How to Sew Patches on a Tunic
- 1). Lay the tunic out and place the patches in the tunic to help you visually decide the placement-some organizations have specified placement guides so refer to this if that is the case for yours.
- 2). Fix the patches on the tunic temporarily. There are two methods for this depending on the backing on the patches.
Method 1: If the patches have an iron-on fusible backing, place the patches in the exact placement spot on the tunic. Place a cloth or a light towel over the patches and press with an iron on low-med dry setting. This will temporarily fix your patches in place for sewing.
Method 2: If your patches don't have a fusible backing or your are not sure if they do, then use pins, fabric glue, or sewing adhesive to "stick" your patches in place. If you use fabric glue or sewing adhesive, you will need to let it dry completely before attempting to hand sew the patches. You can proceed immediately if you are machine sewing the patches. - 3). Sew the patches on the tunic usually a thread that either blends in completely or compliments the design. Also select a stitch the either blends or enhances the patch and tunic.
If you are hand sewing, then use a straight stitch in a thread that matches the patch perfectly to make the patch blend completely. A back stitch is another option that will hold well. See the Hand Sewing Guide in references for a free easy to follow illustrated sewing stitch guide.
If you are machine sewing, then you can use a basic straight stitch to blend into the patch or use a zigzag stitch to cross over the edge of the patch. It is also possible to use a home serger to sew the patches on your tunic or an embroidery sewing machine too using a fancier stitch. - 4). After the patch is sewn on the tunic, pull the end threads through the last hold to the inside of the tunic. Create a knot on the inside of the tunic to finish sewing the patch on. Whether sewn by hand or machine, it is possible to pull the threads through and knot or "finish" on the inside for a more professional look.
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