Custom embroidered patches are having a major moment — on jackets, bags, jeans, caps, and uniforms. Making your own requires a digitized embroidery file, patch backing material, and an embroidery machine. SewFlow handles the digitizing step for free.
What Makes a Good Patch Design?
- •Clear, bold shape — patches are viewed at a distance, so details must be exaggerated.
- •Strong border — most patches have a thick satin stitch border that defines the patch shape.
- •Limited colors — 3–6 colors are typical for clean, readable patches.
- •Solid fill areas — patch designs rely on dense fill stitching for coverage.
- •Simple text if included — use block fonts at a minimum of 8 mm letter height.
Standard Patch Sizes
- •Small: 50 × 50 mm — lapel or hat patches
- •Medium: 80 × 80 mm — jacket chest patches
- •Large: 100 × 100 mm or larger — back patches or center chest
Step-by-Step: Create a Patch Design with SewFlow
- 1Prepare your design — a logo, mascot, or custom artwork as a PNG with transparent background.
- 2Go to sewflow.com/image and upload the file.
- 3Set the size to your target patch dimensions.
- 4Choose your format — DST for commercial embroidery, JEF or PES for home machines.
- 5Download the file.
- 6Stitch onto patch fabric (twill or felt) with a dense cut-away stabilizer.
- 7Apply iron-on backing adhesive if making iron-on patches.
Design your patch file for free:
Open Image to Embroidery →