Custom 50% embroidered patches for artists, indie brands, bands, and anyone wanting the classic two-tone scout-patch look without the cost of full-coverage embroidery. The background is a flat twill fabric in your chosen color, with the rest of the design embroidered on top. The result is a patch with two visible levels: smooth twill behind, raised embroidered thread in front.
Alchemy is a production partner built by artists, musicians, and brand owners. We've helped creators produce over 5 million custom products since 2019, and we don't operate like a promotional products company. Whether you're an indie illustrator running your first 50-piece drop, a band making merch for a tour, or a designer ordering for a brand launch, our job is the same: make the best merch we can for you.
What 50% embroidered actually is
50% embroidered patches use a fabric (twill) background instead of full thread coverage. The factory takes a sheet of twill in your background color and embroiders the foreground design directly on top of it. The result has the dimensional, textured feel of embroidery for the actual artwork, with a smooth, lighter, slightly cheaper twill base for the background.
It's the right call when:
- Your design has a strong, clean background color (a solid field, not a pattern)
- You want the classic scout-patch / military-patch / two-tone look
- You're cost-conscious and the full thread coverage of 100% embroidered isn't necessary
- You want a slightly lighter, slightly more flexible patch than a full-embroidery version
It's not the right call when your design needs a textured background, full thread coverage edge to edge, or a specific embroidered fill pattern in the background.
Edge types
Merrowed edge
Classic raised, rounded thread border. Works on simple shapes (circle, square, rectangle, triangle, oval).
Embroidered edge
Required for complex shapes a merrowed border can't handle. Edge is finished with embroidered thread to follow your shape's outline.
What's included in the price
- Up to 8 thread colors for the embroidered design (designs with 9 or more colors require a custom quote)
- Twill background in your chosen color
- Iron-on backing (standard); sew-on, velcro, or sticker backing available on request
- Digitizing and setup at the factory
- Hard sample for your approval before full production
- Express shipping to your door
Other patch types we make
- 100% embroidered patches, full thread coverage edge to edge
- Woven patches, thinner profile, holds finer detail
- Chenille patches, soft raised yarn texture, varsity look
- Photo-transfer patches, full-color photo-realistic detail
- Patch keychains, patches finished as keychains instead of with iron-on backing
How a patch run actually works
Most orders start with a quote, not a cart. You send us your artwork, and we come back with pricing, a production timeline, and any production notes within a business day or two. We'll flag anything in the file that won't translate well at production size.
Once the order is confirmed and submitted to the factory, you'll see a hard sample within about a week. The sample is a real, finished patch made from your design. You review it, approve it or ask for changes, and once approved the factory runs the full quantity.
Total door-to-door is about four weeks, including express shipping. If you have a hard deadline, tell us before you order. We don't charge rush fees. We'll confirm whether we can hit your date.
Why our minimum is 50
It's a factory math thing, not a quality stance. The factories we work with charge a labor minimum that covers digitizing, setup, the hard sample, and the production run itself. That floor barely changes between a 25-piece and a 50-piece order, so a 25-piece run costs almost the same as 50 with half the output. 50 is where the per-piece price actually starts to make sense.
We can run smaller hard sample runs if you really need to (the factory will do it), but it's not financially viable for most people: you're paying close to 50-piece pricing for a fraction of the output. If you're set on a small run, email us first and we'll walk through whether it's worth it. Larger runs (100, 200, and up) bring the per-piece cost down meaningfully.
Who we work with
Artists running their own work: illustrators, bands, indie brand owners, podcasters, comic creators, convention sellers. Designers ordering for a brand launch, an event, a campaign, or a customer giveaway. Agencies and design studios producing merch for their clients. Merch companies running production for the artists they represent. The common thread is that the merch matters: it's representing a brand, a band, an artist, or a project that someone cares about.
What you get with Alchemy
- 5+ million products produced for creators and brands since 2019.
- 100% money-back guarantee. If it's not right, we remake it at no cost or refund you in full.
- Long-standing factory relationships. We've been working with the same vetted overseas factories for years. Consistent quality, predictable timelines, no chasing the lowest quote. You get a US-based partner who handles the production logistics for you.
- Quality good enough for licensed brands. We've produced patches for officially licensed properties and large brands. The same standard goes on every order.
- A team of artists, musicians, and brand owners. Not customer-service reps trained on a script. Everyone proofing your file or reviewing your hard sample knows what it feels like to send their own art to a factory and hope it comes back right.
Common questions
What's the difference between 50% and 100% embroidered patches?
100% embroidered has the full surface of the patch built from embroidered thread, including the background. 50% embroidered uses fabric (twill) for the background and embroidered thread only for the design on top. 100% is thicker, fully textured, and reads as a fully stitched object. 50% is slightly lighter, slightly cheaper, and reads as a two-tone scout-patch style. More on 100% embroidered patches here.
Can I pick the twill background color?
Yes. The twill comes in a range of colors and you choose which one matches your design. We'll show you available colors during the proofing step.
Can my design have more than 8 colors?
Yes, but designs with 9 or more colors require a custom quote because of the additional thread changes during embroidery. The twill background doesn't count against that color limit.
Can patches be double-sided?
50% embroidered patches are single-sided. The back shows the stitch pattern and the iron-on adhesive. If you need double-sided artwork, woven patches can do that.
Do I see a sample before the full run?
Yes. After the order goes to the factory, you'll see a hard sample (a real finished patch) within about a week. You review it, approve it or ask for changes, and once approved the full run goes into production.
How long does a 50% embroidered patch run take?
About four weeks total: roughly a week for the hard sample, then full production after sample approval, plus express shipping. No rush fees.
What artwork format works best?
Vector files (AI, EPS, PDF) are ideal because they scale cleanly. High-resolution raster (300 DPI at print size) also works. We'll prep your file for the factory's digitizing process.
Are your patches made in the USA?
Patches are produced overseas at long-vetted factories. Our team is US-based and handles file prep, proofing, and customer success. Our wooden products and stickers are made in the USA.
Start a quote
Send us your artwork and a rough quantity, and we'll come back with pricing and a timeline within a business day or two. Not sure if your file will work? Send what you have. We'll tell you what we'd need to make it production-ready. Start a quote.
