You found the perfect patch. Now it's sitting on the kitchen table next to your vest, and you're wondering whether to fire up the iron or dig out a needle. Here's how to get it on there right the first time.
First, what's your vest made of?
That decides it.
- Denim, canvas or cotton: you can iron it on, sew it on, or do both.
- Leather: sew it on. An iron hot enough to melt the patch adhesive can scorch or shrink leather, and the glue won't hold to it for long anyway.
- Nylon or polyester: sew it on. Synthetic fabric can melt under an iron.
How to iron on a patch (denim and cotton)
- Set your iron to the cotton setting with the steam turned off.
- Lay the vest flat on a hard surface and place the patch where you want it, sticky side down.
- Cover it with a thin cloth or pillowcase so the iron doesn't touch the embroidery.
- Press down firmly, without sliding the iron around, for about 30 to 45 seconds.
- Turn the vest inside out and press the back of the patch area for another 30 seconds.
- Let it cool all the way before you touch it. If an edge lifts, press that spot again.
Iron-on works fine for a jacket you wear now and then, but heat, rain and a few hundred miles can loosen it. For a riding vest, we'd add a few stitches too.
How to sew on a patch
- Pin or tape the patch in place. Some folks iron it on first just to hold it still.
- Use a heavy-duty needle and strong thread, like nylon or upholstery thread. For leather, a leather needle makes life a lot easier.
- Stitch around the edge, just inside the border, with small even stitches.
- Knot it off on the inside of the vest.
If you'd rather not sew leather yourself, a leather shop or a seamstress who works on biker gear can put it on in a few minutes, and it'll outlast the vest.
A word about placement
If you ride with a club, ask before you add anything to your colors. Most clubs have rules about what goes where. For everybody else, the front panels and the space below your back patch are fair game.
Need a few more?
We carry Christian patches, veteran and patriotic patches and clean, funny patches that'll start a conversation at the gas pump. And patches ship free, so go ahead and fill up that vest.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." — Romans 1:16 (KJV)