Many people tend to go overboard with things. For example, bikers may want to cover every square inch of their jackets and vests with biker patches, but this isn't really necessary. How good of a rider you are doesn't have anything to do with the number of patches on your jacket. While you can cover your entire jacket in patches, sometimes leaving some blank space in between patches is actually a better idea. This makes it easier to see individual patches and may look better overall.
For example, if you have a large back patch on your jacket, you probably won't want to put smaller patches right up against it. This makes it difficult to really tell what the large patch is, and you definitely want it to be seen since most large patches are very detailed. You also want to leave some space above and below the large patch for large rockers or for a small line of patches as a border.
Likewise, if you're using rocker patches on your sleeves, you probably won't want to put more than one on each shoulder. Otherwise, your sleeves will start to look really crowded, and it will be hard to tell where one patch ends and the other begins.
Any artist will tell you that white space can be just as valuable as space covered in paint, ink, or any other type of medium. Patches are no exception. Sometimes, it helps to leave space around a patch. This can draw attention to that patch and make it stand out. If you have just one large patch in the center of your jacket with no other patches around it, that patch will demand attention. Of course, the fewer patches you use means you're going to have to make some hard decisions when shopping for patches.
