How to Customize a Jersey

Customize your own jersey with fabric patches, or pay a tailor to do the job.

There are two basic ways to customize a sports jersey: buy the materials and do it yourself, or buy or send your jersey to a specialized tailoring shop for customization. This article explains both ways to get the jersey made to your specifications.

Things You'll Need

• Lettering and patches Needle and thread or sewing machine with detailing attachment Electric iron

Instructions

1. Buy iron-on patches and lettering from a crafts store or fabric shop. These are inexpensive and ideally suited for a child's jersey, because the lettering is durable enough to last a season, and most children typically outgrow their jerseys year to year unless you buy a team jersey several sizes too large.

2. Align the patches and lettering on the shirt, then affix them to the fabric using a hot iron and following the manufacturer's instructions.

3. Purchase durable cotton tackle-twill lettering and patches from a fabric or crafts store. These customizable elements are long-lasting and create a professional look on the jersey, but the do-it-yourselfer needs some experience with needle and thread, or a sewing machine.

4. Double-stitch the lettering and patches to the jersey for the cleanest, most professional look. The letters will also hold up better under the rigors of the playing field if they are double-stitched to the jersey.

5. Purchase a jersey online or at a bricks-and-mortar retail store, and pay for customization. This is by far the easiest way to get a customized sports jersey, though it is also the most expensive. Most online stores will customize a jersey bought elsewhere if you do not wish to buy directly from them.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're paying for professional customization services, ask the company whether it uses exactly-to-spec pro team fonts and type sizing. If you're buying a jersey to wear and show support on game day for your favorite team, it makes sense to purchase customization that matches your team's jerseys for style and lettering size. Pay attention when completing the order form. Most customization shops offer satisfaction guarantees and a refund if things don't turn out right. However, these shops are very unforgiving if you make a spelling mistake on your order form that results in the wrong wording or a misspelling on your jersey.