How do you apply a patch to a leather jacket or vest?

Answer 1

APPLYING A PATCH TO A LEATHER JACKETOn a leather jacket with a polyesther lining, you have to first remove the lining in the area where you are going to stitch on the patch. Otherwise when you stitch on the patch you would stitch through the lining as well. You need a special thicker leather needle that only a shoe maker or shoe repair person would have using a foot-pedal Singer Sewing Machine.

Here is another, easier way: Measure where you want the patch on the sleeve with the jacket on. Mark this with a white taylor's chalk, or blue on a white jacket ,so it's visible. Open the lining at the bottom back hem just enough to get your hand in. Slip your hand up between the lining and the leather in the area where you will put the patch. Then with a "small" sharp upholestry needle using a mylon thread in a clear color (light weight fishing line works well for this) and a thimble to push this through the leather, starting with the first stitch through the underside of the patch so the knot in the end of the thread is hidden under the patch but will hole the thread securely push the needle down through the leather to the hand between the leather and the lining and back up through the edge of the patch. Continue working the needle back and forth through the patch and the leather using the thimble to push the needle straight and making a satin stitch though it really doesn't need to be that close together on the stitches. One every 16th of and inch should be sufficient. When you get all the way around the patch and back to your starting point, slip the needle around the first stitch in a half-hitch (first part of a knot) and then back around in the 2nd half-hitch to complete the knot. Then slide the needle all the way under the patch between it and the leather pulling the thread through to the other side of the patch, pull the thread up with a bit of a pucker, so when you cut the thread it slips back under the patch with a long end.

I know this looks a bit complicated but it really isn't. Just make sure you don't catch the lining with the thread or the jacket or it won't hang right and will wear uncomfortably. When you've finished with the patch don't forget to restitch the jacket lining hem back where it belongs.

Answer 2

You first need to get yourself a seam ripper. It has a needlepoint end that slips underneath the thread and a sharp section in the middle that cuts the thread as you go along. Slowly and patiently pop the stitches without yanking on the threads so that you do not damage the leather. When you've removed all of the outer stitching, the excess thread will pull right out and the patch should slip right off.

Of course if the patch was ironed on or glued you will need a professional leather product to remove any debris. Most people only stitch them but I prefer to glue them down first so the don't shift as I'm trying to sew them. If you plan to recover the area with a new patch then you don't need to worry about any glue or debris so you can use a sharp exacto-knife and slice through the glue as you lift the patch edges being careful not to cut the leather.

You might consider going to a shoe repair or leather patch place to have this done.