An embroidered patch, also known as a cloth badge, is a piece of embroidery which is created by using a fabric backing and thread. The art of making embroidered patches is an old tradition and was done by hand. During the first half of the twentieth century they were commonly embroidered using a shiffli embroidery machine. High-speed, computerized machines have led to mass production.
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There are various methods of affixing them to the fabric surface. Embroidered patches can be attached with a pin, sewn on, or affixed with more modern methods such as iron-on, dryer heat-activated adhesive, and Velcro backing.
History
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Embroidered patches—an important identification tool for military and other uniformed personnel—trace their roots thousands of years ago to ancient cultures of the Mediterranean, Mideast, China, India and South America, where the art of decorating fabric with thread stitching originated.[citation needed] Elaborate hand-stitched designs and patterns were used to embellish the robes of royalty and for religious artifacts.[citation needed]
Today, embroidered patches are used by government organisations (including uniforms of military forces, emergency services and other specialised workers), sports teams and companies in the private sector to denote rank, job, specific position or specialised unit. Youth groups, including sports teams, scouting organizations and specialized clubs, often wear clothing emblazoned with embroidered patches. They are also used by space agencies on the uniforms of astronauts to denote the mission (mission patch). Patches are collected by enthusiasts as well.[1]
Military use
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As with other forms of heraldry, the colours and images in military patches are chosen to symbolically convey different positive traits and values.
United States
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Embroidered patches were first adopted by United States military units, with some crude, unofficial examples found on soldiers’ uniforms from the War of 1812, 1845 Mexican War, and the Civil War (1861–65) Unit identifications, also known as shoulder sleeve insignia (or SSI) is a relatively new component of the modern military uniform after originating during World War I, when Gen. John J. Pershing authorized limited use.
The oldest of all official U.S. military patches is the "Big Red One" of the 1st Infantry Division, first issued on October 31, 1918. SSI became common during World War II and distinctive patches for individual units of the US Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard have become a proud tradition. There is an active collectors' market, especially for rare, limited-edition patches.
Various regulations exist on how badges are displayed, how many may be worn at one time and whether or not such badges may be worn on the uniform of more than one branch of service. In the U.S. Army, the SSI is worn on the upper left arm, just below the uniform’s shoulder seam. It is sometimes worn on other places, most notably when soldiers’ body armor covers their shoulders.
For the U.S. military, patch designs are certified and protected by the Institute of Heraldry.[2] The institute decides how military patches are displayed, how it is worn, and the reasons for display. A hallmark is assigned to each certified manufacturer of military insignia to indicate which manufacturer produced the product. It is illegal for other manufacturers to create designs on their patches that incorporate the likeness of an official Army heraldic item.
The embroidered patch industry is dominated by several long established companies such as the Chicago Embroidery Company (founded in 1890), Lion Brothers (founded in 1899), St. Louis Embroidery (founded in 1887), A-B Emblem, and Penn Emblem (founded in 1947). As with much of the textile manufacturing industry in the United States, manufacturing of emblems has largely moved out of the country, though some manufacturers still maintain domestic factories.
Manufacture
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German police patch Montreux police patchBefore the advent of computer technology, patches were made by hand. The general process, however, remains the same today. First, a fabric backing is cut to shape. To prevent fraying, the edges of the backing are heat-sealed. Then, the thread is stitched into place. Some designs incorporate the backing as the background of the patch, while others completely cover the backing with stitches. To finish the patch, iron-on adhesive may be applied to the reverse—a step that was not originally done.
Machinery created during the 18th- and 19th-century Industrial Revolution changed garment production with technology such as power looms and sewing machines, making fabrics of more uniform quality and greatly increased production efficiency. Embroidery—once a time-consuming hand-made stitch-by-stitch process—was revolutionized by the introduction of the Schiffli embroidery machine, invented by Isaak Groebli of Switzerland in 1863.[3] Like a sewing machine, it operated with a two-thread system. Early production from the multi-needle machine, powered by a hand-turned crank, wasn’t much quicker than handwork, but significantly, multiple copies of identical designs could be created. Groebli's machine utilized the combination of a continuously threaded needle and shuttle containing a bobbin of thread. The shuttle itself looked similar to the hull of a sailboat. "Schiffli" means "little boat" in the Swiss dialect of the German language, so his machine came to be known as a schiffli machine.[4] An automatic machine, refined by Isaak’s eldest son in 1898, simplified the mechanical system so it could be run by a single operator.
Types of stitches—including chain stitch, buttonhole or blanket stitch, running stitch, satin stitch, and cross stitch— are the basis of embroidery. Patches are often crafted from chain, satin, and hemming stitches and machine work relies on the use of multiple threads.
Advanced technology allows virtually any design to be recreated in thread on an embroidered patch. Images previously created by hand in a time-consuming process can now be quickly, digitally scanned, and computer-controlled, with multi-head sewing machines use several colors of thread simultaneously.
Other modern advancements include applying a plastic backing to the patch, improving stiffness, and preventing bunching or wrinkling of the design. Patches are often die-cut into specific shapes with a border protected from unraveling by serge stitching. Polyester blend threads are colorfast and have superior durability as compared to cotton thread.
Alternatives
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Modern alternatives to embroidered patches are PVC (polyvinyl chloride) patches, which allow more intricate designs.[5]
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See also
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References
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If you're looking for ways to showcase your artwork for a brand, your team/club, a cause, or simply because you love little pieces of creativity in your life—then we've got some ideas for you!
are the most popular patches and one of the favorite options for adding innovative artwork to clothing and accessories. These can easily be sewn on, ironed on, or Velcro-ed to different fabrics, bringing your artistic vision to life in a fun and stylish way.
Here are ten innovative uses for embroidered patches.
Easier than tie-dye and definitely a lot less hassle-free than screen printing—you've got embroidered patches!
For jackets and blazers, you can add your own custom logo. For leather or denim jackets, break all the rules of uses for embroidered patches and go nuts with adding patches wherever you feel like it. For shirts, you may want to stick to the front only. For jeans or pants , choose the front pocket or near the hem are good spots.
Speaking of uses for embroidered patches on clothes, why not create your very own, one-of-a-kind merch for your favorite sports team? If you find mass-manufactured garments for sports clubs or teams too mainstream for your liking, create your own statement piece.
Your only limit is imagination. Take a plain varsity jacket (or any kind of garment you want to decorate) and add different kinds of patches. Big or small, whatever kind of patches you use, make sure to have a theme in place for a sophisticated finished look.
You’ve tried custom covers and stickers to add some pizazz to your phone, but have you tried “patching” it? Yes, embroidered patches go very well with transparent phone cases. It is one of the easiest uses for embroidered patches—simply trap a patch between your phone and a clear silicon phone case.
The key to creating practical embroidered patches for phone cases is choosing laser-cut edges. Unlike merrowed edge patches (i.e. patches that have a defined border), laser-cut patches are thin and even, so that your phone case won't jut out.
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Get a Free Quote!Who doesn’t love customized keychains? The best part about DIY keychains over DIY clothing and accessories like caps/bags is that you can carry a keychain anywhere, everywhere. So, if you love a certain character, want to showcase your support for a cause, or support your favorite NFL team, a keychain is one of the fantastic uses for embroidered patches.
Choose a bright design for your custom keychain patches. Since these patches are smaller, you’ll need artwork that stands out. A backless patch (also known as a sew-on patch) works for keychains, and these can be added to the blank keychain with a strong adhesive.
So you don’t like that cliché greeting you thought would look minimalistic? No worries, an embroidered patch is a nice, creative way to can make your greeting card more interesting. The best part of greeting cards as one of the uses for embroidered patches is that the patch can be cut out and saved as a keepsake if the card gets too old or ruined.
Though the most popular choice for shoe charms patches is PVC patches, there's no reason why you can't add embroidered patches on canvas shoes. Here’s what you should remember when designing for shoes:
Motorcycle or biker clubs often use leather patches to brand their uniforms or merchandise. Patch artists process artwork to create small and large pieces for jackets, caps, hats, and more. Likewise, leather patches are also quite popular amongst other types of clubs, such as wineries, as well as used for branding restaurant and hospitality service employee uniforms with logos.
Tote bags, handbags, cross body, gym bags, wallets, and more—embroidered patches pair well with all kinds of patches. The only thing that differs in uses for embroidered patches is the way you apply these.
For tote bags, you can easily go for sew-on, iron-on, or Velcro patches—whichever is more convenient. For leather, synthetic leather, and similar material, you can only sew on patches on these. You can also add patches to your school/college bags (read ).
Patches for caps and hats may not be the most unique idea, but it is one of the creative ways to spruce up a plain cap or hat or one with an old patch that you don't like or that has come undone.
When it comes to caps and hats in uses for embroidered patches, pick a size that is neither too small (will be unnoticeable) nor too large (will be undecipherable). You can go for iron-on patches if you intend to give these patches as keepsakes or for marketing purposes, but sew-on patches will be much more durable.
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Get a Free Quote!Embroidered patch jewelry—now there’s a quirky, yet fun idea! Like embroidered keychains, you can wear these with different kinds of clothing.
The most practical use of embroidered patches for jewelry is necklace patches, since there is a certain limit to how small your patches can be. Therefore, you may not be able to create patches for earrings or bracelet charms. But these can work as pendants (read How To Make Custom Embroidery Patches for ideas). Like keychain patches, makes these bright and vivid, or choose contrasts. Metallic threads will give a nice touch to your embroidered necklace patch.
How about a little embroidered patch bling for your furry friend? Along with your pet’s name tag, you can add a custom embroidered patch tag to your pet’s collar. Amongst the many uses for embroidered patches, this is a truly sweet little gesture!
When it comes to patches for pet collars, you may have to stick to standard round or square shape patches and use adhesives to attach these. Make sure to choose a design that stands out well, whether you need personal patches or patches for your brand.
At ThePatchio, we have the expertise to turn your artwork into fine-quality embroidered patches. We facilitate free quotes and timely delivery—get in touch with us today to order !
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