The Flash Lightning Bolt Halloween Costume Iron-On Patch

The lightning bolt in red and yellow, about 3.5 inches across and circular, which makes it one of the easier patches in the catalogue to place well — a circle has no wrong rotation, so it sits square on a chest, a sleeve, a cap front or a bag panel without you having to fuss over alignment.

Size and placement

At 3.5 inches it is roughly the width of a credit card. That is large enough to be the focal point of a shirt or a chest panel and small enough to work on a sleeve without wrapping. On a backpack it suits the flat front panel rather than a curved pocket.

Surfaces that take the adhesive

• Cotton and cotton-blend shirts, hoodies and jackets
• Denim of any weight
• Cotton canvas bags and totes
• Cotton costume pieces

Surfaces to sew

Nylon, polyester shells, waterproof and coated outerwear, leather, faux leather and vinyl all need a needle rather than an iron. So does anything printed. Polyester sits in between — lower the iron, use a pressing cloth, and test somewhere hidden first.

Applying it

Press the garment flat, position the bolt, cover with a thin cotton cloth, and apply firm steady dry heat. Let it cool completely before the garment moves; cooling is when the bond actually forms. For a shirt that gets washed every week, add a stitch around the border — the adhesive positions it, the thread keeps it.

Care

Inside out, cold, gentle cycle, tumble low or hang. No bleach, no fabric softener. If the garment needs pressing later, iron from the reverse.

Questions we get

Is there a white-background version? Yes — see the white lightning bolt patch.

Will it work on a cap? On a flat-front cap, yes. Curved and foam-front caps should be sewn.

Does the red fade in the wash? Not if you wash cold and skip bleach.

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