Patches have a long history in human culture. And they seem to be on the rise yet again.
If you want to get in on the patches trend but don’t know where to start, this article is for you.
Read on, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know about how to style and attach patches to your gear.
What You’ll Need
This section is pretty self-explanatory. Gather up the following, and you’re well on your way to upping your patches game.
- iron
- ironing board
- patch or patches of choice
- thin fabric or a pressing cloth
- the clothing you’ll be customizing
Seriously, that’s it!
Side Note About Fabric and Patches
Not all clothing is friendly to iron-on patches. Materials like nylon, rayon, leather, and anything waterproof will not take iron-on patches. If you have any of those fabrics in mind, you would be better off sewing them on instead.
Iron on patches DO work great on anything cotton or polyester. Make sure you check the labels of what you’re customizing first.
The Nitty Gritty Process
It’s not actually gritty at all. In fact, it’s pretty simple. We are confident that anyone can learn how to style patches and apply them with ease.
Step 1
Heat up your iron. In order for the patch to stick correctly, the iron must be at its highest setting.
No iron? No problem!
If you don’t have an iron, you can use a hair straightener in a pinch.
Step 2
Get creative, plan that design. Lay your item out on your ironing board and start playing around with patch placement.
Once you’re happy with your layout, place the sticky side of the patch down. If you are putting the patch on something that doesn’t lay flat (shoes or a hat), you can stuff them with towels.
Step 3
Place your thin fabric or pressing cloth over the patch. The fabric barrier will help protect the patch and the clothing fabric from the high heat of the iron.
A pillowcase, sheet, or thin, damp towel will all suffice.
Step 4
Let the ironing begin!
Place the iron over the patch and hold it there for about 30 seconds. Alternatively, if your patch came with instructions for timing, follow those recommendations instead.
Step 4
Rinse and repeat. Or rather, flip and repeat.
Once the patch is attached, turn the item inside out. Reposition it flat out on the ironing board, and press with the iron again. For something like a shoe or backpack, you’ll just repeat without flipping.
Let the item cool, and you’re done! You can wear your customized piece immediately.
Patches: High-Fashion, Low Cost
As you can see, applying iron-on patches is super simple. Keep our handy guide close by to refer to as needed while you’re customizing your pieces.
Looking for more useful insights into everyday things? Check out the rest of our content while you’re here! Our extensive blog roll has whatever it is you’re looking for.
