As a sewing enthusiast, you may want to use iron-on patches for your next project.
Iron-on patches are a great way to embellish clothes, bags, and other items. They’re easy to apply and can be removed easily if you change your mind about the design. However, you need to consider whether iron-on patches will work on certain fabrics.
If you’re asking yourself whether iron-on patches can be used on polyester or not, continue reading this.
Can You Iron on Patches to Polyester
Yes, you can iron on patches with polyester. Polyester is a synthetic fabric that is made from polymers. It is made of many long chains of molecules called polymers. The individual molecules are bonded together by strong covalent bonds. Polyester can be produced in many forms, including fabrics and plastic films.
Ironing will melt the fibers in your patch and adhere them to the fabric of your garment or bag. You should first use an iron-on adhesive to allow the patch to stay put even after washing it multiple times. Once you have done this, then you can proceed with the ironing process.
Will Iron on Patch Work on Polyester?
Yes, it will work. However, you need to make sure that the heat setting is correct. I would recommend using a low heat setting and then testing the patch on a hidden area before applying it to the garment.
Polyester and cotton are both natural fibers that are susceptible to heat, so they should be able to withstand being ironed on. However, it’s important to note that if your patch is made of a synthetic fabric like nylon or spandex, you should not attempt to iron it on because the heat will melt it.
How to Iron a Patch on Polyester
Ironing a patch on polyester is one of the easiest ways to add some flair to your clothing. Even if you’ve never sewn anything before, it’s easy to do.
Ironing a patch onto polyester is a fairly simple process. You will need to have an iron, some water, and the patch itself.
Choose your location
Where you place your patch will depend on the size of the design and how much detail is in it. Generally, you’ll want to place the longer edges of the design along one edge of your garment and then center it from top to bottom.
This allows for more room for mistakes as well as for aligning it with other patches or designs on your garment.
Prepare your ironing surface
Make sure that you have an ironing board set up with a clean dry towel over it. This helps prevent any accidents as well as protects both your garment and the iron from melting onto each other in case something happens during this process.
Lay the garment
Lay out your shirt flat on an ironing board, then place the patch where you want it on the front of the shirt. You should leave about 2 inches around all edges of the patch when positioning it.
Prepare the iron
Make sure that the temperature setting is appropriate for the fabric you are using. To test, press one area of the fabric for about 10 seconds with no pressure, if the fabric wrinkles, then lower the temperature setting until it does not wrinkle.
If there is no change in appearance after pressing for 10 seconds, then increase the temperature setting until a wrinkle appears.
Iron your garment
Turn up cuffs and collars as needed so they can be pressed flat. Place a thin towel over the area where you will be placing your patch, then place your patch face down on top of it (the towel prevents scorching).
Place your patch on the garment
The patch should be higher than the surrounding fabric, which makes it easier to iron out wrinkles. If you’re adding multiple patches, make sure they’re spaced evenly apart so that they don’t overlap or have very little space between them.
Cover the patch with a thin towel
The towel will protect your hand from getting burned by the hot iron. Make sure that all of the edges of the towel are secured around the edges of your garment so that they do not come loose while you are ironing.
Start ironing
Start ironing at one end of the patch and move your iron back and forth in small amounts of time until you’ve covered the entire area. When you’re done, allow it to cool for five minutes before touching it.
What Fabrics Can You Iron on Patches?
When you want to make a patch for a garment, you’ll need fabric that will be able to tolerate the heat of an iron. The best fabrics for ironing on patches are cotton, polyester, or cotton-polyester blends.
Cotton is considered to be the best material when it comes to patching up your clothes. This is because it can withstand high temperatures without discoloring or melting. However, if you’re looking for a more durable material, then polyester is your best bet.
The most popular fabric used by tailors and seamstresses is the cotton-polyester blend because it’s easy to work with and has good durability properties.
You can also use synthetic fabrics like nylon or spandex but they tend not to hold up as well over time because they’re less breathable than natural fibers like cotton or wool.
How to Remove Iron on Patch from Polyester?
Iron-on patches are great for adding a touch of personality to clothing and other fabrics. Unfortunately, they can be a bit difficult to remove from the fabric once you’ve had enough of them.
Here are some tips for removing iron-on patches:
- Dab the remover on the back of the patch, then work it into the adhesive with your fingers or a rag for one minute. The glue should start to loosen up after that time period.
- Scrub off as much of the residue as possible with an old toothbrush. You may need to use some elbow grease in addition to the adhesive remover if there are stubborn spots of glue left on your shirt.
- Once all of the residues appear to be gone from your shirt, it’s time to pretreat the area with liquid laundry detergent and let it sit for 30 minutes before washing as usual.
