Patch embroidery size
Most embroidered patches are 2 to 4 in (51 to 102 mm) across, and 3 in (76 mm) is a common size. A 4 × 4 in hoop holds one with its border. Make the satin border at least 1/8 in (3 mm) wide, and use a base fabric once a patch passes about 2 in (51 mm).
| Typical size | 3 × 3 in (76 × 76 mm) |
|---|---|
| Width range | 2–5 in (51–127 mm) |
| Height range | 1.5–5 in (38–127 mm) |
| Smallest hoop | 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) |
| Machines that fit it | 80 in our guide |
Where to place it
In the hoop, center the patch with room all around it, and keep the whole patch, border included, inside the stitch field: about 3.9 in (99 mm) square for a 4 × 4 in hoop. On a garment, a patch usually goes where a left-chest logo would. Allstitch's placement chart puts that 7 to 9 in (178 to 229 mm) down from the left shoulder seam and 3 to 5 in (76 to 127 mm) from the center on shirts and polos, or 6 1/2 to 8 in (165 to 203 mm) down and 4 in (102 mm) from the center on jackets. On a cap, center the patch on the front.
Size and base. Patches are small, so size is mostly about the hoop and about how flat the finished patch lies. Sewing Machine Fun makes a 3 in (76 mm) example and finds that a base fabric gives a flatter patch, especially above about 2 in (51 mm). Small patches can be stitched with thread only, on film or stabilizer. Madeira describes two kinds of stand-alone design: one digitized for a stable base fabric, and a thread-only one that builds the base "fabric" of the patch first. Either way, the satin outline is the last thing stitched, and it acts as the finished edge. Make that border at least 1/8 in (3 mm) wide so it covers the cut edge of the base fabric. A felt patch can have a thinner border, because felt does not fray.
Stabilizer or film. Hoop the film or stabilizer by itself, with no garment. Sewing Machine Fun uses one or two layers of heavy, film-like water-soluble stabilizer and avoids tear-away, which leaves fuzzy edges. Madeira uses a 100-micron badge film that you tear away from the satin edge and clean up with heat. For a thread-only patch, hoop two layers with the textured sides facing each other. For an appliqué patch, one layer is enough. Pick a stable base fabric such as patch twill or felt, and avoid stretchy knits, which distort under dense stitching.
Attaching it. Madeira says a patch can be heat-sealed or sewn on. A heat seal is an adhesive bonded to the back of the patch after stitching, and it adds a little stiffness. Follow the heat-seal maker's heat settings if you give patches to other people. A larger hoop lets you stitch several patches in one go, while a smaller hoop saves stabilizer when you make one.
Tips
- Hoop the film or stabilizer by itself, drum-tight with no wrinkles. Do not hoop the garment.
- Choose a design digitized for stand-alone patches. A normal garment design is not built to hold together without fabric under it.
- Use patch twill or felt for the base. Fuse a backing to ordinary twill, and skip stretchy knits.
- Stitch a satin border at least 1/8 in (3 mm) wide, and stitch it last.
- Add a heat-seal backing after stitching, or sew the patch on, and keep lettering bold because small text gets lost at patch size.
Check this size on your machine
Machines that can stitch a patch design
These machines hold the typical 3 × 3 in size in one hooping.
- Brother SE700 (4 × 4 in)
- Brother PE800 (5 × 7 in)
- Brother SE2000 (5 × 7 in)
- Brother PE900 (5 × 7 in)
- Brother SE600 (4 × 4 in)
- Brother PE535 (4 × 4 in)
- Brother PE545 (4 × 4 in)
- Brother PE770 (5 × 7 in)
- Brother SE1900 (5 × 7 in)
- Brother SE725 (4 × 4 in)
- Brother SE400 (4 × 4 in)
- Brother NQ1700E (6 × 10 in)
- Brother PR1055X (14 × 8 in)
- Brother SE625 (4 × 4 in)
- Brother PRS100 (8 × 8 in)
- Brother PR680W (12 × 8 in)
- Ricoma EM-1010 (12.2 × 8.3 in)
- Brother SE630 (4 × 4 in)
- Janome Memory Craft 550E (14 × 8 in)
- Brother LB5000 (4 × 4 in)
- Brother PE550D (4 × 4 in)
- Janome Memory Craft 500E (11 × 8 in)
- Brother PE500 (4 × 4 in)
- Janome MB-7 (9.5 × 8 in)
And 56 more. See all machines.
Frequently asked questions
What size should an embroidered patch be?
Most are 2 to 4 in (51 to 102 mm) across, and 3 in (76 mm) is a common size. Name patches are wider than they are tall, and anything over about 3.9 in (99 mm) needs a bigger hoop than 4 × 4 in.
Can I make a patch in a 4 × 4 in hoop?
Yes, one patch at a time. Keep the whole patch, border included, under about 3.9 in (99 mm), which is the stitch area of a 4 × 4 in hoop.
Do I need base fabric for a patch?
Not always. Sewing Machine Fun finds that a base fabric makes flatter patches, especially above about 2 in (51 mm). Smaller patches can be stitched with thread only on film or heavy water-soluble stabilizer.
How wide should the satin border be?
At least 1/8 in (3 mm), enough to cover the cut edge of the base fabric. A thinner border can work on felt, which does not fray.
Where do I put a patch on a shirt?
Where you would put a left-chest logo: about 7 to 9 in (178 to 229 mm) down from the left shoulder seam, and 3 to 5 in (76 to 127 mm) from the center.