How to Sew On a Patch (and give your clothes an attitude!)

G'day, my friends!
Don't you sometimes look at your clothes and think to yourself 'God, how boring!' and wish they had that uniqueness, that extra bit of something? Well, I've got a fairly easy solution to your problems. Patches! Indeed. Funny, sexy, rude, lovely, cute – in all shapes and sizes – patches.

Let me give you a perfect example. I have this ole denim jacket, which is like 3 sizes too big for me and I think it's really cute, although it's not that special. And everyone compliments me, literally everyone admires it. Why? Because I've got three or four patches sewed onto it to give it a unique look.
Now, I've had a pile of patches just waiting to be added to my clothes since like forever, but never had the time.
But, since it's getting cold outside, I thought I'd have a chance to wear my jacket a bit more, and I figured now's the time to put those patches to work.
Let's do this!

First, gather up your supplies – that is, your patch or patches, the jacket or shirt or whatever, some needles and thread. Black usually works best, but that's because most of my patches have a black background. Use whatever color works best for you.

If you're looking to add more patches, think very carefully about the placement. Try out a few positions and see which you like the most!

Be careful: there are two types of patches – sew-on and iron-on.

Iron-on are a bit trickier, so let's just do the sew-ons first.
These are simple, just make sure to keep them in place while you push the needle in the first couple of times. Also, don't get sloppy with your sewing, a lot of tinier threads are better than a few ones that are big and loose. Keep it tight.
Try to sew around the edges of the patch, to keep it more stable.

Also, watch out. I've noticed most jackets are a bit uneven in the seam and you won't get the patch aligned with both the horizontal and vertical stitching, so make sure to choose one and stick to it.

Sewing inside a pocket

This one can be pretty hard to do, especially if you're not used to sewing a lot (I'm not!). You might think 'Well, just sew next to the pocket!', but when you want to have a jacket full of patches and on the pocket is the only space you got left....you make do. That, or it just looks good there.
Keep your fingers away!
You' ll prick your fingers more times than you can count, there's no avoiding that, but if you don't hurry and are careful, you can greatly reduce the number of jabs.

(While doing my metal cut – above – I learned what it means to put your blood, sweat and tears into making something. But it's one of my most prized possessions, so I guess it's worth it)
Patience is key here.

Iron-on patches

Now, as I said, these are a bit more troublesome, although most people think it's the other way around. Iron-on patches have a sort of glue on the back that gets activated when you apply heat. So, the thing to do is take the patch and place it where you want.

DON'T put the iron directly on the patch. It will do damage.
Instead, cover the patch with a towel, careful not to disturb its placement, then proceed. Rather than moving the iron over the towel – as you would when actually ironing – keep it in place over the patch, pressing down on it. Hold it like that for about 30 seconds – 1 minute, then remove it. Try the edge of the patch with your fingertip. If it moves, cover it again and iron some more.

Now, many people say it's enough to iron it, but I prefer to be extra safe, since the glue used to keep it in place loosens when you wash the jacket. So, when the patch is ironed and stays in one place, I usually also sew around the edges a bit. Not as tightly together as I do with regular patches, just some thread to make sure it stays there.

Regardless of the application method, you've got yourself a jacket with a 'tude!
It depends on how many patches you're planning on adding. So, I suggest you put on some music, pour some coffee and get sewing!

What do you think?