How to Customize Varsity Letter Jackets

Varsity jackets are a great way to display fashion and to show your support for a student athlete or your favorite sports team. If you are just a fan, here are a few creative ways to enhance and personalize your own jacket to show your support for the team and create that ultimate sportswear apparel.

Things You'll Need

• Varsity jacket
• Decorative patches
• Numbers/lettering
• Sewing machine/kit
• Size 40 thread (cotton, polyester, cotton-wrapped polyester)

Instructions

1. Determine where you want to place the objects on your jacket. You will be able to place items down both sleeves, the back and on the left top area near the heart, where most sports letters go. Using pins, attach your decorative items to the jacket.

2. Apply your name to the back of the jacket. Position the letters with the proper space between each letter. You will need a size 40 thread. These are coarse threads used where extra strength is required for sewing of heavy vinyl. Using your sewing machine, insert a single stitch until each letter is attached. Look at the letters to a make sure they are all aligned, then reapply a second stitch to strongly secure the letter.

3. Apply your number to the top shoulder areas on both sides of the jacket. Again, using a size 40 thread in your sewing machine, align the numbers and sew them from the outside in. This will allow the stitch to be seen on the number itself and be hidden on the inside of the sleeve.

4. Place your team logo or sports patch on the left upper side near the heart. Make sure you center the logo/patch and insert a single stitch to secure. Using the machine, start to place a second, even a third stitch to firmly hold the item in place. Be sure that the stitches are as uniform as possible for a clean professional-looking sports apparel.

5. Place the first item or patch on the sleeve (working from top to bottom) and insert a single stitch into it. Once this has been done, hold the jacket up to ensure the items are in a straight line down the sleeve. If these are correct, you can use the machine to make a second stronger stitch. Again, sew the stitches from the outside in on the sleeves. Double stitching should be strong enough to hold the patches in place.