How to Make an Embroidered Patch (In-the-Hoop)

machine embroidery patch for a craft hoarder club

Making embroidered patches is easy - and a great way to show off your embroidery on jackets, bags, and anywhere else you like! We'll show you how to stitch patch designs.

Supplies & Materials:

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When you download the design, you will find multiple files. Some are embroidery files and some are dielines files (marked with "DL") that are used to cut the fabric to the correct shape.

Open and print each dieline file using an embroidery software. If you do not have an embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on using dielines

We also recommend Wilcom's Hatch software which comes in different levels depending on what you'd like to use the software for. Hatch Organizer works well to view your designs, print dielines and templates, change design colors, and create basic design layouts. (This is an affiliate link. We may earn commission on purchases made with this link.)


Paper dielines with fabric

Spray the back of the front paper dieline and smooth it onto the right side of a fabric piece. Also spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer and smooth it onto the wrong side of the fabric piece.

dieline on fabric and stabilizer

Cut the front piece out of the adhered fabric and stabilizer.

cut out front piece

A back fabric piece is a nice way to have a clean finish to your patch, but not all patches need a back fabric piece if you prefer to leave it off.

If using a back piece, also cut the backpiece of the patch out of fabric and stabilizer.

cut out back piece

Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer tightly.

stabilizer hooped

Attach the hoop onto the machine and load the embroidery design. For best results, use a 75/11 sharp sewing needle as it will make smaller perforations in the stabilizer.

Embroider the front piece dieline. This will mark on the stabilizer where the front piece needs to be placed.

placement dieline embroidered out

After the dieline has sewn, spray the wrong side of the front piece with temporary adhesive. Smooth it in place inside of the sewn dieline on the front side of the hooped tear-away stabilizer.

place front piece in dieline

Embroider the front piece tackdown. This tackdown will hold the fabric in place for the remainder of the design.

front piece tackdown

Follow the color change sheet and embroider the details of the design. Stop before embroidering the back piece tackdown.

inner details embroidering

Spray the wrong side of the back piece with temporary adhesive. Smooth it in place inside of the sewn dieline on the back side of the hoop.

place back piece

As the rest of the embroidery will be visible from both sides of the finished patch, wind a bobbin to match every remaining thread color.

matching bobbin and thread

Place the hoop back on the machine and embroider the rest of the design. Use a matching bobbin for each of the remaining thread colors.

finishing boarder

Once the embroidery is finished, unhoop the stabilizer and tear away the extra stabilizer from around the design.

Remove from stabilzier

Use patch glue or hot glue to add your patch to your favorite items. You can also sew the patch on with your sewing machine or by hand.

patch on purse

Create a collection of fun patches to scatter across your favorite jacket or bag. Patches also make fun personal gifts.

all different patches

Shop In-the-Hoop Patches