Chenille patches
Chenille is the letterman patch: short loops of yarn standing proud of a felt base, usually outlined in chain stitch. It is the most tactile construction and the least detailed, and the two facts are the same fact — the pile that gives it depth is also what stops it holding fine artwork.
| Price | From $2.50 per piece — full grid on patch pricing |
| Minimum order | 50 pieces |
| Production | 10–12 business days standard, 5–7 rush at no extra charge |
| Shipping | Free and tracked worldwide, usually 3–7 business days in transit |
| Proof | Free digital proof — nothing is made until you approve it |
| Payment | 50% deposit once the proof is approved, 50% before dispatch |
What chenille can and cannot do
Think in shapes, not lines. A single letter, a numeral, a simple mascot silhouette — those work. A logo with a strapline under it does not, because the yarn cannot resolve type that small and the loops blur it into a smudge. As a rule of thumb, nothing narrower than about 10 mm survives.
Because of that, chenille patches run large. Most sit between 4 and 12 inches, and a chest letter is typically 5 to 6 inches tall. That is also why chenille is priced per piece rather than by the same size grid as embroidery.
Chenille patch sizes
Chenille needs size to show its texture, so it runs larger than any other patch. The usual sizes by position:
| Position | Typical size | What goes there |
|---|---|---|
| Left chest (letterman jacket) | 5 – 6 in tall | The varsity letter |
| Right chest | 3 – 4 in | Name or mascot |
| Sleeve | 3 – 5 in | Graduation year, sport and activity emblems |
| Back | 8 – 12 in | School or club name and mascot |
| Streetwear piece | 4 – 10 in | Graphic patches on jackets, hoodies and totes |
Full jacket layouts are in letterman jacket patch placement, and letters are covered on chenille letterman patches.
Specification
| Item | Standard |
|---|---|
| Base | Wool-blend or acrylic felt |
| Pile | Looped chenille yarn, single or two-tone |
| Outline | Chain stitch, contrast colour |
| Typical size | 4–12 inch; letters usually 5–6 inch |
| Minimum detail | About 10 mm — no small type |
| From | $2.50 per patch |
| Lead time | 10–12 business days standard, 5–7 rush |
Where chenille is used
- Letterman and varsity jackets — chest letters, sleeve years, sport insignia
- Club and society crests where the patch is the whole garment’s decoration
- Team awards and milestone patches, often layered on a felt shield
- Fashion pieces that want texture rather than resolution
Choosing a backing
Chenille is thick and heavy, which rules out some options. Iron-on adhesive struggles to hold the weight on a wool jacket, so sew-on is the standard and the one we recommend on anything worn regularly.
| Backing | Best on | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Iron-on (heat seal) | Cotton and cotton-rich blends | Permanent enough for everyday wear; will lift on nylon, waterproofs and heavy fleece |
| Sew-on (plain back) | Anything, including technical fabric | The only backing that reliably outlives the garment |
| Velcro (hook & loop) | Tactical, service and ID panels | Designed to come off — the loop side is sewn to the garment once |
| Peel-n-stick | Events, samples, photography | Temporary. Not a wash-safe backing |
How do I order chenille patches?
- Send artwork. Any format — a logo file, a photo of an old patch, or a sketch on paper.
- Approve the proof. You get a digital proof with the size, colours and border marked. Nothing runs until you sign it off.
- Production. 10–12 business days as standard, 5–7 on a rush, at no extra charge.
- Tracked delivery. Shipped worldwide, to you or straight to your printer.
What do you guarantee on every order?
These are the terms every order is made under — the same ones written in our order terms, not a sales promise.
- Free proof, usually the same working day. It shows size, thread colours, border and backing.
- Unlimited free changes. Ask for as many proof revisions as you need.
- Nothing is made until you approve it in writing. You can cancel free of charge at any point before approval.
- Remade at our cost if it does not match the proof. Tell us within 14 days of delivery with photos and we cover the remake and the return shipping on our errors.
- No setup or digitizing fees. Redrawing and digitizing your artwork is part of the price.
- Free tracked shipping worldwide.
Honest limits: thread is matched as closely as thread allows, so a small shift against a printed Pantone chip is normal, and very fine detail is flagged on the proof before you approve it.
Common questions
Can I have two colours of chenille in one patch?
Yes — two-tone is standard on varsity work, usually a body colour with a contrast outline. Three or more colours are possible but each adds a set-up pass, so it shows in the price.
Will it survive a wash?
Cold wash, inside out, air dry. Chenille mats if it is tumbled hot. The care guide has the full wash table.
What is the difference between chenille and embroidered patches?
Chenille is looped yarn standing up from a felt base — soft, thick and textured, but it cannot hold detail under about 10 mm. Embroidery is flat satin and fill stitches that hold finer detail at smaller sizes and cost less.
How do you attach a chenille patch?
Sew it on around the chain-stitched edge. Chenille is heavy, and iron-on adhesive struggles to hold that weight on a wool jacket, so sewing is the method we recommend for anything worn regularly.
Ready to order chenille patches?
Send the letter, crest or mascot you want made, with a size and a rough quantity, and we will quote it and proof it before anything is stitched.
Get a free quote
Send us your artwork, size and quantity for chenille patches and we will come back with a price and a free digital proof. Nothing goes into production until you approve the proof, and shipping is free worldwide.
Related reading
- Patch types compared — where chenille sits against the other constructions
- Patch care, washing and removal — keeping the pile from matting
- How to build a patch jacket — laying out a letterman or club jacket before anything is sewn
- Displaying a patch collection — mounting and framing chenille without matting the pile
- Chenille patches for letterman jackets
- Letterman jacket patch placement