At American Patch, customers sometimes ask us for advice about how to remove sewn on patches. Sewn on patches come off relatively easily once you cut every thread holding them. You’ll definitely want to get a seam ripper for this job. It has a sharp, U-shaped edge with two sharp points. Any fabric or craft store should have one.

You could encounter a sewn on patch that was also secured through a heat-activated adhesive. People often sew on iron on patches to make sure that they do not come loose. Taking off an iron on patch that was also sewn will require extra patience and a hot iron.

Necessary Tools

• Seam ripper
• Tweezers
• Small scissors
• Clothing iron

Steps for Removing a Sewn On Patch

1. Bend the underlying fabric down from the patch to expose the stitches as much as possible.
2. Insert the long tip of the seam ripper behind a stitch.
3. Gently push the curving blade against the stitch.
4. Work slowly to avoid cutting the underlying fabric.
5. Once the stitch is centered on the seam ripper blade, push the blade against the thread.
6. Proceed to the next stitch and repeat the same action.
7. You should cut every stitch instead of pulling out multiple stitches after making one cut. Going stitch-by-stitch reduces the chance of forming wide holes in the fabric.
8. As you work, you can start to gently pull free bits of thread with tweezers.
9. After all stitches are cut, the patch will lift away from the fabric.
10. Use the tweezers and small scissors to clean off bits of stray threads stuck in the fabric.
11. Wash the clothing, hat, or bag according to its fabric directions. This should diminish the appearance of old stitch holes.

What to Do If the Patch Is Ironed On

1. Set up an iron and ironing board or cover a flat surface with a towel.
2. Test how the fabric under the patch reacts to heat.
3. Place a piece of wax paper over the fabric in a place unlikely to be seen.
4. Press a hot iron onto the wax paper covered fabric for 15 seconds.
5. Take away the iron and lift off the wax paper.
6. Inspect the fabric for heat damage.
7. If it appears unharmed, proceed with heating the patch.
8. Put a sheet of wax paper over the patch.
9. Press a hot iron over the patch for 15 seconds.
10. Using your tweezers, pry up a corner of the patch to see if the adhesive has softened.
11. If the glue remains hard, cover the patch and heat again until the patch can be pried up.
12. Once the adhesive is soft, you should be able to lift off the patch.
13. Wash the fabric to remove lingering adhesive residue.

New Custom Patches for Your Group

Now that old patches are off of your clothes or other gear, you can look into getting new patches. American Patch produces custom patches from many materials in almost any shape or size. We’re happy to provide you with a free quote. Just provide us with your original design, material and size requirements, and quantity.

We stand out from the competition because we supply our customers with a free sample patch. You get to see how it will actually turn out instead of only seeing a graphic rendering prior to production.

Our company proudly makes premium-quality patches for teams, businesses, clubs, and other groups. We offer free U.S. shipping, and you’ll appreciate our fast turnaround time. Contact us to learn more about custom patches today.