Sewing on patches

[Gilligan]

Do any of you guys do this like applique style in your embroidery machine? 

[tonypep]

We do. Also have a post laundering process for distress program.

[Gilligan]

I'm talking about legit patches... like flag patches.

[mooseman]

yup we have done it many times.
mooseman

[mk162]

i found that alterations shops can do them cheap...fyi

[Gilligan]

yup we have done it many times.
mooseman

What is your process?

[ZooCity]

We recently had a project sewing printed canvas patches onto beanies.  None of the embroiders here would do it, said it wasn't possible.  Our ink gal has an industrial sew machine and did them but it was pretty laborious folding the edges over, etc. 

It seems like this would be not too hard on an emb machine but I don't have experience embroidering, how does this work?

[ericheartsu]

100% interested in this, as this comes up once a week here

[JBLUE]

We do it from time to time. It is not too hard. Much easier if you have laser but it can be done by hand too.

[Rockers]

Why don`t you use a heat seal backing?
Much easier.
Just printed some backing onto 300 patches added some powder too as they were for nylon jackets.

[mooseman]

yup we have done it many times.
mooseman

What is your process?

Pretty simple, scan the patch.
digitize a running stitch  & zig-zag stitch that captures the portion of the patch that you want to have the stitches land on.
mark a reference point on the garment where the patch is required like the center of the patch, we use ordinary blackboard chalk
hoop the garment
center your machine on that center point
sew the outline ...machine stops in applique program between running & zig zag stitch
patch is placed carefully within the outline, held there with some embroidery or fabric craft spray
re-start the machine to get the zig zag stitch down....done
see pic below
mooseman

[Gilligan]

Why don`t you use a heat seal backing?
Much easier.
Just printed some backing onto 300 patches added some powder too as they were for nylon jackets.

I had told the guy if he got glue on patches we would press them for free.  We are already doing a ton of embroidery for him.

He came back and asked how much to sew them on.  So I'm guessing they didn't go with a glue back or he doesn't want them glued on.  I could ask him, but then we are still getting into a realm of me charging him vs just heat sealing them for free real quick.


Thanks Moose, you just match the thread of that outside stitch I guess.

[mooseman]

yes for example on a black bordered patch and a red garment we would use a black stitch and keep it as tight to the outer edge of the patch as reasonable
mooseman

[ZooCity]

Mooseman, that was incredibly helpful.  I knew there was a way to do this, not sure why nobody local would touch it really.  I showed this to my co-worker, thanks again.

Would you leave the patch fabric as a raw edge in this case or does it need to be folded under?  My guess is a tight enough stitch would capture the edge and prevent fraying.

[mooseman]

Mooseman, that was incredibly helpful.  I knew there was a way to do this, not sure why nobody local would touch it really.  I showed this to my co-worker, thanks again.

Would you leave the patch fabric as a raw edge in this case or does it need to be folded under?  My guess is a tight enough stitch would capture the edge and prevent fraying.

Hey Zoo,
actually I have only used this on actual commercial patches that have the merrowed edge but I we had a raw fabric edge then simply increase the density of the stitch holding the patch down so instead of a zig zag you actually create a satin border attaching the patch and creating a nice border around the patch and cover the raw edge completely. Typically known as applique'.
The process is exactly the same except for the stitch density.
hope this helps
mooseman