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Ironing a custom patch or any patch on your clothes can be demanding activity. Especially, if you have no prior experience or if you did not take into consideration the fabric of your clothes. In which case, it is important to understand the process of ironing and know your do’s and don’t before your proceed. That is why we have written this blog post today to teach you how to iron on custom patches
Patches That Can Be Ironed!
Before doing anything you should investigate the nature of your custom patch. If it is made from certain type of material then you should not go for ironing. Since iron on patches relies on heat and that can detrimental for the patch texture, the safest bet will be sew on backing or velcro. In any event these are the patch types that should NOT be ironed on:
- Leather patches
- Chenille patches
- Bullion patches
- PVC patches
However, if what you are dealing with are woven patches, printed patches or embroidered patches then you can iron on them. Keeping in mind the correct procedure. Although, even then all safety precautions must be followed for getting ideal results.
Fabric Of Clothes Plays A Huge Part…
Another thing that you should get to know better before using an iron on patch is the fabric of your clothes on which you want to attach the patch. Since not all fabrics are same and each possess their own unique quality, you can not iron on just any fabric. If you would then be prepared to get ugly results. As iterated before, ironing requires heat and heat is not kind to everything.
In the case of fabric the likes of denim, cotton, and canvas are ideal for ironing on. They are heat-resistant and they can have high tolerance level compared to other kind of fabrics. At the same time if your attire is stitched out of silk, leather, suede or something like spandex it is not suggestable to iron the patches on them. You would be better off to use other kind of backing options for these – sew on or velcro.
However, a good rule of thumb is that you should always refer to care tag of clothes. They are attached to all kinds of clothes by the manufacturer and you can get to know a lot about your attire from there. There are warnings, steps for precautions and even fine details which can help you make an informed decision.
Let’s Learn How To Iron On Patches Now!!!
In order to begin the procedure you would have to have these few things on you. For your ease we have created this bucket list of sort which you can refer to at any point.
- You must have Iron.
- You must have the clothes/attire/costume on which you want to patch a patch.
- You should have a press cloth. This is not necessary but it will make life whole lot easier for you. Not to mention provide safety net for your custom patches.
Step One: Get Your Clothes Ready
This is quite basic all you have to do is get your clothes on which you want to attach the patch ready. To make it clear for you by ready we don’t mean to dress the said clothes but instead make sure that they are clean and lint free. Also place them on a flat surface which can endure heat so if you have an ironing stand please use it.
Step Two: Adjusting Your Iron Settings
This stage is all about your iron, take it out from its place. Plug it in, check if it is working and when you have done everything go for the mode settings. It is suggested that you should always set the mode to medium-high. Also, ensure that steam mode is off. You need dry heat for iron patches to stick to the fabric of your costume.
Step Three: Positioning Your Patch
Choose the spot where you want to place your patch. While you have freedom here, ensure the placement is practical for wearing the garment. You should not patch your custom patch at a place from where it won’t even be visible. Once you’ve selected the location, place the patch with the adhesive side down.
Step Four: Use Press Cloth
As mentioned before in order to protect both the patch and your garment, lay a press cloth over the patch before applying heat. This could be a white t-shirt, a towel, or any piece of cotton fabric. Your goal here is to have something which act as a protective layer between your iron and your custom patch. Also be careful not to shift the patch when placing the press cloth over it. This could ruin the appearance of the patch or in worst case damage the design.
Step Five: Iron The Patch.
Now, press the iron firmly and steadily onto the patch. Hold it in place for 30 to 60 seconds without moving the iron. This consistent pressure is essential for the adhesive to melt and bond effectively. Allow the garment to cool for 1 to 2 minutes before removing the press cloth. Next, flip the garment over or turn it inside out, lay it flat, and press the iron directly onto the back side of the patch for 30 seconds.
Step Six: Remove The Adhesive
After the patch has cooled, flip the garment back over and gently tug at the edges of the patch to ensure it has fully adhered. If any edges are lifting, repeat steps 5-6.
Adhesive: Something About It
If you are new to the world of custom patches then you might be wondering what is this ‘adhesive’ that we have mentioned handful of times in this post. Well, to make it clear for you this is what it is: Adhesive on the back of custom patches is like a special kind of glue. When you heat it up with an iron, it gets sticky and helps the patch stick to your clothes, kind of like a sticker when you press it onto paper.
So, in a way you can say it is these adhesive which makes it possible for us to iron the custom patches on our clothes. If you would look at the back you would notice they have white cotton type appearance. That look like a smooth, shiny layer. They are also usually clear or light-colored and covers the entire back of the patch, making them look a bit glossy until you heat them up.
And That’s It…
With that we have reached the end of our guide, we hope that you learned something valuable from it. If not and you still find yourself confused, please feel free to Contact Us at ZmCustomPatches. We are dedicated group with single aim to provide quality custom patches. For further guide you can also refer to our options page. We have round the clock support available.