🎨 Stick It to Boring: How to Use Iron-On Patches Like a Pro

✨ Mascot blog takeover: Em leads, Lee reacts.

Sparkle meets sarcasm as our magical girl mascot teams up with her undead co-host for helpful chaos and nerdy insight.

Iron-on patches are one of the easiest (and nerdiest) ways to upgrade your outfits. Got a denim jacket that’s dying for a magical girl badge? A backpack that needs a gamer glow-up? A suspicious hole in your jeans that’s definitely not from crawling through a con queue? Iron-on patches are your new best friend.

But before you go full chaos mode with the iron, there’s a bit of prep to do…

🧵 Is Your Fabric Patch-Ready?

Not every fabric plays nice with heat magic. Here’s your cheat sheet:

✅ Best fabrics for iron-ons:

• Denim 👖

• Canvas 🧢

• Cotton & cotton blends 👕

• Polyester 🎽

⚠️ Fabrics to avoid ironing (sew instead):

• Nylon

• Rayon

• Silk

• Leather

• Waterproof, shiny, or sensitive fabrics

Look for this on the label: The iron symbol tells you how much heat your fabric can handle:

• ❌ = Do not iron

• ● = Low heat

• ●● = Medium heat

• ●●● = High heat

If there’s a big ❌ through the iron, step away from the heat!

Shown: pink denim jacket with our "Doing My Best" patch. Mood.

🔥 How to Iron on a Patch

1. Lay your garment flat. If it’s a bag or hat, stuff it with a towel so it holds its shape.

2. Set your iron to the highest temperature safe for the fabric — no steam!

3. Place the patch where you want it. Use a fabric pen if you’re picky.

4. Cover with a cloth (like a pillowcase or tea towel).

5. Press the iron down firmly for 30–60 seconds. Cover every corner.

6. Flip it over and iron the back of the patch too — another 30 seconds.

7. Check the edges. If they lift, re-iron until fully secure.

🧼 Keeping Your Patch Looking Fresh

On average, an iron-on patch will survive about 25 washes, but with these tips, you can keep it going longer:

• Sew around the edges for a more permanent hold

• Hand wash or use a gentle cycle

• Wash in cold or lukewarm water

• Turn the item inside out before washing

• Avoid tumble drying — air dry if you can

• Dry clean if you’re feeling extra fancy

Patches work best on jackets, bags, or anything you don’t wash often. Bonus: it gives them that battle-worn aesthetic Lee loves.

💡 No Iron? No Problem. Try Hair Straighteners!

Yep — in a pinch, hair straighteners can do the trick. Here’s how:

1. Heat them up

2. Position your patch

3. Clamp the straighteners over the patch (carefully!)

4. Hold for 30–60 seconds

5. Move them across the patch bit by bit, holding each section as you go

6. Optional: wrap foil around the plates to avoid getting glue on them

Not elegant, but it works.

✨ Our Favourite Patches Right Now

🌙 Lunar Cat Patch — for Em-style sparkle

A sleepy little cat curled up on a crescent moon, surrounded by stars. Dreamy, magical, and full of soft power.

🛒 Shop now

🧟‍♂️ “I’m Not Anti Social, I’m Anti Stupid” Patch — for Lee-level chaos

For when you need to warn the party before they speak. Glitchy, bold, and blunt — just how Lee likes it.

🛒 Shop now

Want to see more? Check out our full range of patches here.

💬 Over to You!

Got a patch project you're proud of? Want to see custom Em & Lee patches in the shop? Tag us on socials — we love seeing our patch kids in the wild!

📸 Instagram & Facebook: @emleeuk🔗 Share your patch-up looks and don’t forget to tag us!

👕 Challenge: Show us your most cursed patch combo — the weirder, the better. Lee dares you.