How to use iron-on patches

Iron-on patches are the perfect accessory for garments and can be used for various purposes. For children in daycare, it can be a cool and easy way to tell the kids outerwear apart by using iron-on patches with the children's names on them. Moreover, if they should break a hole in the knee of the trouser leg, it can easily be covered up with a patch.

Iron-on patches are available in various designs, sizes and colours. They can be used for practical purposes as well as design purposes. You can, for example, add a couple of patches on an otherwise boring denim jacket to make it cooler and more personal.

Be aware of the type of clothing

Not all fabrics can withstand exposure to high heat. It is important that you start by making sure whether the bag, jacket, trousers or hat can withstand hot iron temperatures.

Should your fabric not be suitable for high heat, you can sew on the patches instead. The patches typically have a distinctive edge that you can use to sew onto your clothes.

It is a good idea to use a similar colour of sewing thread to match the edge of the patch in order to make your stitches less visible.

If you are sewing patches onto brand-new clothes, you should always start by washing them. Many types of fabric shrink a little in the wash. If the fabric shrinks, your iron-on patch will bulge out and you will have to iron it on again.

How to iron patches onto your clothes

1. Start by smoothing out the area of the fabric where you want your patch to be
2. Make sure there are no edges on your felt underlayer that stick out under your patch
3. Set your iron at 130-140 degrees when ironing cotton
4. Use a tea towel to cover the patch when ironing (do not use steam)
5. Carefully turn your fabric over so you can iron it on the inside. Your patch will be better secured if you iron on both sides of it.

Let the clothes cool off before wearing them. You can easily wash clothes with iron-on patches. Make sure to turn the clothes inside out when washing to minimise wear.

If you want the patch to be extra secured on your clothes, you can choose to also sew around the edges of the patch after ironing.

Iron-on patches