How to Design a Custom Patch

Boy and Girl Scouts use patches to mark their achievements.

A patch, whether you iron it on or sew it on, can add to the style of an outfit and serve as the finishing touch on an ensemble. A patch can be applied to a pair of jeans as a stylish tactic to cover up a hole or tear. A patch also can be added to a pair of gloves for a chic and trendy touch or it can simply spruce up a plain T-shirt. The composition of the patch will be relative to your personal style and the look you are trying to achieve, whether it be a chic touch or a fun addition to the outfit. Patches can be easily created with pieces of fabric, fabric glue and a needle and thread.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Scissors
• Fabric pen
• Iron-on paper transfer
• Fabric glue or hot glue gun
• Iron
• Beads or sequins (optional)

Instructions

1. Draw the shapes on the coordinating fabric to assemble the completed patch. For example, if making a patch of a tree, draw the top of the tree on green fabric and the trunk on brown fabric.

2. Cut out the shapes from the fabric.

3. Lay out the shapes to form the patch on a piece of adhesive, iron-on fabric paper.

4. Trace the patch onto the iron-on fabric paper and cut out the shape. To apply the patch, layer the iron-on paper and patch cut-outs on the desired piece of clothing or fabric you want to apply the patch to. Iron the patch on using a low temperature setting.

5. Apply any additional decorating items once you've ironed the patch onto the clothing. Use fabric glue or a hot glue gun to add beads or sequins to embellish the patch, for example.

References

• Cut Out and Keep: Iron on Patches