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Mar 26, 2026
◯ 1 min read
How to Engrave Leather Patches for Hats and Bags on the Ray5
ray5leatherpatchesaccessoriesfashion
Custom leather patches are a popular maker product — hats, bags, jackets, and gear all take patches well. Here's the workflow from blank to finished patch.
Leather Selection for Patches
| Type | Thickness | Notes |
|---|
| Vegetable-tanned leather | 2–3mm | Best — engrave and cuts cleanly, takes finish well |
| Chrome-tanned leather | 2mm | Good — slightly more flexible |
| Veg-tan pre-cut ovals/circles | Ready-made | Skip the cutting step |
Avoid: PU/faux leather (may contain PVC), patent leather (coating may be PVC)
Standard Patch Sizes
| Patch Size | Application |
|---|
| 50×70mm | Baseball hat front patch |
| 60×40mm | Trucker hat side patch |
| 80×50mm | Hat crown patch |
| Varies | Bag/jacket patch — measure the surface first |
Engraving Settings
| Speed | Power | Result |
|---|
| 3000 mm/min | 35% | Light surface mark |
| 2000 mm/min | 50% | Standard deep engrave |
| 1200 mm/min | 65% | Very dark, deep |
Cutting the Patch Shape
| Thickness | Speed | Power | Passes |
|---|
| 2mm | 500 mm/min | 85% | 2 |
| 3mm | 400 mm/min | 90% | 3 |
Design Tips
- Bold logos work better than fine detail at small sizes
- Think about how the design looks at the actual patch size
- Dark engraving on tan leather is classic — high contrast
- Consider adding a border frame in the design
Finishing
- Apply leather conditioner after engraving — it darkens and softens
- Edge the cut border with a swivel knife or edge beveler
- Apply black edge paint for professional finished edge
- Seal with leather finisher or resolene
Attaching to Hats/Bags
- Iron-on backing — heat-bond to fabric
- Chicago screws (for thick patches on bags)
- Hand sewing with saddle stitch — most durable