How To Iron-On Patches

Patches have been around for centuries, branding garments, hats, and many other products. They add flair to old clothes, repair and upcycle garments, and add a personal touch. Seeing iron-on patches will take you back to the scouts' era, except today they add a sophisticated and nostalgic look to anything they are on.

Although the traditional sew-on patches have been the most popular method to attach patches on fabrics, the use of heat has become a more convenient and easy option. Here is a foolproof process that might leave you craving to add patches to any fabric you come across.

This process is very easy to follow. Simply place the patch on the desired fabric, and then iron it on using a hot iron. That's it! Your patch will be securely attached in no time.

Some caveats you should know before doing the patch:

Here are simple beginner-friendly steps to help you iron-on patches.

Before you start, everything you will use for the process should be ready. Wash, dry and iron the garment to get rid of creases, especially around the area where you’ll place the patch. If you’re covering a ripped area, roll a lint roller over it to remove anything that might contaminate the adhesive and reduce the tack like hair or lint.

Whichever material you are using, check for a manufacturer care tag that shows the recommended temperature. If the tag’s writings are worn out it came off, use the lowest temperature you know to be safe for the material. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Delicate fabrics such as fleece need low temperatures although they don’t work well will iron-on patches as they are likely to get seriously ruined by the heat. Cotton and polyester can withstand medium heat, while heavy materials like denim are fired up by higher temperatures. Set the temperature on the heat press or iron-on and leave it to preheat, then jump to the third step.

The adhesive needs to be fully activated so it can secure on the garment. To get that done, slightly iron the area where you will patch, to warm it up. Then artistically place the patch on it then a parchment paper on top of the patch. The parchment paper or tea towel ensures there is no direct contact so that the patch is not damaged by the direct heat.

Using the tip of the iron, steadily press down the parchment paper directly above the patch for 45 seconds. If there are any timing instructions that came with the patch, use that instead. The iron-on, as you can imagine, activates the adhesive by softening and sticking it on the fabric.

Carefully turn the garment and place parchment paper over the patch, ensuring it remains in position while turning. Use iron to press for about 30 seconds. Make sure you are also pressing along the corners and edges to fully secure the patch. If it's something you can’t flip, like a sneaker, press on the same spot for the second round. Now that you’re certain that the adhesive has melted, jump to step six.

Bear in mind that the adhesive is already bonding with the material and that can be checked by slightly tugging on the corners. If you’ve applied correctly, you are ready for the last step. If the adhesive hasn’t melted or bonded, you might have to go through the process being extra mindful of the area needing a redo, or use a different patch. If you’re satisfied that the patch is properly secure, go to step seven.

All the hard work is over now, and you are set for the relaxing stage. Remember to turn off the iron!

Remove the parchment paper and let the patch cool with the garment facing right side up and vertically for five to ten minutes. After cooling, once again check if it's fully bonded by looking for spots.

And voila! The iron-on patch is ready. Does the design not look great? Mastering how to iron patches is as easy and as fast as saying it.

You must be proud of your first iron-on patch, and there is great pleasure in showing it off while it is looking brand new. But for it to last for years and years, you’ll have to take good care of it, and it all starts with how you wash it.

To prevent it from snagging easily, wash the item by hand in place of a laundry machine, and only when it needs to be washed, to reduce the much-unneeded stress and friction. Using cold water with mild detergents also reduces the effect on the adhesive.

Having a patch design idea is not enough to jump on the project. You have to consider the material you’ll use it on. Although fabrics with low melting points or those that stretch easily would still look good with patches, the iron heat would damage them before the patch is secured. Nylon, spandex, silk, leather and fabrics containing synthetic fiber or elastane are a no-go zone and are better suited for sew-on patches.

Hearty, heat-resistant fabrics such as cotton and denim are your best bet with iron-on patches.

A care tag will always save you from potential ruin by showing the heat levels the fabric is able to withstand while remaining undamaged.

You might see a lovely patch you would love to have on your jacket, but it's not meant for iron-on. Your decision should be based beyond the patch material. The different patch options are:

Getting the patch backing right is as critical as the patch material, so consider both before deciding.

When your clothes rip or get holes, do you throw them away? Now that you know that iron-on patches are a good substitute for traditional patches and an attractive option at that, I hope you no longer will. Making them yourself will save you from having to pay for high-end designers while making you proud of having created something unique. So, pick up the fabric that’s on your mind and start designing with iron-on patches.