You don't have to be an artist! Stadri's skilled art department will do all the work necessary to turn even your roughest sketches into finished art pieces at absolutely no cost to you!
Step 1: Concept
Every custom patch starts with an idea. That idea may be a theme, an event to commemorate, or a brand identity. A good patch converts that idea into an understandable graphic. Stadri Emblems has a team of award winning, in-house artists, ready to create your custom patch from text description, photograph, or sketch. The design service is free, included with each patch produced. The following guide can be used.
Stadri Emblems offers a free artwork service to create the design for the custom patch. For those who are more adventurous, draw the design in the same size the path will be. It will help you visualize the overall layout and size of the design. Besides making it easier to make corrections, using a pencil will offer the appropriate width for text. Details that are smaller than the width of a pencil point may get lost when embroidered and necessitate a change. Having designed and produced more than 25 million patches, the team at Stadri is always able to offer recommendations to enhance existing artwork.
Step 2: Design
Step 3: Shape
Above are some suggestions for the shape of your custom patch. Your design is not limited to the designs pictured here although they represent popular patterns. Use them if they are applicable
but feel free to consider other shapes as well. You can also view shield shapes
Patches can be made in virtually any shape. The traditional shapes like ovals, circles, squares and octagons have always been popular choices but not the only shapes available. Through the use of lasers, hot and die cutting processes, patches can be made into any shape imaginable. The centers can be cut out achieving fine detail and adding to the appearance of the embroidered patch.
If you would like a shield or custom shape, specify here:
Choose Shape
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Custom / Other
Step 4: Backing (This step is required)
PLASTIC: This backing adds stiffness and gives your patch support, allowing it to retain its shape over time. It is still thin enough to sew through. There is no charge for this backing.
HEATSEAL: Another word for iron-on. Allows you to apply your patch onto a garment using a home iron. If you are planning to wash your garment more than 50-80 times after the patch is applied, it is recommended that the heatseal only be used for pre-placement before sewing, and then followed up with a few tag stitches along the patch to hold it in place longer. NOTE: Heatseal will NOT stick to nylon.
VELCRO: One (hook) side or both sides are available.
ADHESIVE: This is a peel and stick backing to hold a patch in place for a single event. Will not hold up to machine washing. If you desire your patch to stay in place permanently, go with the heatseal option, or plastic and sew your patches.
MAGNETIC: A magnetic strip is placed on the entire back surface, turning your patch into an embroidered magnet.
View more information about patch backings >>
Choose Desired Embroidery Coverage (This step is required)
Step 5: Border
The most common type of border is a merrowed border, which wraps around the edge of the entire patch, and is always 1/8” in thickness. This is best for simple shapes, such as circles, squares, rectangles, ect.
A diecut border is cut to the shape of the design and is ideal for more complex custom shapes with many in-cuts and sharp angles.
There is no price difference between these two types of borders. Choose the border that is most appropriate for the design, unless the customer has a specific preference.
Choose border preference:
Tip : Borders need to be taken into account when designing your patch. If there is too much detail, often a border won’t fit. If planning to use a merrowed border, make sure you add at least a 1/8” buffer around the design.
Step 6: Size (This step is required)
Determining the optimum size should take a few considerations into account. The proper size for your custom patch is usually determined by its intended use. Start by using a ruler to measure the location the finished patch will be displayed. This will help give some idea as to what will fit within the patch.
For Hats - 2-1/2" to 3" sizes are most common. For shoulder or front of jacket - 3-1/2" to 5" sizes are preferred. A back patch can be a larger size of 6”x 10” or 8” x 12” (or even up to 18") that will fit better and offer more space for a design than a smaller sized patch.
The other consideration should be the amount of information and art that needs to fit inside. A custom patch of a dragon flying a kite atop a grassy knoll will offer more detail in a larger size than in a smaller size.
Determining patch size for pricing :
Size =width + height divided by 2
Tip:
Step 7: Lettering
Allow plenty of room for the best legibility. If lettering seems cramped, consider abbreviating. Block letters are most common and work the best. However, many styles of lettering can be reproduced.
Choose desired font:
Specify font
#1 - Tahoma Bold
#2 - Square 721
#3 - Avant Garde
#4 - Rockwell
#5 - Cheltenhm
#6 - Cooper Black
#7 - Copperplate Gothic
#8 - Athletic
#9 - Planet Estyle
#10 - Bauhaus
#11 - Magnum
#12 - Venus Rising
#13 - Balder
#14 - Jester
#15 - Segoe Print
#16 - Script
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Biker Font #1
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I'm supplying finished art
I'm supplying my own font
I need assistance
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View our font options>>
Step 8: Picking Colors Select contrasting colors for a more dramatic and beautiful embroidered patch. If lightly colored lettering or design elements are desired, then select a dark background color. Use dark lettering or designs on a light background. Using a variety of colors will greatly add to the appearance of your patch.
You may use up to 10 colors and one twill (background) color without incurring any extra charges. So be creative!
Choose up to ten thread colors from our most popular color choices below:
Not enough colors? If you have specific color requirements, see below
If you have access to Pantone Matching System, you may specify exact colors from the PMS Color Chart. Otherwise, you may leave your color matching in the hands of our professional artists.
Step 9: Embroidery Percentage (This step is required)
Every embroidered patch starts with a piece of twill fabric, and then threads are stitched on top of this fabric. Embroidery coverage simply refers to whether or not the entire surface of the twill will be covered by thread.
As you can see in the above example, the patch with less than 100% embroidery coverage has an unstitched background, leaving the gray twill exposed. This is ideal if your design has a large area of solid color. It is also a lower cost option.
Now moving on to the 100% embroidery example. On this patch, thread completely covers the twill. There is no gray showing. The customer decided that they wanted a multi-colored background, therefore making 100% embroidery necessary.
The decision to order a patch with 100% or less than 100% thread coverage is simply a matter of preference. Many customers prefer 100% because of the thickness and fullness it adds.
Step 10: Submit Request For Quote
