Introduction: How to Make Machine Embroidered Patches Without an Embroidery Machine

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Ever wanted to make an embroidered patch? Don't have an embroidery machine? No problem! In this instructable, I will show you how to make basic patches with my 10 year-old sewing machine.

In case you were curious as to what these were for, I am making a BLU Sniper costume from Team Fortress 2.

This is my first instructable, so any concrit you have would be appreciated =]

Step 1: Supplies

To make patches, you will need the following:

-a sewing machine that can do satin stitch
-a base fabric
-fusible interfacing
-thread
-design
-a pencil
-a light box of some kind
-if you have one, an embroidery hoop (I didn't have one, but you might need one if you are doing wider stitching)

Step 2: Prepare Your Base Fabric, Part 1

If you chose a lighter-weight fabric for your base fabric, you are going to need to interface it in order for it to keep its body and shape.

BUT FIRST: PRESS YOUR FABRIC.

Heat up your iron to the setting that is appropriate for the fabric you are using. In this case, wool, I set my iron to 5.

REMEMBER:
THE IRON IS YOUR FRIEND
THE IRON IS YOUR FRIEND
THE IRON IS YOUR FRIEND
THE IRON IS YOUR FRIEND

Fabric always looks better when it's not wrinkly. (In case you couldn't tell, this is a pet peeve of mine ;) )

Step 3: Prepare Your Base Fabric, Part 2

Okay, now you lay your fabric on top of the fusible interfacing and go over it with the iron in a couple of strokes.

Then flip it over and do another pass with the iron. If you have excess interfacing sticking out, it will probably stick to your ironing board, but that's not a big deal. Just peel it off.

Step 4: Setup to Trace Your Design

Take your design and put it under your interfaced fabric. Tape it to a light box of some description or a window with light coming through it.

Step 5: Trace Your Design

Trace your design with a pencil or other washable marking device. I used a compass because my design is mostly circles.

Step 6: Sewing Time!

Fire up your sewing machine! Select your satin stitch and get ready to sew. You may need to change your presser foot.

If your design is lots of lines like mine, measure the line width so you can set your stitch width appropriately.

If you are filling in a design, you can set it to the widest width and go over your design until it is filled in.

WHEN SEWING: make sure you keep your fabric as taut as possible. This is easier to do if you have an embroidery hoop, though I didn't have one. You'll probably need one if you are doing wide stitching.

Step 7: Finishing

When you design your patch, make sure to put in a border of some kind so it doesn't fray (unless you're going for that effect for some reason). When you're done sewing, cut as close to the edge of your stitching as you possibly can. Make sure you don't cut your stitches, though!

Step 8: You're Done!

Now you have some embroidered patches! You can sew them onto whatever you want now.

As for me, I'm off to sew them to the sleeves of my shirt. Have fun!