SherbyNet - /page/wikibook/entry.mu

Micron Document

<!DOCTYPE html>

<title>Embroidered patch</title>

</head>

<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Embroidered patch</span></span>

</h1>

</header>

<p>An <b>embroidered patch</b>, also known as a <b>cloth badge</b>, is a piece of <a href="Embroidery" title="Embroidery">embroidery</a> which is created by using a fabric backing and <a href="Thread_(yarn)" title="Thread (yarn)">thread</a>. The art of making embroidered patches is an old tradition and was done by hand. During the first half of the twentieth century they were commonly embroidered using a <a href="Schiffli_embroidery_machine" title="Schiffli embroidery machine">Schiffli embroidery machine</a>. High-speed, <a href="Embroidery_machines" class="mw-redirect" title="Embroidery machines">computerized machines</a> have led to mass production.

</p><p>There are various methods of affixing them to the fabric surface. Embroidered patches can be attached with a pin, sewn on, or affixed with more modern methods such as <a href="Iron-on" title="Iron-on">iron-on</a>, <a href="Clothes_dryer" title="Clothes dryer">dryer</a> heat-activated adhesive, and <a href="Hook-and-loop_fastener" title="Hook-and-loop fastener">Velcro</a> backing.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2></div>

<p>Embroidered patches—an important identification tool for military and other uniformed personnel—trace their roots thousands of years ago to ancient cultures of the Mediterranean, Mideast, China, India and South America, where the art of decorating fabric with thread stitching originated. Elaborate hand-stitched designs and patterns were used to embellish the robes of royalty and for religious artifacts.

</p><p>Today, embroidered patches are used by government organisations (including uniforms of military forces, emergency services and other specialised workers), sports teams and companies in the private sector to denote rank, job, specific position or specialised unit. Youth groups, including sports teams, scouting organizations and specialized clubs, often wear clothing emblazoned with embroidered patches. They are also used by space agencies on the uniforms of astronauts to denote the mission (<a href="Mission_patch" title="Mission patch">mission patch</a>). Patches are collected by enthusiasts as well.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Military_use">Military use</h3></div>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style>

<p>As with other forms of <a href="Heraldry" title="Heraldry">heraldry</a>, the colours and images in military patches are chosen to symbolically convey different positive traits and values.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="United_States">United States</h4></div>

<p>Embroidered patches were first adopted by United States military units, with some crude, unofficial examples found on soldiers’ uniforms from the <a href="War_of_1812" title="War of 1812">War of 1812</a>, <a href="Mexican%E2%80%93American_War" title="Mexican–American War">1845 Mexican War</a>, and the <a href="American_Civil_War" title="American Civil War">Civil War</a> (1861–65) Unit identifications, also known as <a href="Shoulder_sleeve_insignia" title="Shoulder sleeve insignia">shoulder sleeve insignia</a> (or SSI) is a relatively new component of the modern military uniform after originating during <a href="World_War_I" title="World War I">World War I</a>, when <a href="John_J._Pershing" title="John J. Pershing">Gen. John J. Pershing</a> authorized limited use.

</p><p>The oldest of all official U.S. military patches is the "Big Red One" of the <a href="1st_Infantry_Division_(United_States)" title="1st Infantry Division (United States)">1st Infantry Division</a>, first issued on October 31, 1918. SSI became common during World War II and distinctive patches for individual units of the US Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard have become a proud tradition. There is an active collectors' market, especially for rare, limited-edition patches.

</p><p>Various regulations exist on how badges are displayed, how many may be worn at one time and whether or not such badges may be worn on the uniform of more than one branch of service. In the U.S. Army, the SSI is worn on the upper left arm, just below the uniform’s shoulder seam. It is sometimes worn on other places, most notably when soldiers’ body armor covers their shoulders.

</p><p>For the U.S. military, patch designs are certified and protected by the <a href="United_States_Army_Institute_of_Heraldry" title="United States Army Institute of Heraldry">Institute of Heraldry</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The institute decides how military patches are displayed, how it is worn, and the reasons for display. A <a href="Hallmark" title="Hallmark">hallmark</a> is assigned to each certified manufacturer of military insignia to indicate which manufacturer produced the product. It is illegal for other manufacturers to create designs on their patches that incorporate the likeness of an official Army heraldic item.

</p><p>The embroidered patch industry is dominated by several long established companies such as the <a href="Chicago_Embroidery_Company" title="Chicago Embroidery Company">Chicago Embroidery Company</a> (founded in 1890), <a href="Lion_Brothers_Company_Building" title="Lion Brothers Company Building">Lion Brothers</a> (founded in 1899), St. Louis Embroidery (founded in 1887), <a href="A-B_Emblem" title="A-B Emblem">A-B Emblem</a>, and Penn Emblem (founded in 1947). As with much of the textile manufacturing industry in the United States, manufacturing of emblems has largely moved out of the country, though some manufacturers still maintain domestic factories.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Manufacture">Manufacture</h2></div>

<p>Before the advent of computer technology, patches were made by hand. The general process, however, remains the same today. First, a fabric backing is cut to shape. To prevent fraying, the edges of the backing are heat-sealed. Then, the thread is stitched into place. Some designs incorporate the backing as the background of the patch, while others completely cover the backing with stitches. To finish the patch, iron-on adhesive may be applied to the reverse—a step that was not originally done.

</p><p>Machinery created during the 18th- and 19th-century <a href="Industrial_Revolution" title="Industrial Revolution">Industrial Revolution</a> changed garment production with technology such as <a href="Power_loom" title="Power loom">power looms</a> and <a href="Sewing_machine" title="Sewing machine">sewing machines</a>, making fabrics of more uniform quality and greatly increased production efficiency. Embroidery—once a time-consuming hand-made stitch-by-stitch process—was revolutionized by the introduction of the <a href="Chemical_lace" title="Chemical lace">Schiffli</a> <a href="Schiffli_embroidery_machine" title="Schiffli embroidery machine">embroidery machine</a>, invented by Isaak Groebli of Switzerland in 1863.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Like a sewing machine, it operated with a two-thread system. Early production from the multi-needle machine, powered by a hand-turned crank, wasn’t much quicker than handwork, but significantly, multiple copies of identical designs could be created. Groebli's machine utilized the combination of a continuously threaded needle and shuttle containing a <a href="Bobbin" title="Bobbin">bobbin</a> of thread. The shuttle itself looked similar to the hull of a sailboat. "Schiffli" means "little boat" in the Swiss dialect of the German language, so his machine came to be known as a schiffli machine.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> An automatic machine, refined by Isaak’s eldest son in 1898, simplified the mechanical system so it could be run by a single operator.

</p><p>Types of stitches—including <a href="Chain_stitch" title="Chain stitch">chain stitch</a>, <a href="Buttonhole_stitch" title="Buttonhole stitch">buttonhole</a> or <a href="Blanket_stitch" title="Blanket stitch">blanket stitch</a>, <a href="Running_stitch" class="mw-redirect" title="Running stitch">running stitch</a>, <a href="Satin_stitch" title="Satin stitch">satin stitch</a>, and <a href="Cross-stitch" title="Cross-stitch">cross stitch</a>— are the basis of embroidery. Patches are often crafted from chain, satin, and <a href="Hem" title="Hem">hemming stitches</a> and machine work relies on the use of multiple threads.

</p><p>Advanced technology allows virtually any design to be recreated in thread on an embroidered patch. Images previously created by hand in a time-consuming process can now be quickly, <a href="Image_scanner" title="Image scanner">digitally scanned</a>, and computer-controlled, with multi-head sewing machines use several colors of thread simultaneously.

</p><p>Other modern advancements include applying a <a href="Plastic" title="Plastic">plastic</a> backing to the patch, improving <a href="Stiffness" title="Stiffness">stiffness</a>, and preventing bunching or wrinkling of the design. Patches are often die-cut into specific shapes with a border protected from unraveling by <a href="Overlock" title="Overlock">serge stitching</a>. <a href="Polyester" title="Polyester">Polyester</a> blend threads are <a href="Colour_fastness" title="Colour fastness">colorfast</a> and have superior durability as compared to <a href="Cotton" title="Cotton">cotton</a> thread.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Alternatives">Alternatives</h2></div>

<p>Modern alternatives to embroidered patches are PVC (polyvinyl chloride) patches, which allow more intricate designs.<sup id="cite_ref-Lange2023_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Lange2023-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p>

<ul><li><a href="Embroidery" title="Embroidery">Embroidery</a></li>

<li><a href="Patch_collecting" title="Patch collecting">Patch collecting</a></li>

<li><a href="Scout_badge" title="Scout badge">Scout badge</a></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width reflist-columns-2">

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("./mw/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("./mw/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("./mw/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("./mw/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><cite id="CITEREFVogt2001" class="citation book cs1">Vogt, Gregory L. (2001). <i>Space mission patches</i>. Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook Press. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-7613-1613-2</bdi>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060411072120/http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/">"The Institute of Heraldry – Home"</a>. <i>pentagon.mil</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/">the original</a> on 2006-04-11.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.trc-leiden.nl/trc-needles/tools/embroidery/schiffli-embroidery-machine">"Schiffli Embroidery Machine"</a>. <i>Textile Research Centre</i>. TRC Leiden<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2 February</span> 2019</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mesadist.com/history.asp">"MESA Distributors : History of Embroidery"</a>. <i>mesadist.com</i>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-Lange2023-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Lange2023_5-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFLange2023" class="citation web cs1">Lange, Katie (2023-01-12). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/3265694/what-is-that-space-force-uniform-insignia-made-of-pvc-not-thread/">"What Is That? Space Force Uniform Insignia Made of PVC, Not Thread"</a>. <i>DoD News</i>. <a href="United_States_Department_of_Defense" title="United States Department of Defense">United States Department of Defense</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230315022259/https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/3265694/what-is-that-space-force-uniform-insignia-made-of-pvc-not-thread/">Archived</a> from the original on 2023-03-15<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2023-03-24</span></span>.</cite></span>

</li>

</ol></div>

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li::after{content:" · ";font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li:last-child::after{content:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:first-child::before{content:" (";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:last-child::after{content:")";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol{counter-reset:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li{counter-increment:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li::before{content:" "counter(listitem)"\a0 "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li ol>li:first-child::before{content:" ("counter(listitem)"\a0 "}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236075235">

/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

.mw-parser-output .navbox{box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;width:100%;clear:both;font-size:88%;text-align:center;padding:1px;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbox{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox-styles+.navbox{margin-top:-1px}.mw-parser-output .navbox-inner,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{width:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-title,.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow{padding:0.25em 1em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group{white-space:nowrap;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{background-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list{line-height:1.5em;border-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list-with-group{text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid}.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-group,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-image,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-list{border-top:2px solid #fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title{background-color:#ccf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-title{background-color:#ddf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-abovebelow{background-color:#e6e6ff}.mw-parser-output .navbox-even{background-color:#f7f7f7}.mw-parser-output .navbox-odd{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ul,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ul{padding:0.125em 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbar{display:block;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title .navbar{float:left;text-align:left;margin-right:0.5em}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .navbox-image img{max-width:none!important}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .navbox{display:none!important}}

/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */

</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox authority-control" aria-label="Navbox472" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Authority control databases: National </th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><ul><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://d-nb.info/gnd/7565686-3">Germany</a></span></li><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://id.ndl.go.jp/auth/ndlna/00560290">Japan</a></span></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div><div class="zim-footer">

This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2025-08-06" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=Embroidered_patch&oldid=1304562924">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

</div>

</div></div>

</div>

</main>

</div>

</body></html>