. From there, the process is a little like paint-by-numbers. Or, you can draw your own designs onto the fabric and work from there. The only constraints come from the size of the piece, the complexity of the design, and the number of colors needed.
Embroidering a patch by hand.
Those of you that want to improve your sewing skills are sure to appreciate the chance to embroider a patch by hand. You can get a nice fat square or scrap of material, get it nice and tight in the hoop, and then play with different stitches and colors. I love this approach because you get to seek out the best colors from the store and test your skills. I recommend a simple satin stitch to block in areas, with some neat backstitching to finish it off. Once finished, you can cut it out ready to fix it onto the fabric
Tracing your design on your fabric.
The best way to get the perfect image onto your fabric is to draw it on paper first, and then trace it onto the material. It is easier to draw on paper to get the precise image and then copy it over. If you want to use a team logo, cartoon character, or other recognizable images, you can print it out and trace that instead. Tracing onto material is easier the thinner and lighter the material. Some keen sewers use a lightbox to project the image through the material. You can then create a strong image on the material to fill in with the embroidery thread.
Embroidering a patch via a machine.
An alternative option is to use an embroidery machine to create the best-embroidered iron on patches for your clothes. This is a great option for those that are handy with a sewing machine and good at making clothes but, perhaps aren’t so good with free-hand work. The machine should have an embroidery hoop in the box to hold the chosen fabric in place. You can then program in your design and create a neat, almost professional-looking patch. I recommend playing around with designs and stitches before committing to making a patch for anyone. It can take some practice if you haven’t used those settings before.
Importing a design onto an embroidery machine.
The other great thing about using an embroidery machine is that you can import designs on most machines. A lot of systems will have basic images and fonts build-in already that you can take advantage of. But, many also allow for downloads of compatible images onto a USB stick, which you can then transfer to the machine. Check to see what your machine is capable of. You could find that there are some great Disney packs out there that provide princesses, Marvel characters, Star Wars characters, and more. After all, Disney does own almost everything now.
Cross stitching a patch.
If you are interested in trying out some sewing techniques and creating something a bit different for a patch, you could consider trying some cross stitch instead. Cross stitch patches can create a completely different look to the more traditional satin stitched, flat patches. There is an old-fashioned and softer feel that can allow for some cuter designs for children’s clothes and bags. As with the embroidery option, all you need is the right cross stitch frame and threads to create something really nice. You can check out my guide to the best cross stitch frames for guidance there.
Printing an image onto an inkjet transfer sheet.
Another option that you might like to try if you aren’t keen on sewing at all is to use an inkjet transfer. You can buy transfer paper for inkjet printers and print the image of your choice. This is great for simple black, minimalist designs and text. You can press the image onto the fabric and create a cool effect on denim or some patterned fabrics. This is the ultimate way to create a patch for your clothes without having to pick up a needle at all.
How to iron patches onto your clothes.
Now that you have the perfect patch – either printed onto your fabric or embroidered onto it – it is time to put it onto your jacket, bag, or other chosen item. Take your time to cut it out neatly and then get a sheet of a reliable fabric fuse material. As the name suggests, this form of webbing fuses to the material and the heat adheres the two pieces together. You may have used this sort of webbing before to hem children’s clothing without the need for sewing it.
All you need to do is press it with the iron and the patch should stick into place. Make sure to follow the instructions of the product you choose regarding the temperature and duration.
How long do iron on patches last?
This is where there is a downside to using an iron-on patch comes in. The sheets that fuse the patch to the garment aren’t going to last forever and the adhesion will fade with time. A well-sewn patch has a better anchor all the way around the edge to keep it in place through wear and tear. Therefore, it is important to keep this in mind when choosing to iron on a patch rather than sewing one. Clothes that require frequent washing or that will go through rough treatment may get tatty sooner rather than later. This could be disappointing for anyone that is a recipient of a patched garment given as a gift. Iron-on patches can work better and be more durable on jackets that are barely machine washed or on shopping bags or backpacks.
How to make iron on patches.
In short, it isn’t too hard to make some beautiful iron-on patches if you have the time and determination to create a good product. Personally, I recommend embroidering these patches by hand because it offers the greatest opportunity to create something attractive and bespoke that people will love. But, there are benefits to trying the inkjet transfers if you are keen not to sew at all. Take your time to figure out the design you want, get your tools together, and seek out a good fabric fuse material to adhere the patch.