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Forums > Tutorials / How To / Where To

DIY patches for attaching to fabric

Gr0bovsch1k
Thu, 19/02/2026 - 18:16

I've been making patches for a while, but I can't figure out whether I should iron them or heat them with a hair dryer. I'm really afraid of burning myself or scorching my patch. What's the best way to secure acrylic to denim? What happens if I don't heat it, will I be able to wear them for a long time and wash them if, for example, I cover them with fabric varnish?


Samppa666's picture

Hey,

I think hair dryer just wont provide enough heat to bind the acrylic to the denim: It would heat the top layer of the acrylic but not where the acrylic meets the denim.

Havent used acrylic paints but bonding acrylics to cloth is basically the same as with silkscreening inks:
- Let the acrylic dry completely before heating.
- You wont burn your patch/the painted part if you put a baking paper (non greased) or a cloth between the print and the iron. Then calmly move the iron all over the print, continuously, to distribute the heat evenly.
- The heat and time needed depends on the paint and the fabric. For my inks on t-shirts and denim pieces its 150°C/medium/two dots/for cotton on the iron and 0,5-2 minutes.
Check if there is any info about your paint. Id guess acrylic would need 5 times the time to bond to the denim fibers.

Iron-> baking paper/cloth-> patch-> ironing board/pillow

If not bonded to the cloth with heat the paint will just wash or crackle away in time, in rain or when washed.
The way i described your patch should survive rain and washing. Ive had DIY silkcreened patches on my vest for years and they are doing just fine.

If youre unsure or cant find info about he paint just make a test piece or two and figure out how many minutes should be enough to bind your acrylic: paint, dry, iron, wash. If the paint or parts of it washes off; not enough time under the iron.

Gorgoroth's picture

I despise people who sell these fabric patches online for over $10. Black and white sheets not even cut yet going for over $30 on depop. Best id pay for those is $5. Local record shop was charging $15 for a emperor fabric black and white patch. Haggled the idiot down to $3.

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