Machines for Patches: Making Them, and Sewing Them On
- Guide type
- Buying guide
- Last reviewed
- Sources
- 6 cited
- Tested by us
- No. How we research
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Two different jobs share this search. To make a patch, you need an embroidery machine: the design is stitched on fabric with a satin-stitch edge, using water-soluble stabilizer.1,2 To sew a patch onto denim or canvas, a sewing machine needs a heavier needle, 90/14 to 100/16 in Brother's chart.3 A combo such as Brother's SE700 does both; Brother's PRS100 adds a tubular arm for caps and sleeves.4,5
Making a patch with an embroidery machine
Brother’s PR680W manual describes appliqué pieces made from built-in or other patterns, “convenient for fabrics that cannot be embroidered or when you wish to attach an appliqué to a garment”.1 It recommends felt or denim for the piece, two layers of water-soluble stabilizer, a satin-stitch outline, and cutting slightly outside the cutting line.1
On a home machine without that function, Brother’s PE545 manual builds an appliqué from two framed patterns of the same size: one sewn with a straight stitch, one with a satin stitch.6
BERNINA’s patch tutorial stitches the design on twill, hooped over two layers of a wash-away stabilizer, then finishes with a satin stitch, trims the fabric and fuses an iron-on backing to the wrong side.2
The patch must fit in your machine’s field: see how to choose a home embroidery machine for field sizes.
Sewing a patch on
Sewing a patch onto a jacket or jeans is a sewing job, not an embroidery job. Brother’s SE700 manual pairs heavy fabrics such as denim of 12 oz or more, canvas and vinyl-coated fabric with a 90/14 to 100/16 needle.3 It warns that thin needles (65/9 to 75/11) on heavy fabrics such as denim may break.3 For thick layers, raise the presser foot lever to its highest position, and keep the foot level with the locking pin of the zigzag foot.3
For caps, either embroider the cap directly with a cap frame or attach a patch: see embroidery machines for hats.
Two machines for patches
Brother SE700
- Largest field
- 100 × 100 mm (4 × 4 in)
- Sewing
- 103 stitches
- Formats
- .pes .phc .dst .pen
- Transfer
- USB, wireless LAN
- Embroiders and sews
- Reads .pes and .dst
- Small 100 × 100 mm field
- No cap frame
Good fit: you want to make small patches and sew them on with the same machine.
Skip it if: your patches are larger than 100 × 100 mm.
Brother PRS100 (Persona)
- Largest field
- 8 × 8 in
- Formats
- .pes .phc .dst
- Caps
- optional cap frame
- 8 × 8 in field
- Tubular arm for caps and sleeves
- Embroidery only
- Cap frame sold separately
Good fit: you make larger patches and also want to stitch caps directly.
Skip it if: you also need to sew garments on the same machine: it only embroiders.
Questions
Can I make patches on a home embroidery machine?
Yes. Brother's PE545 manual uses framed patterns of the same size and shape to make an appliqué: one stitched with a straight stitch, one with a satin stitch.6 BERNINA's patch tutorial stitches on twill, finishes with a satin stitch and trims along the cutline.2
What stabilizer do patches need?
Brother's PR680W manual recommends two layers of adhesive water-soluble stabilizer, sticky sides together, to stop the stabilizer tearing, and soaking the piece afterwards to dissolve it.1
Can I sew a patch on leather?
Brother's needle chart for the SE700 covers denim, canvas and vinyl-coated fabric, not leather. Its sewing tips add that if leather or vinyl sticks to the flat bed attachment, you can sew with copy or tracing paper on top of it, and that optional presser feet for leather or vinyl may be used.3
How do I put a patch on a cap?
Either stitch the cap directly with a cap frame, or sew or iron a patch onto it. See our guide to embroidery machines for hats.
Bottom line
If you want to make patches, the embroidery field and a satin-stitch edge matter most; if you only sew them on, a sewing machine that takes a 100/16 needle is enough. A combo machine covers both.
Related guidesWhat we checked, and what we didn't
- Appliqué and patch steps in Brother's PR680W and PE545 manuals, and BERNINA's patch tutorial
- Needle and presser foot advice for heavy fabrics in Brother's SE700 manual
- How each machine handles patches in practice: we have not tested them
- Leather: Brother's needle chart does not cover it; only a sewing tip does
Sources
- PR680W Operation Manual (884-T23) · Brother
- Machine Embroidered Iron-on Patch · WeAllSew (BERNINA)
- SE700 Sewing and Embroidery Machine Operation Manual (888-P10) · Brother
- SE700 Sewing and Embroidery Machine · Brother USA
- PRS100 Operation Manual (882-T51) · Brother
- PE545 Embroidery Machine Operation Manual (888-P30) · Brother
Revision history
| 2026-11-11 | Added Amazon.com links to some product buttons; removed maker stock notes. |
| 2026-11-10 | First version. |