If your UK logo has tiny type, woven vs embroidered is the fork that matters. Custom woven patches capture hairline crests. Custom embroidered patches give you raised thread you can feel on a jacket or cap.
This guide is for brands, clubs, and uniform buyers who are mid-quote. It is not a style quiz. It is match-to-use: readable letters at 2.5 inches, wash cycles, and how the patch looks from across a shop floor.
What woven patches actually are
Woven patches use a fine-gauge loom so warp and weft hold small letters and thin outlines. Damask-style weaves are common on clothing labels and product tags. Edges can be merrowed, heat-cut, or laser-cut. The surface is flatter than embroidery, which is why a 6-point motto still reads.
See your artwork as a custom UK patch before you buy. Free digital mockup in 12 hours — 5-piece minimum per design. We do not produce until you approve.
GET A FREE MOCKUPWhat embroidered patches are
Embroidery is thread on twill. A digitizer builds a stitch file. Density and underlay decide whether a 3-inch crest looks crisp or muddy. UK teams expect that raised look on workwear, biker vests, and sports caps. Thread has width — a feature for texture, a limit for micro type.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Woven | Embroidered |
|---|---|---|
| Best art | Small text, thin lines, detailed crests | Bold shapes, 4–8 solid colours |
| Feel | Flatter, closer to the file | Raised thread, classic texture |
| Hats & jackets | Good; sew-on preferred | Excellent |
| Labels / tags | Excellent (damask weaves) | Usually too bulky |
| MOQ here | 5 per design | 5 per design |
Ready to spec type, size, backing, and quantity? Open the quote form for a free 12-hour mockup and UK-wide shipping after approval.
GET A FREE MOCKUPHow to choose in five minutes
- If you cannot read the motto at the size of a 50p, lean woven.
- If you want texture on a hat or jacket, lean embroidered.
- If the art is a photo or a 12-colour gradient, see embroidered vs printed instead.
- Name the backing on the quote: sew-on, iron-on, or Velcro.
- Approve size in inches on the free mockup before production.
Cost, MOQ, and ordering in the UK
Price follows size, coverage, and quantity — not a public grid. Our minimum is 5 patches per design. Mockups usually go out within 12 hours. After written approval, production plus UK-wide shipping is typically 7–12 business days. Follow how to order custom patches for the file checklist. Hide vs weave is a different fork: leather vs woven patches.