# Care for Embroidered Carhartt Hoodies | Wash and Durability

How to wash an embroidered or leather-patched Carhartt hoodie, how long decoration lasts, and why embroidery suits crew fleece. From Battle Born Clothing.

Canonical: https://customcarhartthoodie.com/guides/care-and-durability/

Crew hoodies get washed hard. Here is how to keep the embroidery and patches looking right, and what to expect over a season, from the Battle Born Clothing shop.

## Washing an embroidered Carhartt hoodie

Follow the care label on the garment first; Carhartt's instructions for that style govern. On top of that, a few habits keep embroidery sharp.

1. Turn the hoodie inside out before washing. It protects the stitches from rubbing against zippers and other clothes.
2. Wash with similar colors. Polyester embroidery thread is colorfast, but fleece can pick up lint and dye from other loads.
3. Skip bleach. It weakens thread and fabric.
4. Tumble dry low or hang dry. High heat is the main enemy of fleece.
5. Do not iron directly on embroidery. If you must press, iron from the inside with a cloth between.

## Rain Defender styles

Rain Defender has a durable water-repellent finish. Wash and dry it per the care label. Many water-repellent finishes perform better without fabric softener, so check the label before you use it. Embroidery on these styles is unaffected by the finish because thread goes through the fabric.

## Leather patches

- Spot-clean the patch with a damp cloth when you can.
- Wash cold, inside out, and avoid long soaks.
- Let the patch air dry; do not put it near high heat.
- For frequent washing, a sewn-on patch ($4-6 more per piece) gives extra security over heat-bonded.

Leather darkens and softens with wear. That is normal and part of the look.

## How long the decoration lasts

| Decoration | Wash durability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Embroidery | Usually outlasts the hoodie | Thread through the fabric; no adhesion to fail |
| Leather patch, sewn | Very good | Stitched edge holds the patch |
| Leather patch, heat-bonded | Good with gentle care | Our proprietary heat process; spot-clean when possible |
| Screen print / DTF | Depends on fabric and finish | Quoted per job on Carhartt |

Embroidery is the right call for most crew hoodies. It does not crack or peel, and it matches the workwear look. Print can work on some Carhartt styles, which is why it is quoted per job rather than ruled out.

## Pilling and fleece wear

Fleece pills over time with friction, especially at cuffs and pockets. That is the fabric, not the decoration. Heavier fleece generally holds up better, one reason crews choose Carhartt.

## If something goes wrong

If a problem is our error, such as wrong placement, wrong thread color or a stitching flaw, Battle Born Clothing redoes it free. Tell us when the order arrives and send a photo.

## Storing a crew order

Fold hoodies with the embroidery facing in, or hang them. Do not stack heavy items on leather patches for long periods. Keep extras in their bags until handed out.

Want more on Carhartt decoration? See [Battle Born Clothing's custom Carhartt workwear](https://battlebornclothing.com/pages/custom-carhartt-workwear).

## Thread and color

Battle Born Clothing stitches with Rapos embroidery thread. Thread colors are chosen on the proof to match your logo as closely as thread allows. Bright colors on a dark Carhartt color read well after many washes; very close tones, such as dark brown on Carhartt brown, can look subtle by design, so say if you want tone-on-tone or high contrast.

## A quick care card for your crew

- Inside out, cold or warm wash.
- No bleach, no ironing on the logo.
- Low dryer heat or hang dry.
- Patches: spot-clean first.

Hand the list out with the hoodies. It is the cheapest way to make a crew order last a few seasons.

Every tier is on our [pricing page](/pricing/). When you are ready, [send your logo for a quote](/quote/).

## Questions
**Does embroidery shrink when the hoodie shrinks?** Embroidery follows the fabric. Washing and drying per the label keeps fleece shrinkage low.

**Can I put an embroidered hoodie in the dryer?** Yes, on low heat, unless the care label says otherwise.


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Custom Carhartt Hoodie is a brand of Battle Born Clothing, 3 Pebble Beach Dr, Yerington, NV 89447. Quote: https://customcarhartthoodie.com/quote/