Why patches
One patch per place you've been.
The Map My Lap throw is the canvas. The patches are how the trip lands on it. Iron one on at the end of each leg — Bullara on the way up the coast, the Pinnacles on the way back, Bunda Cliffs the day the wind nearly took the car off the Eyre. Some get sewn straight onto a tote. Some end up on the kid's first denim jacket. The point is that they don't sit in a drawer.
If a place isn't here yet, it might be next. Tell us what's missing and we'll add it to the queue.
Purpose
100% of profits from the Blue Tree Project patch go to the cause.
If you've driven across Australia you'll have passed blue-painted trees by the side of the road. They're a quiet conversation about country mental health — about checking in on the bloke at the next campsite. Carrying the patch is one small way to keep the conversation going. Profits, not revenue. We pay the materials. Every cent left over goes direct.
Care · attaching · materials
Stitch once. Wash gently.
Materials
Embroidered cotton thread on woven backing. Iron-on adhesive layer. Lead-free dyes; colours hold through repeated wash cycles.
Attaching
Iron-on takes ~15 seconds, no steam, dry tea-towel between iron and patch. For anything that gets washed often — caravan bedding, tote bags — back the iron with a sewn running stitch around the edge.
Washing
Cold gentle wash, inside out. Air-dry. Skip the bleach, the fabric softener, and the hot dryer. Sewn patches survive 60+ washes in our testing without colour shift.
Sourcing
Designed in Broadford, VIC. Hand-finished. Made small-batch — if a patch sells out, restocks usually take 3–4 weeks.
Pairs with
The Map My Lap throw.
A 100% cotton sateen throw printed with the road network of Australia. Designed to be marked. Every map ships with a free distance patch — an embroidered km-tracker you stitch through as you go.
Shop Map My Lap
Good to know
A few quick answers.
How do I attach the patches?
Iron-on takes about 15 seconds — no steam, dry cloth between iron and patch. For things you wash often, sew a running stitch around the edge after ironing. The combination is more durable than either on its own.
Can I request a place that isn't on the list?
Yes — email us with the place name and a reference photo or two. New designs are added every season. If enough people ask for the same place, we'll prioritise it.
How does the free distance patch work?
Every Map My Lap throw ships with a free embroidered distance patch — a km-tracker with stitch boxes you fill in as you cover ground. It's the ledger version of your trip. The collection here is for the place names you tick off along the way.
How are the Blue Tree Project profits handled?
100% of profits — not revenue — from the Blue Tree Project patch go directly to Blue Tree Project. We cover materials and shipping; everything left over is donated. Receipts published quarterly on the Field Notes page.
Will the patches survive a cold wash?
Cold wash, inside out, no fabric softener — yes. We've tested through 60+ wash cycles on caravan quilt covers without colour loss. Hot wash and tumble dry will eventually loosen the iron-on; if you want long life, sew the edge.
Do you ship internationally?
Currently Australia-wide only. International by request — email us with the country and we'll quote shipping. Patches are small and ship cheaply almost anywhere.
From people stitching the trip
Letters home.
Each review names the patch and the trip. Verified buyers only.
“Bought the Pink Roadhouse patch the morning after we stayed there. Sewn onto the kid's denim jacket; she's wearing it more than the jacket itself.”
“Did the bundle. Carley added Bunda Cliffs after I asked. The Spirit patch is the largest of the lot and lives on my awning bag.”
Iron-on for everything except the bag — sewed that one.
“Blue Tree Project patch on my swag. Conversation-starter at every campsite. Worth every cent.”
Reviews wire in once the shop moves headless. The three above are placeholders for the template.