How to Customize a Baseball Cap

Baseball caps are no longer the traditional caps of years gone by. While teams that play in organized leagues usually must follow certain design guidelines, caps for teams that play pickup games can include many different features and graphics. The real creativity comes for individual caps, when fans show support for their favorite teams. Today's cap designs are the most colorful and elaborate in the history of the game.

Things You'll Need

• Baseball cap
• Color charts
• Graphics files
• Slogans
• Team pins

Instructions

1. Choose a cap style. Caps can be fitted or one-size fits all. They come in brushed cotton, polyester, blends, mesh and a waffle pattern. The peaks come in two major styles---flat panels or panels that are shaped like a sandwich.

2. Select a color pattern. Today's baseball caps come in a palette of colors, various shades of colors and even two-tone and three-tone colors. Colors such as pink were not popular until a few years ago. Hats can be one color, bills another and the button on top of the cap a third color.

3. Add trim. Different colors can be used to trim around the bill or the entire hat. The button on top can match the bill or it can be a different color.

4. Add graphics. Traditional team logos or newly designed logos can be placed in the front center of the cap, or they can burst across the front to one or both sides. Mascots and pictures can be placed on either side of the cap or directly on the back.

5. Include team names and numbers. Full or partial names of teams can be added around the logo or elsewhere on the hat. Each player can have his or her number added near the team name or in the back.

6. Add a slogan. The team chant or another motivational short phrase can be included on the front or sides of the cap.

7. Add a patriotic touch. Hats can be manufactured using the image of the American flag, though this is not the appropriate use of the flag design. The American flag design should never be used as an article of clothing. To include the flag, choose a small emblem that can embroidered on one side of the cap.

8. Chose the font size and type styles for lettering. Different typefaces include block lettering, script or old-English.

9. Honor a favorite team. Sports fans can create their unique crazy hats to celebrate their favorite teams. Some varieties include adding team pins depicting championships, certain events or players, or having a cap filled with players' autographs.

References

• History of baseball uniforms
• Baseball cap has endured generations as the all-American hat, USA Today, July 27, 2006