Art of the Embroidered Patch

Embroidery, an ancient art dating back thousands of years, has undergone a transformation for modern times, thanks in part to the custom embroidered patch. A traditional art of decorating fabric with needle and thread or yarn, embroidery dates back to ancient Egypt and before.

But today, the handmade creative art has been made commercially viable through the use of computer-controlled, automated high-speed machines. Today’s high-precision state of the art machines allow for a uniform, repeatable design and a higher thread count per inch, perfect for custom embroidered patches. Whether you’re ordering one patch or 100,000, they all will look the same.

Computer graphic artists can turn virtually any logo or idea into a custom patch. The backing material can be cut to almost any shape the customer wants. A full color image can be revised until it matches the customer’s desires exactly.

Patches are embroidered onto a twill backing. They are made either with a traditional sewn border, known as a merrowed border, or with a heat-sealed border known as a hot cut border. Hot cut borders allow for greater flexibility in patch shapes. The resulting custom embroidered patch can be sewn onto clothing, or equipped with an iron-on backing.

The stitched pattern of custom embroidery doesn’t fade with time. A strong, durable design is likely to outlast the garment it’s attached to. Patches can be designed with just about any logo. A custom embroidered patch can show your membership in a civic organization, elite military unit or other group. Firefighters, bikers, sports teams, motorcycle riders, church groups use custom patches to showcase their affiliations.

Patches are a high-visibility advertising device. Businesses find custom embroidered patches are an excellent promotional item, a standout way to get their company’s name out in public. Others, particularly service firms that send workers to customers’ homes, often use patches as a device to identify their employees to customers.

The design of custom embroidered patches is limited only by the customer’s imagination. Whether for identification, promotion or affiliation, embroidered patches offer a cost-effective way to get your message across.