# Sewn-on patches vs. iron-ons **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 9, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sewn-on-patches-vs-iron-ons/298516 "2005-04-09T02:46:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sewn-on-patches-vs-iron-ons/298516/1 "2005-04-09T02:46:44Z")
Is there any reason that I can’t sew an iron-on patch onto a shirt? What I’d _really_ like to do is to get a bear flag (Picture ) embroidered onto a polo-type shirt, but I think that would probably be expensive. (I’m going to call for a quote tomorrow.) So of course, being the frugal person that I am, I was looking for a cheap way to do that. (Hmm, maybe I can find what I’m looking for pre-made…) Or is there a website that would do that sort of thing for me? I’ve already checked out [cafepress.com](http://cafepress.com), and it doesn’t look like they’ll do embroidery for me. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sewn-on-patches-vs-iron-ons/298516/2 "2005-04-09T02:54:06Z")
Heh, I told myself I would go back in and put in the link to the picture. [Sorry.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_community) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sewn-on-patches-vs-iron-ons/298516/3 "2005-04-09T03:05:02Z")
So, **chaoticdonkey** …how _you_ doin’? 😃 How much are you willing to spend? [ [Bearmfg.com](http://www.bearmfg.com/apparel/shirts/stitchedts.html#EmbroideredPawsT-Shirt) sells shirts with embroidered patches (not polo shirts, though) for $20-$22. [The Homo Depot](http://www.the-homo-depot.com/catalog/patches.htm) sells just the patches for $4.00 (scroll down the page). [Gaymart](http://www.gaymart.com/shoptag/2item/i009198.html) has a bear flag in a bear silhouette for $5.95. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sewn-on-patches-vs-iron-ons/298516/4 "2005-04-09T03:06:23Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > How much are you willing to spend? [ Dammit…the Coding Fairy (tee-hee! :rolleyes: ) struck again… ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sewn-on-patches-vs-iron-ons/298516/5 "2005-04-09T03:11:41Z")
Heh, actually, the Homo Depot patch was what prompted me to start this thread, but now, looking at it, I can’t tell if it’s iron-on or designed for sewing. **jayjay** , from one man to another, I’m really thinking about taking the cheap way out. If I approached you with a sewn-on bear patch, would you run the other way screaming (Aah! It’s called embroidery, you queen!)? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sewn-on-patches-vs-iron-ons/298516/6 "2005-04-09T03:17:06Z")
> [@chaoticdonkey](#): > > Heh, actually, the Homo Depot patch was what prompted me to start this thread, but now, looking at it, I can’t tell if it’s iron-on or designed for sewing. > > **jayjay** , from one man to another, I’m really thinking about taking the cheap way out. If I approached you with a sewn-on bear patch, would you run the other way screaming (Aah! It’s called embroidery, you queen!)? Truthfully, I wouldn’t even notice whether it was ironed on or sewn on, unless you’d sewn it on with baling twine in a horribly uneven whipstitch. I’m notoriously unobservant about things like that. Beyond that, it would depend on where we were meeting. If it’s on the street, again, wouldn’t notice. If it’s at a bear run, there wouldn’t be time between saying hi and being nekkid to notice. So you’re good either way. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sewn-on-patches-vs-iron-ons/298516/7 "2005-04-09T12:26:31Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Truthfully, I wouldn’t even notice whether it was ironed on or sewn on, unless you’d sewn it on with baling twine in a horribly uneven whipstitch. I’m notoriously unobservant about things like that. > > Beyond that, it would depend on where we were meeting. If it’s on the street, again, wouldn’t notice. If it’s at a bear run, there wouldn’t be time between saying hi and being nekkid to notice. So you’re good either way. I’ve had the experience of trying to sew on an iron-on patch. It can be done, but the glue on the back is generally kind of thick and hard. You’ll need a large-ish needle, gobs of bearish brute force (I used hetero brute force, but whatever :)), and something between the needle and your hand to give you more leverage. This last is to keep the blunt end of the needle from sinking into your flesh. A coin can be made to serve. ---
**Author:** ![Thin\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Thin\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thin_Ice)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sewn-on-patches-vs-iron-ons/298516/8 "2005-04-09T12:39:14Z")
At the top of the patch page it says embroidered - sew on. That thing you need twixt needle and hand is called a thimble. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sewn-on-patches-vs-iron-ons/298516/9 "2005-04-09T13:55:24Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Truthfully, I wouldn’t even notice whether it was ironed on or sewn on, unless you’d sewn it on with baling twine in a horribly uneven whipstitch. I’m notoriously unobservant about things like that. > > Beyond that, it would depend on where we were meeting. If it’s on the street, again, wouldn’t notice. If it’s at a bear run, there wouldn’t be time between saying hi and being nekkid to notice. So you’re good either way. Basically, the point is that I’m in a _very_ straight town in Southern Arkansas, and I’m just seeing if I can garner ANY reaction at all. This is like a more subdued rainbow shirt or something, in that the only people who are going to recognize the flag are the ones that I would want to recognize it anyway. > [@11811](#): > > I’ve had the experience of trying to sew on an iron-on patch. It can be done, but the glue on the back is generally kind of thick and hard. You’ll need a large-ish needle, gobs of bearish brute force (I used hetero brute force, but whatever ), and something between the needle and your hand to give you more leverage. This last is to keep the blunt end of the needle from sinking into your flesh. A coin can be made to serve. Oh, god, no, you silly! My bearish brute force with a needle only goes places where you can’t see how bad my sewing is, like when I turn pants inside out to mend the crotch or something. I’ll be taking it in to somewhere to have it sewn on. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sewn-on-patches-vs-iron-ons/298516/10 "2005-04-09T14:25:24Z")
Well, for those curious, I gave up on embroidering, and went with [this](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4042&item=3934394014&rd=1) one because [the-homo-depot.com](http://the-homo-depot.com) wanted to charge me through the ass for shipping. Now we get to talk color. I’m thinking of a burgundy polo shirt. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sewn-on-patches-vs-iron-ons/298516/11 "2005-04-09T14:27:28Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > So, **chaoticdonkey** …how _you_ doin’? 😃 Oops, I missed that. I’m doing quite well, thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sewn-on-patches-vs-iron-ons/298516/12 "2005-04-09T14:35:30Z")
Like **11811** said, the glue on the back makes sewing iron-ons pretty tough. (I’ve tried.) If you intend to find someone to do it, they may be reluctant to take it on as well, though they may be able to to do it with a heavy-duty sewing machine. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sewn-on-patches-vs-iron-ons/298516/13 "2005-04-09T19:19:06Z")
> [@chaoticdonkey](#): > > Oops, I missed that. I’m doing quite well, thanks. 🙂 That’s okay. You’d be surprised (or maybe not) how often my attempts at flirting aren’t noticed. 😉