How To Sew Patches on a Jacket

Who doesn’t want to express themselves and show off their personality? It’s easier than ever to do when you can simply adorn your wardrobe with exciting patches that show off your style to bring your clothing to the next level.

If you have a patch you’re looking to attach to a jacket to bring it to the next level, whether to create something unique, create a uniform, or show off an accomplishment; sewing is a great way to affix your patch so it’ll hold on for the long haul.

Below, we’ll cover everything you need to know to sew a custom patch onto a jacket by hand.

How Do You Sew a Patch on a Jacket by Hand?

While there are other ways you could choose to affix a patch, hand sewing is a relatively simple method that gets the job done well. You don’t want to find out that your patch fell off after just one cycle through the wash, right?

While hand sewing on your patch might be a bit time-consuming, we find the results well worth the effort.

Let’s get started.

Step 1: Gather the Necessary Tools and Materials

Start by gathering the materials. You’ll need a sewing needle, thread that matches your patch as closely as possible (unless you want to make a statement with some intentionally contrasting thread), scissors, pins, and an iron – if you have an iron-on patch.

Step 2: Decide On Your Patch’s Location

Examine your jacket to choose precisely where you want your patch to go. Sometimes, you might use the patch to cover a tear. If so, make sure your patch is large enough to cover it entirely – and make sure to clean the torn area by trimming any threads or fluff.

Step 3: Pin or Iron Down Your Patch

Inspect the wrong side of your patch. If it has a thin paper covering or it’s shiny, then great news – you have an iron-on patch. The iron-on feature is helpful to keep things in place while you sew.

Use the included instructions and iron down your patch where you’d like it permanently affixed to your jacket. If your patch isn’t iron-on, no problem. Simply pin your patch in the spot you chose in the previous step.

Step 4: Thread Your Needle

Grab your thread, thread it through the needle, double it up, and tie a knot. Let’s get sewing!

Step 5: Backstitch Around the Patch

You’ll want to start the backstitching process from the wrong side of your fabric. Push the needle through to the right side and bring it through. Your knot should now be on the wrong side of the fabric.

Now, bring your needle back down into your patch and fabric about ¼ inch to the right from where your needle came up before. Bring it all the way through and come back up again – another ¼ inch along on the patch.

Next, bring your needle back down, but this time, bring it down to the end of your previous stitch to create a continuous line.

Continue the process of backstitching until you’ve made your way around the entire outline of the patch, and it’s firmly secured.

Once you’ve made it all the way around, knot your thread tightly on the wrong side of the fabric. You can repeat this several times for added security.

If the patch still doesn’t feel secure enough, you can repeat the backstitch if you’d like.

Step 5: Cut The Threads

After your knot has been tied, you can cut the threads and enjoy your new, upgraded jacket.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Best Stitch To Sew Patches on a Jacket?

A backstitch is a great way to ensure that your patch is affixed securely to your jacket. Other methods of attaching your patch to a jacket, such as ironing it on, can come off much more quickly in the wash.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, it’s pretty simple to hand-sew a patch onto your jacket. So next time you’re looking to cover up a tear or bring new life to old clothes, we’ve got you covered.

If you want to make a statement, why not upgrade your wardrobe with custom patches ? They’re easy to adorn on jackets and other apparel, allowing you to express yourself and bring your clothing to the next level.

Whether you’re using patches to identify yourself as part of a team or to show off your individuality, THE/STUDIO has plenty of options to help you design exactly what you’re looking for and bring it to life. Get started with THE/STUDIO today!