This glossary explains the words you will see when ordering custom patches, from merrowed border and twill to digitizing, coverage and hook and loop. Terms are in alphabetical order. Jump to a letter: A B C D E F G H I L M N P R S T U V W
A
- Applique
- A piece of fabric sewn onto a patch or garment as part of the design, instead of filling that area with thread.
B
- Backing
- The material or fastening on the back of a patch that attaches it to a garment. The main types are sew-on, iron-on and Velcro (hook and loop). See our backing options guide.
- Blank patch
- A patch with no design, usually a plain shape with a border, used for practice or for adding names later.
- Border
- The finished edge around a patch. The two main kinds are a merrowed border and a hot-cut (laser-cut) edge.
- Bullion
- Raised metallic wire thread (gold or silver) used on formal, military and ceremonial badges.
C
- Center patch
- The main emblem in the middle of a motorcycle club back patch, between the top and bottom rockers. See the MC rocker size guide.
- Chenille
- A soft, looped, towel-like texture used for varsity letters and letterman jackets.
- Coverage
- How much of the patch is filled with thread. At 100% coverage no backing fabric shows. Lower coverage lets the twill base show through as part of the design.
D
- 3D puff embroidery
- Embroidery stitched over a foam layer so parts of the design stand up higher than normal stitching. Often used for bold letters on caps.
- Digitizing
- Turning artwork into a stitch file that an embroidery machine can read. At Legion Patches digitizing is free on every order.
E
- Embroidered patch
- A patch made by stitching thread onto a twill base. It has a raised, textured look. See custom embroidered patches.
F
- Flag patch
- A patch showing a flag, usually about 3.5 by 2 inches, often with Velcro backing for uniforms and packs.
G
- Glow-in-the-dark thread
- Thread that glows after it is exposed to light. Used for night visibility and novelty patches.
H
- Heat seal
- Another name for iron-on backing: a layer of heat-activated glue on the back of the patch.
- Hook and loop
- The generic name for Velcro. The hook side goes on the patch and grips a loop panel on the garment or gear.
- Hot-cut edge
- An edge cut with a hot knife or laser that seals the fabric. It follows detailed shapes that a merrowed border cannot. Also called laser-cut edge.
I
- Iron-on backing
- A heat-activated glue on the back of a patch, pressed on with an iron. Works on cotton, denim and canvas, not leather or nylon. See how to iron on a patch.
L
- Lead time
- The total time from order to delivery. At Legion Patches it is usually about 4 to 5 weeks. See how long custom patches take.
M
- MC tab
- A small patch reading “MC”, worn on a motorcycle club vest, usually beside the center patch.
- Merrowed border
- A thick, rolled stitch wrapped around the edge of a patch, made on a merrow machine. It is the classic, strongest edge for round, square and simple shapes.
- Metallic thread
- Thread with a shiny gold, silver or colored metallic finish.
- Minimum order (MOQ)
- The smallest quantity a maker will produce for one design. At Legion Patches it is 25 pieces per design.
- Mockup
- A digital picture of how your patch will look, with size, colors and details. Legion Patches sends a free mockup within 6 hours.
- Morale patch
- A patch, often PVC with Velcro, showing a unit joke, motto or emblem, worn on tactical gear. See custom morale patches.
N
- Name tape
- A narrow rectangle patch, usually about 4 by 1 inch, with a name or call sign. See custom name patches.
P
- Pantone (PMS)
- A standard color matching system. Sending Pantone codes helps a maker match your brand colors in thread or print.
- Peel-and-stick backing
- A sticky adhesive backing for temporary use on paper or smooth surfaces. It is not made for clothing that is worn and washed.
- Physical sample
- A real patch made before the full run so you can check colors, size and finish. Every Legion Patches order gets one.
- PVC patch
- A patch molded from soft PVC rubber, with raised 3D detail. It is waterproof and tough. See custom PVC patches.
R
- Rocker
- A curved bar patch above or below a center patch on a club or unit back. The top rocker usually shows the name; the bottom rocker the location or chapter.
S
- Sew-on backing
- A plain back with no glue or Velcro, meant to be stitched on. It is the strongest option and works on every fabric. See how to sew on a patch.
- Stitch count
- The number of stitches in an embroidered design. Larger and denser designs have more stitches.
- Subdued
- Muted colors such as tan, olive, coyote and black, used on military and tactical patches so they do not stand out.
- Sublimated patch
- A patch with the design printed into polyester fabric by dye sublimation, so photos, gradients and fine detail come through on a flat, smooth surface. See custom sublimated patches.
T
- Twill
- The tightly woven fabric used as the base of most embroidered patches.
U
- UV + PVC patch
- A soft PVC patch printed in full color with UV-cured ink, so it can show gradients and photo detail. See custom UV + PVC patches.
V
- Velcro backing
- Hook and loop backing. The hook side is on the patch so it can be swapped on any loop panel. See custom Velcro patches.
W
- Woven patch
- A patch woven on a loom from fine thread. It is thin and flat and holds small text and fine detail. See custom woven patches.
Put the terms to work
Ready to choose? Compare embroidered, woven and PVC patches, check sizes on the printable patch size chart, or read how to design a custom patch.
Frequently asked questions
What is a merrowed border?
A thick, rolled stitch wrapped around the edge of a patch. It is the classic, strongest edge for round, square and simple shapes.
What is the difference between merrowed and hot-cut edges?
A merrowed border is a rolled stitch around the edge and suits simple shapes. A hot-cut edge is cut and sealed with heat or a laser and can follow detailed custom shapes.
What is twill in patches?
The tightly woven fabric used as the base of most embroidered patches.
What does digitizing mean for patches?
Turning your artwork into a stitch file an embroidery machine can read. Legion Patches does it free on every order.
Not sure what you need? Message us on WhatsApp at +1-437-703-7747 or start on the quote page. Every order gets a free mockup within 6 hours.