Reverse American Flag Patch - White Border, 12-Pack
Full-size 3-3/8 in x 2 in, merrowed white edge, sew-on backing. Twelve to a pack, so a whole shift gets kitted out at once.
SKU 201PRW12 · UPC 860015129543 · Cadenza is a Kinor LLC brand
- True full size. 3-3/8 in x 2 in, the size uniform sleeve panels are cut for.
- Reverse field. The union leads, so on a right sleeve the flag reads as advancing rather than retreating.
- Merrowed white border. A wrapped edge rather than a cut one, so it will not fray or curl - and white sits quieter on a uniform than gold does.
- Dense embroidery. Distinct stars and full stripe coverage, with no backing showing through.
- Sew-on. Stitch it down once and it stays down, through laundry cycles and duty gear.
Why the stars are on the right
A reverse-field patch is not printed backwards and it is not a novelty. It is cut for the right shoulder, where the blue union has to lead. Picture a flag on a staff carried at a walk: the staff goes first, the stars travel with it, and the stripes stream out behind. Sew a standard patch onto a right sleeve and you get the opposite picture - a flag being dragged.
That is why uniformed services put the reverse patch on the right arm and the standard one on the left. Buying for a right sleeve, a jacket panel, a pack or a cap that sits on that side, this is the patch you want. Buying for a left sleeve, take the standard orientation instead.
Specifications
| Size | 3-3/8 in x 2 in (86 mm x 51 mm) |
|---|---|
| Field | Reverse, union leading, for right-side wear |
| Border | Merrowed white edge |
| Construction | Embroidered, twill backing |
| Attachment | Sew-on |
| Quantity | 12 patches per pack |
| SKU | 201PRW12 |
| UPC | 860015129543 |
| Brand | Cadenza, a Kinor LLC brand |
Sewing one on
- Place it. On a duty shirt the patch sits centred on the right sleeve, about half an inch below the shoulder seam. Your department's dress standard will say exactly where - check it before you commit twelve of them.
- Hold it still. Two pins at opposite corners, or a strip of double-sided fabric tape, keeps it from walking while you sew.
- Stitch the edge. A straight or short zigzag run just inside the merrowed border, all the way round. White thread on a white border and the stitching is invisible.
- Press it flat. A warm iron over a pressing cloth settles the seam and sets the patch flush to the sleeve. Cloth on top, always - a bare iron scorches white thread first.
No iron-on adhesive on this one. Sew-on is what survives a laundry cycle and a duty belt rubbing across it.
Questions
Why is the flag backwards on a reverse patch?
It is a reverse-field patch, made for right-side wear. The union - the blue star field - leads, so the flag reads as advancing rather than retreating, the way a flag carried on a staff streams out behind. On a left sleeve you would use a standard-orientation patch instead.
Should I get the white border or the gold?
Gold reads as dress uniform - it frames the patch and picks up the braid on a Class A shirt. White is the quieter one: on a white or light grey duty shirt the border all but disappears and you see the flag rather than the frame. Plenty of departments write one or the other into their dress standard, so check yours before you buy twelve.
What size is this American flag patch?
3-3/8 inches wide by 2 inches tall, the full-size patch that standard uniform sleeve panels are cut to fit.
Are these patches iron-on or hook-and-loop?
Neither. These are sew-on patches. If you need hook-and-loop backing for a plate carrier or a velcro sleeve panel, this is not the right patch.
How many patches come in a pack?
Twelve patches per pack for $19.99, which works out to $1.67 each. One pack kits out a full rotation of uniforms or a small squad.
Will the white border stay white?
The border is merrowed, meaning the edge thread is wrapped around the patch rather than cut, so there is no loose fibre to trap grime. It launders like the rest of the patch. What white will not forgive is a bare hot iron - press it under a cloth.
Can I get this patch customised instead?
Yes. Stock patches ship as shown, but if you want your own artwork, unit number, or department name on a patch, design it free with the AI tool and we will produce it to order.
Need it to say something else?
Stock patches ship exactly as shown. If you want your own artwork, a unit number, or a department name on it, design it free with the AI tool and we will produce it to order - no minimum of twelve required.
Design a patch free