Do you want to proudly display your favorite bands on your jacket sleeve, or the skills you learned at summer camp on the backpack? Iron-on patches are a great way to express your individuality - and are also useful for hiding damaged or torn spots on your clothes and accessories. Learn how to prepare fabric for a patch, iron it, and make sure it stays on after washing.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparing to Iron the Patch
Step 1. Know what kind of patch you have
Some patches have glue on the back, others simply have a fabric back. Take a close look at your patch and decide if you need other materials or not.
- Decorative embroidered patches are usually thick, stiff and have a kind of plastic glue on one side. They can be used to cover torn and discolored fabric.
- Transfer paper patches are one-sided prints of special paper, with one side of non-glossy paper. They cannot hold torn fabric together, and usually the fabric underneath will show through if they are not applied to something white.
- Patches that have a plain fabric back can be attached using fusible canvas.
- Patches made to cover holes or stains and that are designed to blend in with the fabric often have a paper back that needs to be peeled off before patching.
- Consider customizing your own patch if you can't find one you like.
Step 2. Examine the fabric of your garment
Fabrics like denim and cotton provide the best base for ironing patches. As a general rule, the fabric you choose should be at least as heavy as the patch.
- Check the care label on the garment to see if it can be ironed (if it can't, there will be an iron symbol topped with an X). If there isn't a label, try to figure out what kind of fiber it is.
- Be very careful with polyester fabrics, as applying the high temperature required to iron the patches can burn the fabric or cause it to discolour.
- Silk and other delicate fabrics are not good candidates for patches.
Step 3. Think about the design and placement
Before heating the iron, lay out your jacket, belt or backpack and decide where exactly you want the patch to be placed.
- If this is the only patch you want to attach to this garment, place it somewhere discreetly in sight. Make the placement seem deliberate.
- If you are thinking of ironing other patches on the same garment, as you would for a girl scout headband or any other type of collection, plan ahead and make sure there will be room for the other patches.
- If you are using a printable paper patch, remember that letters and other asymmetrical objects will appear flipped.
Part 2 of 3: Iron the Patch on the Fabric
Step 1. Lay out the base object on a flat, heat-resistant surface
An ironing board is useful, but if you don't have one you can also lay your garment on a folded towel on a sturdy table.
To ensure that the garment provides a good base for the patch, iron it first. If it's a backpack or other hard-to-iron item, do your best to arrange it so that the part of the fabric that will house the patch is flat against the surface
Step 2. Place the patch in the spot you have chosen
The adhesive should be flat against the fabric. Make sure the patch is not crooked.
- On the embroidered patches, the sticker is underneath.
- On transfer paper patches, the sticky side is where the image is printed. Place the front with the image against the fabric. The paper back will be removed once the patch is ironed.
- If you are using fusible web, the back of fusible web should touch the fabric.
- If you are using a patch made to blend in with the fabric, you may need to apply it to the inside of the garment. Follow the instructions on the package.
Step 3. Heat the iron
Set it to the highest temperature your fabric can handle. Make sure the "steam" option is off and your iron is not full of water.
Step 4. Place a thin cloth over the patch
Be careful not to move the position of the patch. The cloth will protect the patch and surrounding fabric.
Step 5. Place the hot iron on the patch and press
Hold the iron in place for about 15 seconds. Apply as much pressure as you can by squeezing firmly.
Step 6. Remove the iron and let the patch cool
Lift the cloth and check to see that the patch is firmly attached by lightly rubbing the edge with your finger and trying to lift it. If it lifts a little, reposition the cloth and press it again with the iron for another 10 seconds.
If you are working with a transfer paper patch, wait until it has cooled completely (leave it for 10 minutes), then carefully remove the paper
Part 3 of 3: Taking Care of the Patch
Step 1. Consider sewing around the edges
For a fully secured patch, use a sewing machine or needle and thread to secure the patch to the fabric. This greatly reduces the risk of the patch falling off.
- Choose a thread that matches the patch.
- Do not attempt to sew around the edges of the printable paper patches.
Step 2. Do not wash the garment more often than necessary
Iron-on patches are made to be permanent, but can still loosen over time. Be careful not to get the garment too dirty, as washing it may cause the patch to begin to loosen.
If you really have to wash the garment, wash it by hand in cold water. Let it air dry
Advice
- Trim the edges around the image on the printed transfer paper patches, but leave at least 2mm of "white" space around the image to make sure the transfer sticks.
- Turn off the iron when you are not using it.
