Need help making patches

I think that you are talking about a patch like those used by the Boy Scouts--a round piece of fabric with some design embroidered in the center, and a satin stitch band around the outside.

If so, here is one way to do this. Use your embroidery software to create the interior design. Change color and create a simple circle with a running stitch. This circle should be a little smaller than final satin stitch band that will run around the patch. You are going to use that circle as a guide to cut the fabric. Change color (you will be cutting away the "extra" fabric around the outside before your machine adds the satin stitch band around the outside). Now add the satin stitch band around the outside. The outer edge of the satin stitch band should extend a little further out from the center than the running stitch that you will use when cutting the fabric. The inside edge of the satin stitch band should extend a little further in than the running stitch.

Hoop up your fabric and some tear away stabilizer (that's what I use, you can adapt to whatever stabilizer you like). Let your machine embroider the design up to and including the running stitch. At this point remove the hoop from the machine (don't remove the fabric or stabilizer from the hoop). Use a pair of fine scissors to trim away the fabric (not the stabilizer) just outside of that running stitch (in a moment you will add the satin band that will cover the cut you are making). Leave the interior patch fabric attached to the stabilizer in the hoop.

Put the hoop back in your machine and let your machine add the satin stitch band around the outside of the patch, covering up where you cut away the fabric. Now that all the embroidery is done, remove the hoop and tear away the stabilizer. You should have a nice patch.

A few things to think about before you start. How big do you need to make the satin stitch band so that you can cut away the fabric and cover the cut? That depends on how carefully you can cut and how accurate your machine is. Another factor to consider is the color of thread. You want a color for the running stitch that you can easily see when you are cutting. You don't, however, want the satin stitch band to let that running stitch show through underneath.

Good luck.

--Whit

Marie at My Embroidery Haven has done a lot of free patches. She has them in all sizes and shapes. You do have to join the Yahoo group but there is no mail just freebies that she sends out quite often.

I have used several of the patches successfully.