Patches , Large and Small

[kerryb]

Hi. I have a customer wanting lots of patches for their motorcycle riding group. Basicly grey patches trimmed in red and we do the embroidery on them.

Where can I find ready made patches and what about pricing? Stitch count, size? Please help. This could be a great order and future customer.

Thanks!
Kerry's wife

[jjones9774]

We buy blank patches from Dalco Athletic at www.dalcoathletic.com. They make a number of sizes and shapes in many colors of twill and merrowing.

[Aaron]

I find its harder to use pre-made patches cause you have to attach them to backing and get them lined up just right to sew them.

For all orders of 50 or more I sent the to www.patchsupply.com and have them done overseas. They take 4-6 weeks but you can pay extra for rush in 2-4 weeks and the quality is great and the prices excellent. I do a 5" patch with 16k stitches through them for around $2.50 each at 100 qty. You can send them any digitized file or artwork and get a quote and digitizing on 50 or more is free up to a certain size.

If I am doing small numbers then I get patch material and just sew the patches directly on to the material using the largest hoop thats appropriate and put as many in one hooping as possible. I do a walk stitch in the shape I want the border and make sure to space them around 1/4" apart to make space to merrow them. I then send the material up to Andrew at Salem Emblem Shop and have them merrow them for around $.50-.75 each and it cost me around $10 shipping both ways. If I am just doing 1-5 I have a friend locally that has a serger serge the edge which is similar to merrowing but not quite as nice but more cost effective on small orders.

[Digital Stitchz / LaserWorkz]

You don't need to send patches out to get merrowed. Use tearaway backing, do the applique outline. It will sew an outline, you put your cut out twill over it, it tacks it down and then does a nice satin stitch around. When done, you rip off the tearaway, take a permanent marker the same color as your edge and you'd never know it didn't have a merrowed border when you sew it on.