When to apply patches???
 

I need some help, I am making memory quilts from my Dads clothes. He was a scout master an I am using fabric form shirts and scarfs for the quilt. But I want to add some of his patches that he was awarded, to each of the quilts. Is it better to attach them after I have the quilts long-armed? or before? I was planning on a overall meander for the quilting. Thanks in advance.

After. Unless you want the quilting to go around them ( echo quilting?)

I would think it would be easier to add them after if you are not doing custom quilting. But if you want it incorporated into the design, then you may want to do it before. It just depends on that you to do with it.

after unless you are planning custom quilting. About the scarves---I haven't done that but a friend did a quilt where they used bandanas and figured out that they needed to stabilize them as too light weight--as I remember BS kerchiefs, you may want to stabilize them with a fusible.

Ditto, after .

If they are thick patches as I remember, I would attach them before so they are secure and watch as you quilt for them. Just a thought, if they are scarves, how about sewing a small Velcro after the quilt is quilted so the scarves could be a 3 dimension attached to the quilt and can be removed for washing.

Why not discuss it with your long armer? She would be in the best position to advise you about whether adding the patches before quilting would impact the price. Patches are quite thick & I would think it would be hard enough to attach them before layering in your batting, but I guess that partly depends on the loft of batting that you use & the strength of your DSM.

Thanks, I thought it would be best to attach them after. The scarf material is regular cotton so it matched with the shirts and did not have to do anything special.