Decoration & finishing
Custom Chenille Patches & Varsity Lettering
Chenille is the fuzzy, raised yarn used for varsity lettering. The classic patch has a felt base with chenille lettering on top and a chain-stitched outline — it is the detail that makes a varsity jacket look authentic rather than imitation.
Technical specification
- Construction
- Felt base, chenille yarn, chain-stitch edge
- Shapes
- Standard letters, numbers, custom die-cut shapes
- Attachment
- Sewn on (recommended) or heat-applied
- Best on
- Varsity jackets, bomber jackets, heavyweight hoodies
- Tooling
- One-off die charge for custom shapes
- Lead time
- Adds approx. 1–2 weeks
How a chenille patch is built
A felt base is cut to shape, chenille yarn is stitched into it to form the letters, and the outline is chain-stitched. The yarn height is what gives the fuzzy raised look, and the chain stitch is what stops the edge fraying.
Sewn on, not glued
We recommend sewing chenille patches. Heat-applied chenille can lift at the edges after repeated washing because the yarn height stops the adhesive from bonding flat. A sewn patch outlasts the garment.
Custom shapes need a die
Standard letters use existing dies. A custom outline — a shield, a mascot, a wordmark shape — needs its own die, which is a one-off tooling cost. Send us vector artwork to quote it.