Sewing vs. Ironing: The Best Methods for Applying Custom Patches on Clothes

Is Adhesive Backing Different From Iron-On Backing?

Yes, it is! We get a lot of confusion between these two backings more often than not when someone orders custom patches, and have had to explain time and again that iron-on and adhesive backings serve two totally different purposes.

We primarily use adhesive backing for when we are placing a patch on something like a hat or an article of clothing and prepping it to be sewn on later. It’s not a permanent attachment method and instead keeps the patch steady for sewing the patch on later.

Iron-on backing is used specifically with heat and is a much more permanent sealed attachment for custom patches. They won’t stick on unless the heat is applied to the patch, but once they’re applied they’re stuck and you won’t be able to replace them after.

The two most important elements that affect this choice are the material we are attaching the patch to and the type of patch that we are trying to attach. We’ll go through each of these in detail so that you can make sure to save both your patches and your clothes from any damage in the long run.

What Material Are You Attaching the Patch To?

Cotton

Cotton is one of the most common materials used in clothing like shirts or socks. Because this material is so universally used, both ironing and sewing are viable options on cotton! Sewing a custom patch onto cotton ensures a secure attachment, but there is still that threat of detachment if you are doing a lot of activity with the material. Ironing on the patch won’t hurt cotton, and it will ensure that your patch stays on a little bit longer over time and through multiple washes and use.

 Nylon and Polyester

Materials like Nylon and Polyester are extremely temperature-sensitive. This is because the base of these are non-biodegradable materials, and melt if they are given too much heat. This is why clothing like leggings aren’t (or shouldn’t be) thrown into the dryer at a high temperature. If you’re going to use a custom patch on something like spandex, then we highly recommend that you sew the patch directly on instead of attempting to iron it on.

 Leather

Leather is already heavily sensitive to heat, with enough of it you can accidentally decolor or even damage the leather instead of attaching to it. While it can be an option, if you’re not intimately familiar with heat we heavily recommend you avoid ironing on as much as possible. Use an adhesive back instead and sew directly onto the leather instead, that way you keep the integrity of both your patch and the leather.

Denim

Denim is the most durable material both against tears and against heat. We would recommend whichever method you are most comfortable with attaching your patches because denim can take either in stride.

What Kind of Patch Are You Applying?

Threaded Patch

Threaded custom patches, such as embroidered or woven patches, are able to be applied either by sewing or by ironing onto your attachment. What affects this change isn’t so much the base of the patch itself but more so the border that the patch has. Having a patch with a merrow or threaded border can easily be sewn or ironed onto clothes since they are usually simpler shapes like circles and rectangles. A heat-cut or laser-cut border, however, indicates to us that the design might have a lot of angles and edges. If this is the case, then sewing the patch will be not only difficult but obnoxious on a large scale. So sew if it’s a simple border, and iron-on if it’s not.

PVC Patch

PVC Patches are heat sensitive because of the fact they are basically plastic. Plastic melts at a high enough temperature, it’s how we make PVC patches to begin with. What that also means is you might accidentally remelt the plastic if you apply too much heat in an attempt to attach the patch.

Leather Patch

Leather patches have the same problem that leather material does. Apply too much heat, and you may damage your custom patch. The leather patch’s design is created by applying a heated stamp into the patch in order to press the design into the leather, damaging it in just the appropriate places to create a crisp final patch. If you reapply pressured heat, it can potentially damage your patch and ruin the design on it. We recommend you sew your leather patches to avoid this issue as much as possible.