Patches help reshape your outlook, build your identity, and boost the enthusiasm to support your team or a cause. They look tiny, but they hold a deeper meaning and a way of communication. With patches comes the application of them as the first thought, which can be troublesome for many. However, we suggest that you always choose what brings stability and a firm grip, and in that regard, sewing is unparalleled.
There are multiple options for patch application, but the conventional sew-on patch is the greatest of all time. Through sew-on patches, you can hide the ugly spots on your jackets, and that old sweater, which makes you feel nostalgic, can be revived with a woven patch stitch over the frayed spots.
In this article, we will explore how to sew-on patches by hand so that the unversed who are doing it for the first time can find it helpful. We’ll show you how to sew on patches to your jeans, jacket, hat, and other clothes, and share some tips for sew-on appliqué patches and sew-on embroidered patches that will help your patches look great and keep them in place.
Basic Supplies and Preparation Before Sewing:
Having the proper tools and prepared materials in place before jumping into stitching will make the process a lot easier and your stitching experience more successful.
Gathering Your Supplies:
First of all, collect your patches, whether they are new custom-made sew-on patches or exquisitely made sew-on embroidered patches. You can use any type of patch for stitching over your garment.
Sharp Needles:
When you are hand sewing, a sharp, sturdy needle is essential.
Colorful threads:
For patch stitching, pick out a strong kind of thread, such as polyester will be the best possible option, but be careful and pick out the shades that match the border for an invisible finish, or a contrasting color if you want your stitches to be a prominent design feature.
Sharp Scissors:
Little sharp sewing scissors are required for clean trimming of threads.
Pins or Fabric Glue:
More importantly, you will need rings or temporary fabric glue to keep the patch in place prior to sewing.
Thimble:
Not compulsory, but highly recommended for hand-sewing accessories because it keeps your fingers from being pricked by a needle.
Iron and Others:
Finally, an iron may be useful for pre-pressing your garment, and a fabric marker or chalk will allow for precise marking of the patch’s location.
Preparation of Your Fabric:
Now, when you are done with collecting the supplies for sew-on patches, check your fabric thoroughly. It should be dry, clean, and wrinkle-free, because puckering disturbs the stitches and makes it look messy. Secondly, spread it out and find the spot where you would like to stitch the patch. Now, use some fabric glue to stick that custom sew-on patch in the desired place to prevent it from any slight change of movement.
How to Sew on Patches by Hand
Hand sewing is not difficult, but it’s not easy either. Through handstitching, you get precision and control, so this classic method is typically used for delicate fabrics, intricate sew-on appliqué patches, or when a sewing machine isn’t available.
Start by cutting 18 to 24 inches of thread. Use a double strand for strength on most patches. Knot one end and hide the knot by inserting your needle from underneath the fabric, bringing it just inside the patch edge. Pull tight to hide the knot, then bring the needle up through the patch edge.
Choosing Your Stitch
You can choose between a running stitch and a backstitch for more security. Always ensure each stitch passes through both the patch border and fabric for security. Focus on corners and edges with extra stitches at stress points. After sewing around the patch, finish underneath by making a small stitch, looping the thread, and pulling tight to knot. Repeat for security and trim excess thread.
Tips for Hand Sewing Success
Always use a thimble to protect your finger, especially when sewing on heavy fabrics. Try to keep stitches small and even for that really professional look. Pulling the thread tightly can cause too much fabric to gather around the patch. Taking it easy with the tension helps everything stay neat and smooth.
Now you might be thinking about stitching on the thick fabrics. Here you go:
The Special Methods For Stitching The Patches On Different Fabrics:
Basic principles of sewing patches remain the same, but each garment comes with its specific characteristics and challenges when it comes to attaching sew-on patches. This part will cover how to apply custom-made sew-on patches and other designs to various popular clothing items.
How to Sew Patches on Jeans:
The jeans fabric is extremely popular and never goes out of style, whether you have a denim jacket or a pair of jeans. Both effortlessly help in upgrading the style. Yet when this fabric starts to look a little worn out or you just want to add a splash of personal touch, Custom sew-on patches can come in handy here. And to attach that captivating patch over the jean fabric, you will need a couple of things around.
- A polyester thread.
- A heavy-duty needle with a size 90/14 or 100/16
Since the denim fabric is quite thick and strong, the general needles used for stitching on light fabric get easily broken. Other than polyester thread, random ones become loose over time, no matter how small or closely you have stitched. Therefore, the polyester thread is perfect for the denim fabric and works perfectly with its thick density, along with a heavy-duty needle (size 90/14 or 100/16).
The polyester thread attached to the sharp needle penetrates easily, ensuring your stitches are strong and your needle doesn’t bend or break. This will let your patch stay in its place for a long time, even after repeated wear or wash, the sew-on patches won’t fall apart.
How to Sew Patches on a Jacket
Sewing patches on your jacket by hand is great because you have more control, which matters since jackets are made of all sorts of stuff.
If it’s a denim jacket, grab a tough needle made for denim and some strong thread, like heavy-duty polyester or even dental floss. Stick your patch where you want it, using pins or a bit of fabric glue to hold it still, especially on sleeves or shoulders that curve. The backstitch works best because it’s strong. It makes a solid line of stitches that will keep the patch on, even when you wear and wash it.
Which type of needles works best?
Apart from denim, you need to change things up a bit as per the requirements of different fabrics. For leather, get a special leather needle and skip the pins. Use fabric glue or clips instead. On lighter jackets made of nylon or fleece, a regular sharp needle and some polyester thread should do the trick. Do consider the inside lining of the jacket, too. Do you want to sew through it to make the patch extra secure, or just stick to the outside layer? After deciding, make small, even stitches around the patch and reinforce the corners to make sure it stays put and looks awesome.
How to Sew on Clothes:
Sewing on custom-made patches on clothes is one of the oldest tricks to add fascination to your clothing items. If you’re adding patches to your clothes, keep in mind that different patches and spots need different approaches for a good-looking and long-lasting result. Getting this right makes your sewing projects better.
Usually, a regular sharp needle and some strong thread will do the trick for most materials. First, stick your patch where it should go, using pins or a bit of fabric glue to hold it in place, like we mentioned earlier. The backstitch is a super choice for sewing by hand. It’s strong and looks tidy because it makes a nice, solid line that won’t come apart easily. Another option is the whipstitch. You loop the thread over the patch’s edge and into the fabric. This is a good, strong way to attach patches, especially the ones that are meant to be sewn on.
Check out the Fabric for the Selection of Needle Type
When you’re putting patches on different kinds of clothes, think about what the fabric is like. If it stretches, use a ballpoint needle so you don’t break the fibres. Also, don’t pull the thread too hard, or the fabric will bunch up. For delicate fabrics, hand sewing is best. Use thin needles and thread, and be extra careful!
Application of Sew-on Patches on Different Stuff:
Custom Iron-On Patches
Can you sew iron-on patches by hand to make them extra secure? Yep, totally! After you iron it on, sew around the edges with a running stitch or backstitch to really lock it in place. That way, your patches will stay on, even if you’re sewing them onto hats. A curved needle can be handy for hats, too.
Sew On Appliqué Patches
As for the Sew-on appliqué patches, they add something special to your clothes. They often have cool cut-out or layered designs that are supposed to grab your attention. If you’re sewing these on by hand, take your time. Use small, tidy stitches to secure the edges, making sure the appliqué sits flat and shows off all its details. You want the stitches to disappear into the patch, so it looks clean and pro, and the appliqué looks amazing.
Sew Patches On Hats
Putting sew-on patches on hats can be tricky because hats are curved and stiff. Hand sewing usually works best because you can move the patch and hat fabric around to fit the curve. Pin or glue the patch to the hat before you start sewing. Use small, even stitches to hold it in place without messing up the hat’s shape. This way, your patch will stay on and look great.
Sew-on Embroidered Patches
Lastly, sew-on embroidered patches are cool because of their texture and colorful threads. They’re great for jazzing up jackets, bags, etc. Since they’re thick and have a lot of stitching, use a strong needle and thread to sew them on tight. Either you are more comfortable with a machine or sewing by hand, stitch close to the edge of the patch. A backstitch is a great option. It makes a strong stitch that keeps the patch secure. Plus, the design looks awesome and can handle everyday use.
Practie Makes A Man Perfect:
We have tried to keep the blog short and easily understandable for the newbies; however, if it still feels like too much, then take no worries, start patiently, and go slowly with each step, because practice makes a man perfect so don’t give up and give it a try to see the personalized sew-on patches bringing your clothes, hats, jeans, etc, come to life.