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Leavers' Hoodies and 6th-Year Jackets: Adding Crests and Patches

To add patches to leavers' hoodies or 6th-year jackets, get the school's approval for using the crest, choose an embroidered or woven crest for the chest and a chenille or embroidered year patch for the sleeve or back, collect sizes and names early, and order patches at least four weeks before the date you want the hoodies handed out.

Ireland 6 min read

Written by the manufacturing team at Irish Customized Patches. First-hand Ireland production notes from live quotes — not a generic roundup.

Group of 6th-year students in matching navy hoodies with an embroidered school crest and a chenille year patch

Key takeaways

  • Get the school's permission before using the crest on leavers' gear.
  • A chest crest of 7–9 cm and a sleeve year patch of 8–12 cm are typical.
  • Chenille suits big letters and years; woven suits detailed crests.
  • Names and class lists are usually printed by the hoodie supplier.
  • Start four to six weeks before the hand-out date.

Why add patches to leavers' gear?

Leavers' hoodies are usually printed: a school crest on the front and a list of names on the back. Patches add something a print cannot. An embroidered or woven crest looks like a real badge, a chenille year patch gives a varsity feel, and both last long after the hoodie has been washed dozens of times. Patches also let a class add the crest to varsity jackets bought separately.

What can you put on a leavers' hoodie or jacket?

Item Typical position Suggested patch
School crest Left chest Embroidered or woven, 7–9 cm
Graduation year (e.g. "26") Sleeve or chest Chenille or embroidered, 8–12 cm
Class or school initial Left chest on varsity jackets Chenille, 15–20 cm
Class name or motto Back Embroidered or printed by the supplier
Student names Back or sleeve Printed by the garment supplier

Each different patch counts as a separate design with a 5-piece minimum, which is rarely an issue for a full year group.

Step 1: get permission for the crest

The school crest belongs to the school. Ask the principal or year head for approval before ordering, and ask for the cleanest version of the crest file. Many schools are happy to help, especially if the design is tasteful. See our guide to school crest badges for crest-specific tips.

Step 2: choose the garments

Decide on hoodies, quarter-zips, varsity jackets or a mix. Patches can go on almost anything, but:

  • Cotton-rich hoodies take iron-on patches well
  • Wool varsity jackets need sew-on patches
  • Thin polyester sports tops are better printed than patched

See your artwork as a custom Ireland patch before you buy. Free digital mockup in 12 hours — 5-piece minimum per design. We do not produce until you approve.

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Our guide to chenille patches and varsity jackets covers jackets in detail.

Step 3: design the patches

Keep designs simple and bold. A crest with fine detail and a motto suits woven; a large year number suits chenille. Check the patch size guide so the patches look right on smaller and larger sizes alike.

Step 4: plan the timing

A realistic timeline, working back from the hand-out date:

  1. Six weeks out: agree the design, garments and budget with the class and school.
  2. Five weeks out: collect sizes and names from every student; order the garments.
  3. Four to five weeks out: order the patches; check and approve the free mockup.
  4. Two weeks out: patches arrive (typical production plus delivery is 7 to 12 business days from approval).
  5. One week out: fit patches to the garments, or have the supplier fit them.

Leave extra time around Christmas and in late spring, when many schools order at the same time.

Step 5: fit the patches

If students fit their own patches, include simple instructions: for iron-on, our guide on how to iron on a patch; for sew-on, how to sew patches onto a jacket. For a uniform look, it is better if one person or the garment supplier fits every patch at the same height.

Ready to spec type, size, backing, and quantity? Open the quote form for a free 12-hour mockup and Ireland-wide shipping after approval.

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Budgeting

The price per patch falls as quantity rises, so ordering one crest design for the whole year group is far cheaper per piece than small separate runs. Using one size and one backing for everyone also helps. Our cost guide explains what drives the price.

Ideas that make leavers' gear special

- A small woven patch inside the hood or on the cuff with the class motto or a running joke the year agrees on. - Matching patches for teachers and year heads who supported the class. - A spare crest patch for each student to keep or add to another jacket later. - A patch for the debs committee or the school's sports teams that won something that year.

Leavers' gear for other groups

The same approach works for university societies, sports teams finishing a season, Transition Year groups and debs committees wanting a keepsake. Delivery is free anywhere in Ireland, including Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick.

What this guide is based on

This guide reflects how Irish Customized Patches helps school groups plan patches for leavers' gear. We make the patches; hoodies, jackets and name printing usually come from a garment supplier. Request a free mockup.

Frequently asked questions

Can past pupils order the same patch later?

Yes. Once the design is approved it is kept on file, so the school or class can re-order the same crest or year patch later, from 5 pieces per design.

Can we put our school crest on leavers' hoodies?

Yes, with the school's permission. Ask the principal or year head to approve the design and provide the cleanest crest file. Embroidered or woven crest patches look more like a real badge than a print.

How far in advance should we order leavers' hoodie patches?

Order patches at least four to five weeks before the hand-out date. Typical production plus delivery is 7 to 12 business days from mockup approval, and you need time to fit them to the garments.

What size should a crest be on a leavers' hoodie?

A left-chest crest is usually 7 to 9 cm tall. A year number on the sleeve is typically 8 to 12 cm, and a chenille initial on a varsity jacket 15 to 20 cm.

Can students' names go on patches?

Yes, but each name is a separate design with a 5-piece minimum, so for a whole year group names are usually printed on the back by the garment supplier. Patches work best for crests, years and initials.

Iron-on or sew-on for leavers' hoodies?

Iron-on works well on cotton-rich hoodies if pressed properly. For wool varsity jackets, or if you want patches to last for years, choose sew-on.

Do you supply the hoodies too?

Irish Customized Patches makes the patches. Most classes buy hoodies or jackets from a garment supplier, who can also print names, and add our crest and year patches.

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