What is an Embroidered Patch?

An embroidered patch is a stitched design, usually on a piece of material with a stiff backing layer, that is affixed to a garment or other item made of fabric. It is often used by a group, organization or association such as a sports team, corporation or recreational group to distinguish it from others. An embroidered patch may also be used to show membership. They are effective in showing the rank or status of the person wearing them. Some groups use them to mark an accomplishment in a particular pursuit. Other individuals who are not part of a group used them for creative self-expression and to show their alliegance to a group, team, band and so on.

An embroidered patch can be manufactured by hand. Most companies use a special machine, or produce patches in a factory with the use of the digitization process on a computer. A patch is manufactured onto a piece of stiff backing material, which is called the twill. This provides the necessary support for the finer layer of the design, which is stitched in thread. Materials such as polyester are the most popular for making patches by commercial suppliers, but some make use of fabrics such as cotton.

The most common types of embroidered patch are patches that are ironed onto garments, patches that are applied to garments using a layer of heat-seal chemical, and patches that are sewn directly onto a garment. The difference between iron-on patches and patches sealed by heat is that the former can be fixed to garments using an ordinary household iron, whereas the latter can only be affixed using a special professional press which heats the patch to a very high temperature.

The advantage of an embroidered patch is that it has a particular 3D look which makes the patch “pop” out of the clothing and looks very striking to the observer. They are also more robust than designs which are stitched directly onto garments because of the tough backing twill. You can also select from a range of ready-made patches for your garment to save time and money.

Creating a custom embroidered patch can be a very enjoyable process. First, you need to create the sample image of your patch design in as much detail as possible. The higher the quality of the design, the better the finished patch will look. If you have trouble designing your patch, many companies can offer the services of an experienced graphics designer, who will be able to help you to realize the design that you are mentally visualizing.

Next, this design will have to be digitized by scanning it into a computer. A piece of computer software then analyses the design and calculates the stitch count that will be required to make it properly. A more complex patch will be more expenive because it requires more stitches. Once the patch has been digitized, it can be made according to one of the three methods and then affixed professionally to your garment.