Applying an Iron-On Patch

The other day I was helping Hubs and got a small hole in my free-box jeans. Today before washing, I used an iron-on patch for the hole. There is a good way and a bad way to use an iron-on patch. Let me explain.

The Bad Way:
1. Wait until the hole gets really big to patch.
2. Use the entire patch, just as it came out of the package, even if your hole is really small.
3. Put the patch on the outside of your jeans where everyone can see it.
4. Iron it on, and you're good to go!

The Good Way:
1. Patch holes as soon as you notice them.
2. Cut your patch to the correct size- I cut mine the size of the hole plus 1/2" on each edge.
3. Iron on the inside of the pants.
4. Hand-stitch around the patch to keep it from coming off. I find that as the pants are used and washed, eventually an iron-on patch will start to peel off. Hand stitching (I do a whip stitch) prevents this. Rounding the corners of your patch will also help.

Inside

Outside

Above is my completed patch. I forgot to round the corners out... oops! But it still works. I also used this patching method on some jeans that came from the mall pre-holed. I decided to put a patch on these holes for modesty's sake.

Inside

Outside

A set of iron-on patches costs a couple dollars. If you iron on the inside, you won't have to match the color. Patching small holes and cutting your patch to size means you will be able to patch more pants, meaning instead of $1 per pair, it will cost you $0.10 or $0.25 per pair. Hand stitching the inside means you will never have to re-patch the pants, or feel the edge of the patch as it peels off and rubs against your knee. Ick.

Do you patch pants? Why or why not?