Custom Embroidered Patches, Made to Your Design
CentralCustom produces custom embroidered patches for UK clubs, businesses, schools, cadet units, charities and event organisers — your logo, your crest, your colours, stitched into a finished badge you can apply to almost anything. Send us artwork and we will convert it into a stitch file, agree the size, shape, border and backing with you, and produce a patch that looks the same on the hundredth garment as it does on the first.
Patches solve a problem that direct embroidery cannot. If you need one badge across jackets, caps, bags, blankets and gilets from four different suppliers, a patch gives you one consistent emblem you can move anywhere — including onto garments that are difficult or impossible to hoop.
Why Choose CentralCustom for Embroidered Patches
- Your artwork, properly digitised. Every patch starts as a stitch file. We digitise your logo in-house rather than running an automatic conversion, so small text stays legible and fine detail does not turn into a solid block of thread.
- A backing to suit the job. Sew-on, iron-on, hook-and-loop and self-adhesive backings are all available. We will tell you honestly which one suits your garment and how often the badge needs to come off.
- Consistent colour across every order. Once your patch is set up, reorders match. That matters when you are adding new starters to a workwear rollout or new players to a squad two seasons later.
- Any shape, not just a circle. Round, rectangular, shield, oval, laurel or fully bespoke die-cut outlines — the border is part of the design, not an afterthought.
- Advice before you commit. Patches are more cost-effective in batches than as one-offs. Tell us your quantity and deadline and we will tell you whether a patch, direct embroidery or a printed transfer is the sensible choice for what you are actually doing.
Who Custom Patches Are For
Sports clubs. Club crests on tracksuit tops, bench coats, kit bags and supporter wear. One crest, applied across a range of garments bought at different times.
Businesses and trades. Company logos on softshells, work jackets and caps. Patches are particularly useful on waterproof outerwear, where direct embroidery punctures the membrane.
Schools, colleges and universities. House badges, prefect and head-pupil markers, society emblems and departmental crests.
Uniformed and youth groups. Scouts, Guides, cadet units, first-aid teams and volunteer organisations that need rank, role or achievement badges.
Events, charities and heritage. Anniversary badges, commemorative patches, festival crew markers, tour and fundraiser mementos.
Choosing a Backing
The backing is the decision people get wrong most often, so it is worth thirty seconds of thought.
- Sew-on is the strongest and the most permanent. Best for club crests, workwear that gets washed hard, and anything you never want to lose.
- Iron-on (heat seal) is quick and tidy on cotton and polycotton. It is not suitable for waterproofs, softshells or heavily textured knitwear, and it is best reinforced with a few stitches on garments that see heavy laundering.
- Hook-and-loop lets a badge be removed and swapped. Ideal where names, roles or sponsors change, or where a garment is shared.
- Self-adhesive suits short-term use, displays and non-garment applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What artwork do you need for an embroidered patch?
A vector file (AI, EPS, PDF or SVG) is ideal. A high-resolution image will usually work too. If your artwork is a photo or has very fine detail, we will talk you through simplifying it so it stitches cleanly.
Is there a minimum order for patches?
Patches are set up once and then produced in runs, so they work out significantly better per unit in batches than as single items. Tell us the quantity you need and we will quote accordingly rather than turning you away.
How small can the text on a patch be?
As a rule of thumb, embroidered lettering needs around 5mm of height to stay readable. Below that, letters start to fill in. If your design has a strapline in small type, we may suggest enlarging it, dropping it, or using a woven patch instead.
Can you match my brand colours?
Thread is matched as closely as the available thread range allows, which is very close but not identical to a printed Pantone. We will confirm the thread colours with you before production.
Can patches go on waterproof jackets?
Yes, and this is one of the best reasons to use them. A sew-on or hook-and-loop patch avoids putting hundreds of needle holes through a waterproof membrane, which direct embroidery would.
How long does a patch order take?
It depends on quantity, backing and whether the artwork needs digitising from scratch. Send us your deadline with your enquiry and we will confirm what is achievable before you commit.
Get a Quote for Custom Embroidered Patches
Send us your logo, the size you have in mind, roughly how many you need and when you need them by. We will come back with a clear quote and an honest recommendation on backing and construction.
Request a quote or read our guide to embroidery digitising to see how your logo becomes stitches.
