Glossary of Patch Terms

Merrowed border

A classic overlocked stitched edge that wraps the patch, best for standard shapes like circles and rectangles.

Hot-cut border

A heat-sealed edge that gives clean, fray-free contours around custom or irregular shapes.

Twill

The woven fabric backing that forms the base of an embroidered patch.

Run stitch (running stitch)

A single line of stitches used for outlines, fine detail, and traveling between areas — a long run across a gap is what becomes a jump stitch.

Satin stitch

Long, smooth parallel stitches that create a glossy fill — ideal for lettering and borders.

Complex-fill stitch

A patterned fill used to cover large areas with texture and dimension.

Jump stitch

A thread that travels between stitched areas; trimmed during finishing for a clean look.

Embroidery coverage

How much of the twill is covered by thread — commonly 50%, 75%, or 100%.

Backing

The finish on the back of a patch: iron-on, sew-on, or hook-and-loop (Velcro).

Woven patch

A patch made with fine threads on a loom, reproducing small text and detail sharply.

PVC patch

A durable, weatherproof rubber patch molded from soft PVC — great for outdoor and tactical use.