How to Create Your Own College Wear

College wear is popular because it connects the individual to a particular institution of higher learning, a team or a club within the collegiate environment. While college wear is widely available, it is also very costly. Creating your own college wear for yourself, or for a college organization that you belong to, can be done at a greatly reduced cost, either at home or with the help of a professional printer.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Paint
• Scanner
• College logo
• Iron-on transfer paper
• Printer
• Clothing
• Iron
• Black marker

Instructions

Single Items

1. Design your own college logo, if desired, using computer software. For example, Microsoft Word or Microsoft Paint are possible software choices for designing your logo.

2. Scan a drawing or photo of the college logo that you want to place on your college wear and upload the image to your computer if you do not want to make your own design.

3. Insert iron-on transfer paper in your printer. Iron-on transfer paper is available at office supply and craft stores.

4. Print the logo design of your choice on to the iron-on transfer paper.

5. Lay the image, face down, on the item of clothing that you want to place the logo on and iron over the back of the iron-on transfer paper. Place the iron on the highest setting, being careful to turn off the steam. Press down with the iron, using even, long strokes over the paper for approximately three to four minutes, or until when you lift the paper, the image has adhered to the fabric rather than the paper. Pull the paper off of the image once the transfer has been complete and allow the transfer to cool for about 30 minutes prior to use so that the image can set into the fabric.

Bulk Items

1. Draw your college logo design on paper with pencil. Once you have the image the way that you want it, go over it with a black marker to bold the lines.

2. Contact local printing companies in your area to locate one that prints on clothing items in bulk. Printing companies that print on clothing normally do so using screen printing. Some companies may require a minimum amount of items to be printed and may supply the items. You may need to provide the items for the company if it does not provide the items.

3. Provide the printer with your logo image, then specify what types of items you want the image printed on, the sizes of those items, where the logo should appear on the items and any other specifications, as desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Iron-on transfers can be used on T-shirts, jackets, slacks, active wear or any other item of clothing that you can iron.

References

• HP: Print Your Own Iron-on Transfers

Resources

• PBS Kids: The Greens Activity Guide