One of the best tattoo trends to emerge in recent years is patch tattoos and embroidery tattoos. These very fun niche designs are tattoos that look like patches that you would find sewn onto jackets and other clothing. tattoo artists can achieve a patch tattoo by applying tons of parallel lines to look like seams. plus, you’ll often find a slight shading that makes the designs appear raised on the skin!
We wanted to discover the possibilities of patch and embroidery tattoos and the latest designs that people are getting tattooed. we turned to social media to find the latest examples to share with you so you can get a better idea of what this amazing trend is all about. Just about anything can be transformed into a patch tattoo, but as you’ll see, cartoon characters look great as patches, so you may very well want to do the same. it’s okay! let’s sew!
check out these amazing patch tattoo ideas to inspire your own embroidery tattoo!
coconut
If the animated feature Coco did not melt your heart, we’re not sure what to tell you. We find a loving tribute to the film done with black ink for the background and full color for the patch tattoos. Isn’t this pure magic?
scooby-doo!
The Mystery Machine got the patch tattoo treatment in this design that celebrates all things Scooby-Doo. We love this thoroughly spooky design and we’re pretty sure the whole gang would approve of it!
tig
How precious is this Tigger patch tattoo? Notice how the subtle shadow really helps give depth and makes the design look 3-D? What a dream!
smile
This rainbow flower patch tattoo surely brings many smiles to folks’ faces. A small tattoo like this could be the perfect little accessory for you.
crazy boy
Another patch tattoo inspired by nature! While the vast majority of the embroidery tattoos we saw are inspired by cartoons not all of them are! You can turn insects, flowers, plants, and all manner of subject matter into an attractive design just like this!
get going…
For the adventurous types out there, consider showing your love for the open road with a patch tattoo of a highway or road that is particularly meaningful to you. The storied Route 66 made for an excellent choice for this design.
perfection
A genius thought to get a Lilo & Stitch patch tattoo and boy, did it pay off! Little Stitch looks so perfect in embroidery form.
show some courage
Remember Courage, the Cowardly Dog? This nostalgia-inducing design will take many of us right back to our childhood watching the charming cartoon. What was your favorite toon growing up? You should get a patch tattoo inspired by it!
space jam
Want to play a pick-up game with these two characters? This is one of the best patch tattoos on the list as far as execution goes. The choice of purple for the fill was smart because it so beautifully contrasts with all of the oranges on the toons.
a floral patch
Many of these patch tattoos include an under-design that is more traditional with the “patch” placed on top for emphasis. See how that black and gray design underneath adds depth to the colorful design on top? It’s a great layout!
let’s rock
Even though these patch tattoos tend to skew to nostalgia, you can get a punk rock one that expresses your values. We find this skeletal hand ready to rock in this embroidery tattoo design.
chess patches
Are you a chess fanatic or are you obsessed with another game? Turning the pieces into patch tattoos can really pay off. We imagine this would also work for sports with things like baseballs, basketballs, bats, and helmets.
home run
Homer Simpson looks smart in patch form. We love the way the artist has contrasted the “stitching” of the patch with a photorealistic tattoo of a Duff cap.
feel the coal
Charmander looks like a little dream in this very fun fan tattoo. If you haven’t noticed yet, many of these patch tattoos have little lines that seem to pop from the tattoos like stray threads. It’s a very cool feature that adds to the patch effect.
metal!
Many bands offer patches along with their other tour merchandise so we should find a Slayer patch tattoo. With all of the cute designs on this list, it’s nice to know that you can get rather metal with these patch designs.
donald duck dreams
Here’s a love letter to Donald Duck in tattoo form. The artist put a lot of thought and effort into crafting such a creative and original design and you would be wise to find an artist so intent on designing your dream ink!
Related: 25 Disney-inspired tattoos that bring magic
feel super
Here’s another example that showcases some true artistry. We’ve seen thousands of Superman tattoos over the years but this one certainly stands out above the rest.
the cheshire
People love Alice and Wonderland tattoos and tattoos of the Cheshire Cat are in good supply. What’s unique about this one is the choice to make our furry, mischievous friend look like a patch!
totally tubular
We got a baby Donatello on our hands! It’s one of the most energetic patch tattoos on this list! We are constantly surprised by the staying power of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles which somehow survived the 1980s. Turtle power is real, folks!
only you can prevent forest fires
We love this Smokey the Bear patch tattoo that feels both nostalgic and like a subtle nod to nature. Considering that the Western US is constantly on fire, this proves a thoughtful and timely design.
poseidon
Okay! We did not expect to see patch tattoos inspired by Greek mythology but we did find a good one for you! Here is Poseidon the God of the Sea. Take a look at how the artist made the “stitching” look somewhat loose and textured by spacing the lines slightly further apart. It totally works!
sweet dante
Here’s another tattoo inspired by Coco! Dante, Miguel’s dog looks so full of life here. The artist chose some truly remarkable ink colors for this one Way to go!
the pink boy
The theme song from The Pink Panther will now be stuck in your head for the next 24 hours, you’re welcome. This is truly a wonderful, retro, blast from the past sort of patch tattoo. More of the same, please!
the rings
It looks like this year’s Olympics are inspiring some impressive ink! We find a patch tattoo of the symbol of the games. Did you know that these rings contain at least one color from every country’s flag that participates in the games?
You may also be interested in: What is the most popular tattoo in your state?
some sun
We leave you with this sunkissed sunflower patch tattoo that looks extra fresh! Getting a tattoo of your favorite flower is totally recommended but going the embroidery route will make it extra special!
There you have it! We hope you have enjoyed these patch tattoo designs and embroidery tattoos. this is such a fun trend that we hope it will continue to grow and allow artists to make them even more attractive and complex. As we mentioned, almost anything can be turned into a patch, so find a talented and flexible artist to help you make his dream tattoo come true!
