DIY Sublimation Patches Tutorial – Hybrid Embroidery & Heat Press Guide

· EmbroideryHoop
DIY Sublimation Patches Tutorial – Hybrid Embroidery & Heat Press Guide

Discover how The Baby's Booty transforms patch production by blending embroidery and sublimation. This hands-on guide covers isolating borders in embroidery software, stitching on polyester twill, and pressing vibrant designs. Learn how to cut and back your patches for a professional finish.

Educational commentary only. This page is an educational study note and commentary on the original creator’s work. All rights remain with the original creator; no re-upload or redistribution.

Please watch the original video on the creator’s channel and subscribe to support more tutorials—your one click helps fund clearer step-by-step demos, better camera angles, and real-world tests. Tap the Subscribe button below to cheer them on.

If you are the creator and would like us to adjust, add sources, or remove any part of this summary, please reach out via the site’s contact form and we’ll respond promptly.

Table of Contents
  1. Why Choose Hybrid Sublimation & Embroidery Patches?
  2. Essential Tools & Materials for Your Patch Project
  3. Step-by-Step: Designing Your Patch Border
  4. Stitching & Cutting Your Patch Blanks
  5. Sublimating Your Patch Designs
  6. Adding an Iron-On Backing (Optional but Recommended)
  7. From the Comments: Community Tips & Questions

Creating custom sublimation patches doesn't have to take all night. This hybrid technique blends embroidered edges with full-color sublimation centers—speeding production while keeping that professional embroidered look.

Woman holding embroidered UNITY patch
Demonstrating the fully embroidered patch that inspired the hybrid method.

Why Choose Hybrid Sublimation & Embroidery Patches?

Full embroidery is beautiful but time-consuming. When a single patch takes 94 minutes to stitch, scaling up for a client can feel impossible. By combining embroidery for the border and sublimation for the design, you achieve crisp detail in a fraction of the time.

Woman holding sublimated UNITY patches
Finished hybrid patches showing both embroidery and sublimation.

Speed vs. Detail: The Best of Both Worlds

This hybrid method reduces machine time dramatically. Because only the satin border is stitched, the inner artwork transfers instantly under the heat press. It’s efficiency meets artistry—ideal if you’re working with bulk orders or repeating designs.

Cost-Effectiveness for Bulk Orders

Switching to sublimation minimizes thread and digitizing costs. Once your embroidery border is set, you can multiply the results on a single hoop. This flexibility benefits both home crafters and small shop owners.

Understanding Polyester Blends

The creator mentions a separate follow-up on polyester ratios. For best results here, stick with 100% polyester twill to get strong color vibrancy during pressing.

Essential Tools & Materials for Your Patch Project

Everything in this workflow focuses on precision: an embroidery setup to form perfect borders, software to manage shapes, and a heat press calibrated for consistent transfers.

Embroidery software showing COMMUNITY patch design
The embroidery design is loaded for border isolation.

Embroidery Machine & Software Setup

Any reliable embroidery machine works, but a sturdy magnetic hoop saves time by making fabric placement effortless. Tools like the magnetic embroidery hoops for brother pr1055x or magnetic hoops for embroidery machines ensure even tension. A digitizing program (used in the video: Soit Pro) lets you isolate borders cleanly for patch outlines.

Isolated outer border in embroidery software
Only the outer border remains for use as the patch outline.

Sublimation Printer & Heat Press

Use a dedicated sublimation printer with proper sublimation ink on specialty paper. The press should reach 400°F for 60 seconds, as demonstrated, to ensure full ink transfer and consistent color depth across each polyester twill blank.

Multiple border outlines arranged in large hoop
Batch setup for stitching several patches at once.

Fabrics, Adhesives, and More

You’ll need polyester twill fabric, parchment paper, and HeatnBond for optional backing. The creator sources twill from Gunold.com. She also uses Pro Spray adhesive for light tack before pressing—which prevents image shifting during sublimation setup.

Magnetic embroidery hoop over white polyester twill
Hooping the polyester twill fabric securely before stitching.

Step-by-Step: Designing Your Patch Border

In the embroidery software, the first task is identifying and isolating the patch logo’s border.

Embroidery machine stitching border outline
The embroidery machine stitches the patch borders.

Isolating the Border in Embroidery Software

Open your design in Soit Pro (or similar) and remove fill or text layers. It’s safest to work from a duplicate file—one slip could overwrite your master. Save the newly isolated outline as a border-only design so it’s ready for batch stitching.

Optimizing for Multiple Patches on One Hoop

Within your hoop layout—something like a 13x11 frame—you can seat multiple copies of the border. The creator stitched six at once. A sixteen-by-thirteen layout would also work on larger setups such as a magnetic embroidery hoop 8x13 if your machine accommodates it.

💡 Always do a virtual stitch check before you commit to thread. It’ll save re-hooping later.

Stitching & Cutting Your Patch Blanks

Once the file is ready, it’s time to set up the hoop and embroidery machine.

Hooping Fabric for Flawless Embroidery

The video demonstrates a magnetic frame that snaps together quickly—similar to a magnetic hoop for brother pe800 in convenience. Ensure your polyester twill is taut to avoid wrinkles. This magnetic setup also reduces hand strain and risk of punctures.

Precision Cutting for a Professional Finish

After stitching, cut each patch close to the embroidered border. Sharp scissors make the difference between polished and frayed.

Cutting around embroidered patch border
Each patch blank is trimmed for clean edges before sublimation.
⚠️ The edges of cut twill can fray slightly. Viewers suggested in the comments that using a soldering iron can lightly seal those threads.

Sublimating Your Patch Designs

Now for the magic—adding color through sublimation.

Aligning patch blank onto sublimation paper design
Positioning each patch accurately on its sublimation design.

Prepping the Sublimation Transfer Sheet

Designs are laid out in Microsoft Publisher and mirrored before printing on sublimation transfer paper. You can lightly spray the sheet with adhesive like Pro Spray to keep blanks from sliding.

Heat press display showing 400 degrees and 60 seconds
Press settings visible for perfect color transfer.

Heat Press Settings for Vibrant Results

Set the heat press to 400°F for 60 seconds. Even pressure and a clean pressing surface are key. Some batches benefited from 70–80 seconds for deeper tones.

Freshly pressed COMMUNITY patches on parchment
The finished designs appear crisp and vibrant right after pressing.
✅ Always position patches face-down with their smooth side against the design, as shown on camera.

Tips for Optimal Color Transfer

A magnetic embroidery hoop holds the blanks steady during pre-press alignment if needed. Always place parchment paper both above and below your transfer to stop ink bleed. Experiment first on scrap twill before committing your best borders.

A backing transforms your patch from flexible to ready-for-sale professional.

Applying HeatnBond glue to back of patch
Optional step: adding an iron-on glue backing for rigidity.

Cutting Heat-Activated Glue with Cricut

Load the patch outline into Cricut Design Space and cut one piece of HeatnBond per patch. The glue shape should match your embroidery border so trimming is minimal.

Peeling glue pieces from Cricut mat
Cutting HeatnBond glue shapes using a Cricut for the patch backs.

Applying the Backing for Durability

After sublimation, place a glue cutout on the patch’s reverse side. Press it for 4 seconds—no longer—to activate adhesion. Once cooled, trim excess for a crisp edge.

Rigid sublimated patch on glass surface
Completed patch with a professional, firm finish.
💡 Test press settings first, as thicker glue forms may require minor time tweaks.

From the Comments: Community Tips & Questions

The video’s viewers chimed in with helpful extras.

  • Several crafters asked about fabric sources, and Eve (The Baby’s Booty) confirmed Gunold.com offers ideal polyester twill.
  • Others wondered about stabilizer—she didn’t use one here, likely due to the heavy twill’s rigidity, though results may vary by machine.
  • HeatnBond Heavy proved a favorite for long-term adhesion.
  • A fan suggested turning your embroidery outline into an SVG to streamline glue cutting or even switch to a print-and-cut workflow.
⚠️ Always double-check your mirror orientation before printing; several beginners noted it’s an easy mistake.

Wrapping Up: Hybrid Efficiency in Action

This sublimation-embroidery combo cuts production time while maintaining craftsmanship. Whether you’re pressing on a Redline or a brother embroidery machine, the goal is the same—maximize output without compromising detail.

Comparison of patch colors and shapes
Side-by-side comparison shows results of different press times and custom shapes.

Ready to try sculpted designs? The custom crown patch proves how flexible the process can be: just swap the border file and adjust your cut shapes.

Close-up of crown-shaped sublimation patch
Custom crown-shaped design proving versatility of the method.

By balancing thread artistry with dye-sub speed, this method sets creative businesses apart. Even if you’re using alternate frames like magnetic embroidery hoops for bai or barudan magnetic embroidery hoop, the fundamentals remain unchanged—clean borders, crisp transfers, and care in every press.

Redline embroidery machine control panel
The Redline machine ready for multi-border stitching.