Patches are one of the coolest things you can put on your clothing. Because of this, you need to know how to apply them properly. Even if you are new to the matter.
Therefore, we are going to explain how the easiest application method works, in a way so even those can understand it who has no experience. And the technique is called ironing. What could be simpler?
The Required Materials
You only need a couple of things. But they can be obtained in a very short amount of time, as all of them are common. Because of this you can just quickly go out and get started on ironing a patch.
The first item is the patch. One that is specifically made for ironing. This is very important because the kind you need has a layer of glue on the backside of it, which melts when the heat is applied. Without it, you can’t stick the patch to your clothing. So make sure that if you buy it online then it is mentioned that the patch is for ironing or if you buy it in a physical store then look on the back.
The second is the iron and the ironing board. Any kind of iron will do, sometimes even hairdryers are enough to heat up the glue to the appropriate temperature. You don’t need to worry if you have an old beat-up machine that doesn’t function well.
And the last thing is clothing. This can be pretty much anything. Denim, cotton or textile. These three materials are the safest to use, as they are very heat resistant and won’t be damaged by high temperatures. But there are some that can’t handle those things well. Polyester, for example. But silk is pretty vulnerable to heat damage as well. These materials need to be handled with extra care and you need to take precautions if you plan on using them. But in most cases you can just check the label and if there is a crossed-out iron because then you need to be careful.
But materials like leather and latex are, of course, off-limits. No glue is strong enough to stick to these materials.
How to Iron on the Patch
When you have everything ready then you can start the application. Make sure you follow each step carefully if this is your first time doing this. You need to pay a lot of attention to many things and you need to be aware of that.
Think About Where You Want it
Look at the whole piece of clothing and decide on an exact place where you want the patch. Put it right there and draw a subtle outline and hold it out in front of you. Would it look good? Would you like to see it there? How would the patch affect the overall appearance of this piece of clothing?
If you are not completely satisfied then look at another placement and ask these same questions. Repeat until you are completely sure.
Before You Start Ironing
Now that you have got the placement, it’s time to prepare for the application.
Make sure the patch stays in the same place
First of all, you will need a couple of needles. They are optional, but they will make your job much easier. All you need to do is stick them into the patch and the fabric, so they stay in the same place. It prevents the patch from sliding around during the ironing, which could potentially mess up the placement.
If you don’t have needles then you can use the outline as a guide, but there is a good chance that you won’t even be able to see it. Because of this, you will be basically ironing blind.
Prepare the iron
You have got to change a few things on the settings of your iron. Turn off the steam completely, you don’t want any of it while applying the patch. It’s completely useless in this case. Also, don’t have it full of water. The only thing that will do is make your job a little bit harder.
Then turn up the heat as much as you can. Well, to a temperature the fabric can still handle. Just make sure that it heats up properly because without the heat the patch won’t stick.
Protect the patch
You can’t just directly place the iron on the patch. Because of this, you either need a thin towel, a layer of fabric or a sheet of baking paper. The latter works for cotton and denim clothes, towels and fabrics are better for more sensitive materials.
This is needed because the patch isn’t able to properly distribute the direct heat. This can either burn it or ruin the embroidery on it. So make sure you don’t skip this step.
Start Ironing
Take the iron and place it on the patch for 15 seconds. Press down slightly and move it around in a circular motion if your patch is bigger than what your iron can cover.
Once the time is up you need to take off the iron and wait until the covering layer and the patch cools down. Then you need to check whether the glue has melted or not. You can do this by gently trying to lift the edges. If they don’t come up then you are good, your patch has been applied. But if they do, then you need to repeat the ironing process. After that, you can repeat the edge checking and the ironing as much as necessary.
Precautions Afterward
There are two things you need to do to make sure your patch lasts.
One is that you can sew around the edges. This takes quite a bit of time, but it secures the patch really well and you can take it through hell and back and it still won’t come off.
The second is not washing the clothing more than necessary. It can loosen the patch and eventually make it come off. But if you absolutely need to wash it then only do so in cold or lukewarm water and in a gentle cycle. The best would be if you hand washed it and made sure you don’t mess around with the patch.
Conclusion
Ironing on patches is a pretty basic and simple skill. It’s easy to learn and pretty hard to mess up even on the first try, so why not try it out? There’s nothing you could lose, only the potential improvements to your clothes.
Have you tried other application methods? Which technique do you like most? Tell us down in the comments below!
You should also read about – 7 Types of Patches You Should Know About
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