Impressions - October/November 2022 - 26

There are a variety of borders available for emblems and which
type you choose will depend on what's available and its purpose
You have a choice of borders when
ordering a patch. The two examples
illustrate the difference between a
Merrow and Satin border. Each type has
pros and cons, so be sure to discuss which
type is best for your application and your
provider. Photo courtesy of World Emblem
ing is not guaranteed. Also, special effects such as neon, glitter and
reflective colors are not available with these types.
Borders
There are a variety of borders available for emblems, and which type
you choose will depend on what's available and its purpose.
Merrow. Also referred to as " overstitch, " this is the traditional
border most seen on an embroidered patch. It is also popular for
use with sublimation and woven styles. It is great for simple shapes,
such as rectangles, circles, squares and shields. However, it won't
work with irregular, custom-shaped emblems. Width is limited to
2-4 mm, and the thick, strong, durable border protects against fraying.
Note, if a heat-seal adhesive is used, it cannot be applied to the
edge. This does not affect the overall bond with the garment, but
the edge is not affixed.
Clean Cut. This is a thin, flat, discrete border that almost always
matches the fabric of the emblem. It is used for only sublimated
emblems. It is thinner than a satin border.
Overlock. This type resembles a Merrow border but is thinner
and flatter. For some patches, it can be used as an alternative. It is
commonly used with print-and-stitch and woven patches. It costs
more than Merrow, but a heat-seal adhesive will cover the border,
unlike with the Merrow.
Satin. Another alternative to a Merrow edge for an embroidered
patch is the satin border, which offers a soft, billowy edge
and a smooth finish. Directly embroidered onto the patch, it is also
thinner and flatter than the Merrow type and looks more like a diP.26
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OCT./NOV. 2022
rect embroidery design when applied to a garment. Adhesive can
be applied to the edges, and it is equally durable to a Merrow type.
The Merrow is less expensive, but the satin border can be used on
irregularly shaped emblems, in contrast to the Merrow which is good
only for stock shapes, like squares, ovals and triangles.
No Border. In some instances, you may want an emblem with
no border, in which case the edge is laser cut and sealed, so it won't
unravel. A heat seal adhesive will also cover the entire back, further
ensuring no fraying when applied, making it as durable as any of
the other patch styles. This type is popular when a custom shape is
desired, such as a car or an animal. It is mostly used with an embroidered
or sublimated patch.
Print Border. This type is used only on sublimated emblems and
includes a " clean cut " style white border that matches the white
polyester of the patch. When a sublimation transfer is applied, it
seals to the entire emblem edge-to-edge, which means you cannot
have a contrasting color for the border. It will match the rest of the
patch. All sublimation patches start with white fabric.
PVC Emblems. The border on an emblem made of PVC or soft
rubber is determined by the emblem manufacturer. Soft rubber patches
can be ordered with or without a " channel " close to the edge to
allow the emblem to be sewn on. Otherwise, it is heat sealed. 
Randy Carr is the CEO of World Emblem, Hollywood, Fla., a company his
father founded in 1993. It is a global supplier of a wide range of emblems and
patches with multiple manufacturing facilities in the United States as well
as one in Mexico and one in Canada. You can reach Randy Carr at rcarr@
worldemblem.com or visit the website at worldemblem.com.
http://rcarr@worldemblem.com http://www.worldemblem.com http://www.IMPRESSIONSMAG.COM
Impressions - October/November 2022

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