Can I wash clothes with iron-on patches?

Yes, but turn the garment inside out and use cold water to make the patch last longer.

How long do iron-on patches last?

With good application and maintenance, iron-on patches can last for several washes without peeling.

Can I sew an iron-on patch for added protection?

Yes! Sewing the edges can add durability, particularly for high-use clothing.

What materials are best for iron-on patches?

Cotton, denim, and polyester fabrics are great for iron-on patches, but nylon and silk do not work well.

Can I take off an iron-on patch after applying it?

Yes, you can use a hot iron or adhesive remover to gently peel off the patch without harming the fabric.

14-02-2025Embroidery Guides

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Embroidery

Custom Iron-On Embroidery Patches

Iron-on embroidery patches are the best for clothing, accessories, or uniforms. Doesn’t matter if you're making patches for a volunteer group, companies, gifts, or for personal use, this process gives you a professional and long-lasting finish. In this blog post, we will cover a simple step-by-step process of creating your own iron-on patches on an embroidery machine and the essential supplies you need.
But before starting the blog post, I have a question for you guys. Are you seeking customized embroidery patches or want to design but facing problems and getting frustrated, let me give you the easiest solution, you can get your embroidery designs digitized with True Digitizing, we offer customer embroidery digitizing services at affordable rates, at $12 with unlimited free revisions, place an order today and get high quality embroidery designs.

Now let's start the blog post.

Table of Contents

1. How to Custom Iron on Patches? Step by Step Process 1.1 Step 1: Hooping the Stabilizer 1.2 Step 2: Choosing and Sewing the Patch designs 1.3 Step 5: Ironing the Patch onto Fabric 2. Final Words FAQs

Materials You Should Use

Before starting the process, gather the following materials:

Embroidery machine (Single or multi-needle)

Embroidery hoop

Embroidery thread (match with your design)

Fabric for the patch

Cutaway stabilizer (two sheets for more stability)

Heat and bond ultra hold fusible sheet

Scissors (curved embroidery scissors for accurate cutting)

Lighter

Iron (for attaching the patch)

T-shirt or fabric to attach the patch
How to Custom Iron on Patches? Step by Step Process
Step 1: Hooping the Stabilizer
Start with two pieces of stiff cutaway stabilizer in your embroidery hoop. This gives your patch a strong base and avoids distortion while stitching. Leave them in place once set and tighten the hoop properly. A tightly secured hoop gives clean, accurate embroidery. .At last, just attach the hoop to your embroidery machine and make sure that everything is perfect & ready for stitching.

Step 2: Choosing and Sewing the Patch designs
Next, choose your embroidery design from the interface on the machine. To match your thread selection, load the patch file and change the color if needed. Start the embroidery process when everything is ready. The stitching is expected to take 10 to 15 minutes, but depending on how complicated the design is. Moving to the next step. Now you can gently remove the hoop from the machine just after the embroidery is completed.

Step 3: Cutting the Edges of the Patches
Once you are done with removing the patch from the hoop, now gently cut the edges using a pair of curved embroidery scissors so than It can give you a neat and polished look. Lightly burn around the edge of the patch using a lighter to further smooth the edges and keep it from fraying.

Step 4: Applying Heat on Patches
Set the iron to its high temperature and press the patch for 6 seconds. Cut a piece of bond ultra and heat out. Place the sheet's textured, sticky side onto the patch's back, covering it properly. After that, press the patch hard for about 6 seconds while using the iron at its maximum temperature. This will help the adhesive to attach to the patch. Leave it to cool down after ironing, then remove the backing so you can see a strong adhesive layer that will make ironing the patch onto the fabric easy.
Step 5: Ironing the Patch onto Fabric
Choose whether to attach your patch to a jacket, T-shirt, polo shirt, or another item. The left chest area of a shirt is a common placement. After placing, cover the patch with a piece of protective fabric to avoid direct heat damage. Ironing at high heat, apply firm pressure to the patch for approximately six seconds. Check whether the patch has stuck well, if necessary, re-iron to achieve a good bond. After complete attachment, allow the patch to cool before touching the fabric.
Final Words
Creating personalized iron-on embroidery patches is an excellent way of integrating personalized designs on clothes and accessories with a professional appearance. You are creating them for resale, charity, or personal use, above are the easiest steps that will guide you to produce top-quality, durable patches. By correctly hooping, stitching, trimming, sealing, and applying adhesive, one can have a clean, professional finish.

Iron-on patches are handy, and ironing clothes couldn't get easier. Also, with proper material and skills, they don't have to be less resilient compared to sewing-based patches. Whether you make them for team sporting wear, branding for the companies, or it's your expression, becoming well-versed in this art ensures you deliver excellent quality outputs always.

Author

Nick William

Embroidery Digitizer

Nick William has been immersed in the world of embroidery digitizing for over 20 years, earning 25 industry awards throughout his career. As a 3rd generation embroidery expert, Nick’s journey started in his family’s workshop, where he learned the art of digitizing before the rise of modern software. He has worked with leading commercial embroidery businesses and has shared his expertise with over 75,000 home and professional embroiderers. As an author at True Digitizing, Nick is passionate about teaching others how to create beautiful, precise designs through easy-to-follow tutorials and expert advice.