How to Personalize Your Own NBA Socks

You can decorate your socks to identify you as a true NBA fan.

The National Basketball Association is a multibillion dollar organization that makes millions in revenue through the branding and sponsoring of products with the NBA logos and likenesses. Rather than spend money to buy NBA-branded clothing, you can get creative and make your own. Socks are one of the simpler pieces of clothing to personalize, and you can decorate them to celebrate any team you want. Personalizing your own NBA socks just requires some creativity and a few basic materials.

Things You'll Need

• Computer and printer
• Heat transfer paper
• Scissors
• Iron and ironing board
• Glue stick (optional)
• Glitter (optional)

Instructions

1. Open up two packs of socks, one for each of your favorite NBA team's colors. Take one sock from each pack to make pairs. For example, if you are a Chicago Bulls fan, you would match a red sock with a black sock. A Detroit Pistons fan could use a red sock and a blue sock while an L.A. Lakers fan would use gold and purple.

2. Print out an NBA logo or the likeness of your favorite player onto an iron-on transfer sheet. The logo or NBA-themed decal needs to be an appropriate size that will fit on the sock.

3. Cut out the image from the transfer sheet with scissors and decide where on the sock you want the image to go.

4. Place the image up against the sock on an ironing board and run an iron slowly over it to transfer the image onto the sock fabric.

5. Run a glue stick over any areas of the sock where you want to add additional decoration.

6. Sprinkle colored glitter or other decorative materials onto the sock. Heavier items need to be sewn or fastened on since glue is not enough to hold them in place.

Tips & Warnings

• Use caution when washing your socks since a washing machine could be harsh enough to damage or remove the personalization.

• The socks need to be at least 50 percent cotton for best results with the transfer paper.

References

• Homefurnish.com: How to Iron on Patches
• HP: Print Your Own Iron on Transfers
• Stahl's ID Direct: Personalizing Socks With Pebble Puff --- Creating Non-Slip Performance
• Plunkett Research, Ltd: Sports Industry Overview