Embroidered patch designs
Adventure patches, round badges and fun shapes with a wide satin border: these embroidered patch designs are made to be stitched on twill or felt, cut out and attached to jackets, backpacks and caps. Download free patch designs as PES, JEF or VP3 files, or as DST for a commercial machine. Use a firm base fabric, because a floppy one puckers inside the satin edge.
1 design
- Premium
Each patch design ends with a satin border that covers the cut edge, so the finished patch looks tidy without a special edging machine. Inside the border sit the same flat colors and dark outlines as the rest of the library, from mountain scenes to round, badge-style motifs.
- Hoop twill or felt over a heavyweight tear-away, or a firm cut-away for dense designs.
- Stitch the full design, border included.
- For iron-on patches, fuse heat-activated adhesive to the back now, following the product's heat and time settings.
- Cut the patch out just outside the satin border with small, sharp scissors.
The 70 mm patches fit caps and sleeves, while 125 mm makes a bold patch for a backpack or a denim jacket. When two or three small patches fit in the hoop together, combine them on the editing screen and stitch them in one go. For shields and ribbon banners, see the badge and emblem designs; for trail and summit motifs, the adventure designs.
Frequently asked questions
What stabilizer should I use for embroidered patches?
Use a heavy tear-away under twill, or a firm cut-away if the design is dense, and hoop drum-tight so the satin border closes evenly. For larger patches, a second layer of tear-away adds support. Avoid soft or stretchy stabilizers, which let the border ripple.
How close should I cut to the satin border of a patch?
Cut as close as you can without nicking the stitches, about 1 mm outside the border. Small curved embroidery scissors make round patches easier to trim. If a few fibers still poke out, run a thin line of fray-stopping liquid along the edge.
Will an iron-on patch stay on in the wash?
It holds for a while on cotton and denim, but heat-activated adhesive can loosen after repeated washes, especially in hot water and the dryer. Wash the garment inside out on a cool setting, or sew around the edge once the patch is ironed in place for a permanent bond.