What is chenille patch?
Chenille is embroidery worked in looped yarn that stands up as a soft, fuzzy pile — the texture of a classic varsity letter. It is usually made as a patch with a felt backing and then sewn or heat-applied to the garment.
Why it matters
Nothing else gives the varsity look. It reads as premium and nostalgic and is the standard for letterman jackets, and increasingly for hoodies and caps.
On our floor
Made on dedicated chenille heads as patches, then attached. Quoted per patch by size and colour count.
Common questions
- Is chenille a patch or direct embroidery?
- Almost always a patch, because the looped stitch needs a stable backing.
- How is a chenille patch attached?
- Sewn around the edge, or heat-applied with an adhesive backing. Sewn is more durable.
- What is the minimum?
- 50 patches, which can go on 50 garments in one order.
- Can chenille be multi-colour?
- Yes — each colour is a separate yarn; two or three is typical.
Related terms
appliqué
Appliqué lays a piece of fabric — felt, twill, or a contrasting knit — onto the garment in the shape of your design and stitches it down…
embroidery
Embroidery stitches your artwork into the garment with thread, from a digitised file that tells the machine where every stitch goes. Priced…
woven label
A woven label is a brand label made by weaving the design in thread on a narrow loom, rather than printing it, then cut, folded and sewn…
Where this applies
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