Customising garments like scarves, beanies, and guernseys with heat press patches is a popular way to showcase branding, team pride, or creative designs. But what happens when those garments are made from acrylic wool?
If you’re wondering whether heat press patches are suitable for acrylic-based winterwear, the answer is: yes — with the right technique and materials.
🔥 Understanding the Materials
Acrylic wool is a synthetic fabric made to mimic real wool, and it’s commonly used in beanies, scarves, and knitted guernseys. While it’s durable and soft, it’s also heat-sensitive. If pressed at too high a temperature, acrylic can:
Melt or shine
Shrink or distort
Lose shape or elasticity
🧷 Can You Apply Heat Press Patches to Acrylic Wool?
Yes, but caution is essential.
Applying heat press patches to acrylic wool can work beautifully — if you adjust temperature, time, and pressure. Using traditional settings for cotton or polyester will almost certainly damage the fabric.
✅ Tips for Safe Application
Here are the best practices for applying patches to acrylic wool items:
| Step | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 130–150°C |
| Time | 20 seconds |
| Pressure | Low to medium |
| Cover Sheet | Use Teflon or baking paper |
| Adhesive Type | Low-temp or silicone adhesive |
| Patch Type | Soft silicone, embroidered, or hybrid sew/press |
💡 When to Avoid Heat Press and Use Sew-On Instead
In cases where the fabric is extra delicate, loosely knitted, or high-value, sew-on patches may be the safer option. For team guernseys or vintage-style scarves, sewing preserves the fabric and still looks great.
🎯 Best Use Cases
Club guernseys with team logos
Promotional beanies for winter events
Custom scarves for schools, teams or merchandise
Made for Aussie Conditions
Here in Australia, with winter sports like AFL and Rugby, acrylic wool accessories are everywhere. And heat press patches make branding and personalisation easy — as long as you use the right technique.