Custom 100% embroidered patches for artists, indie brands, bands, podcasters, and anyone making patches for a brand or project they care about. The entire patch is stitched in embroidered thread on a felt backing, which gives you a textured, durable, classic-looking patch that holds up on jackets, hats, tactical bags, and tour merch for years. Embroidered is the heaviest and most traditional patch option we make.
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-patch drop, a band making merch for a tour, or a designer ordering patches for a brand launch, our job is the same: make the best merch we can for you.
What 100% embroidered patches actually are
The full surface of the patch is built from embroidered thread, including the background. There's no visible fabric showing through. The result is a thick, textured patch with the dimensional feel of classic scout, military, and varsity-style patches. If you've held a patch on an old letterman jacket or a band's denim vest, that's this.
If you'd prefer a fabric (twill) background with the design embroidered on top instead of full thread coverage, see our 50% embroidered patches. They're a little lighter, slightly cheaper, and read closer to the classic scout-style two-tone look.
The tradeoff vs woven patches: 100% embroidered is thicker and more textured, but doesn't hold the same fine line detail. If your design is heavy on tiny script, intricate fine line work, or photo-realistic shading, woven or photo transfer might be a better fit. We'll tell you honestly which patch type fits your art before you order.
Edge types
Merrowed edge
The classic raised, rounded thread border you see on traditional patches. Works on simple shapes (circle, square, rectangle, triangle, oval). It's the cheapest and most familiar edge.
Hot-cut edge
Cut precisely to the shape of your artwork. Required for complex shapes with curves, angles, cutouts, or anything a merrowed border can't handle. Slightly higher cost because of the additional cutting step.
What's included in the price
- Up to 8 thread colors (designs with 9 or more colors require a custom quote)
- Iron-on backing (standard)
- Digitizing and setup at the factory
- Hard sample for your approval before full production
- Express shipping to your door
Backing options
Iron-on backing is standard on every patch and included in the price. We can also do:
- Sew-on backing for designs you want stitched permanently into apparel
- Velcro (hook + loop) backing for swappable patches on tactical bags, jackets, or rotating brand setups (typically 15 cents per patch)
- Sticker backing for non-permanent application (tradeshow giveaways, magazine inserts, decorative use)
Tell us in the order notes which backing you need; if you don't specify, we'll send iron-on.
How a patch run actually works
Most orders start with a quote, not a cart. You send us your artwork (vector, raster, sketch, whatever you have), 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 before we move forward, so you're not surprised at the sample.
Once the order is confirmed and submitted to the factory, you'll see a hard sample within about a week (closer to 10 days for woven patches because of the weaving setup). 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. That's the nature of producing 100% custom merchandise overseas vs. shipping a stock promotional item. If you have a hard deadline, tell us before you order. We don't charge rush fees. We'll either confirm we can hit your date or tell you up front that we can't, so you can plan around it.
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-patch and a 50-patch order, so a 25-patch run costs almost the same as 50 with half the patches. 50 is where the per-patch 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-patch 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-patch cost down meaningfully.
Who we work with
Artists running their own work: illustrators, bands, indie brand owners, podcasters, comic creators, convention sellers. Designers ordering patches for a brand launch, an event, a campaign, or a customer giveaway. Agencies and design studios producing patches 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 at the cost of the product. 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, including yours.
- 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
How much do custom embroidered patches cost?
Depends on size, color count, edge type, and quantity. As a rough anchor, a 3-inch embroidered patch lands around a few dollars each at 100 units, and the per-patch price comes down meaningfully on larger runs. Email us your design and rough quantity for an exact quote.
What's the difference between embroidered and woven patches?
Embroidered patches are thicker, more textured, and read as classic patches (think varsity, military, scout). Woven patches are thinner, hold finer detail, and look more like printed fabric. If your design is bold and dimensional, embroidered. If it's intricate or has tiny detail, woven. More on woven patches here.
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. Send us your art and we'll quote it.
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.
Can patches be double-sided?
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.
How long does an embroidered patch run take?
About four weeks total: roughly a week for the hard sample, then full production after sample approval, plus express shipping. Hard deadline? Tell us before you order; we'll confirm whether we can hit it. 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 before submitting.
Are your patches made in the USA?
Our patches are produced overseas at long-vetted factories. Our team is US-based and handles file prep, proofing, and customer success on every order. Our wooden products and stickers are the products we make 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.
