In-the-Hoop Patches & Coasters | Machine Embroidery Designs | Urban Threads - Print

In-the-Hoop Patches & Coasters

Learn how to make your own patches, coasters, and magnets with a step-by-step tutorial.

Supplies

  • Fabric to form the base of the design (felt can be a good choice, or a sturdy cotton canvas or duck cloth). 
  • Temporary spray adhesive
  • Heavy duty water-soluble stabilizer (we suggest using Vilene or Sulky Ultra Solvy)
  • Medium weight cutaway stabilizer

Option items: 

  • Patch glue (available at most craft stores)
  • Hot glue
  • An item for applying your patch
  • Clear vinyl if your patch has vinyl applique
  • A magnet (if using your patch or coaster as a magnet)

Tools

  • Embroidery machine
  • Iron and pressing cloth
  • Optional: Hot glue gun

Products Used

  • Yarrrrrn - Knitting (Patch) (Sku: EMP16742-1)
  • Clean Dish Dirty Dish (Magnet) (Sku: EMP17169-1)
  • Mug Rug (In-the-Hoop) (Sku: EMP80071-1)

Embroidered patches and coasters are time-honored classics, one that are easy to share with others. Plus, they are often interchangeable with just a few quick steps, meaning that you can use patch designs as coasters, or coasters as patches. Both coasters and patches stitch completely in-the-hoop, leaving you with a finished product, personalized with your choice of fabrics and threads. We'll show you step-by-step how to put your patches and coasters together! (Plus, read to the end to see how to turn your design into a magnet.)

Steps To Complete

You will also need a patch or in-the-hoop coaster design. Here we are using Yarrrrrn - Knitting and Clean Dish Dirty Dish as examples. The Mug Rug (In-the-Hoop) design is also briefly shown to demonstrate fringe.

When you download your in-the-hoop design, it will come with two or three files -- the regular embroidery design (in this case, UTZ1070), plus a dieline file to give you the fabric shape. These extra files will be labeled with "DL," "DLa," or "DLb". You can either print your dieline files at full size using embroidery software, or just stitch it onto your fabric.

Find more information on printing and stitching dielines here.

First, spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary spray adhesive, and smooth it onto the back of your fabric. This will make your finished patch or coaster a bit sturdier.

If you’re sewing the dieline, you’ll need your fabric and stabilizer large enough to hoop. If you are cutting it out, you only need the fabric piece to be larger than the dieline.

If you have printouts, spray the back of them lightly with adhesive and stick it on top of your fabric.

If you’re sewing your dieline, hoop up your applique fabric and stabilizer and load up the dieline file on your embroidery machine. Stitch it out.

Carefully cut around the dieline(s). Then gently peel off your paper (if you're using it). When you’re done you should have your shape cut out of fabric on one side and cutaway stabilizer on the other.

Now you're ready to stitch your design! Hoop a piece of heavy water-soluble stabilizer and load the design onto your embroidery machine.