A chenille patch is bought for a ceremony and worn for decades. Four decisions decide whether it deserves that.

Respect what pile can do

Chenille is depth and boldness: letters, silhouettes, blocks of colour.

Fine lines, small text and shading drown in loop — simplify the art or move that detail to embroidery.

Insist on a file

Letterform, felt and yarn colours, sizes, backing — recorded once, used for every batch after.

It is the difference between an institution’s letters and this year’s approximation.

Order jackets as sets

Back, chest and sleeve pieces cut together scale together and match together.

Separately ordered pieces drift — and the jacket shows it.

Sew the ones that matter

A letterman jacket outlives every adhesive; the tradition is sew-on for a reason.

Save iron-on for fashion runs and casual garments, with the limits stated.

Then enjoy the texture

Colourways, felt contrasts, blanket-size cuts — the pleasures arrive once the spec has made them safe.