Making letter sweatshirts

[SigKapSweetie]

I know, I know, the topic has been done before. I want my own thread!

Do any of you ladies make your own? I am thinking about trying, but I'm not sure how to make sure that the backing fabric has the exact same amount showing all around the edges, and I have no idea how to use a sewing machine. I can hand-sew, but won't that take forever? And should you use the iron-on stuff and then sew, or just sew?

[violetpretty]

Greekgear.com, fratrow.com and sororityspecialties.com let you order just letters if you see something you like. The plus side of getting letters from one of these sources is that the letters come with an iron-on backing so you can iron the letters in place and sew them on to keep them there without using pins. I have made 3 shirts and a tote bag this way.

Here is a website that has stencils for making your own letter shirts. If you want to start completely from scratch, pick out your front and back letter fabrics and get enough iron-on interfacing for each letter twice (front and back). Iron the interfacing onto the fabric, and then cut out your letters. I'm not sure if iron-on interfacing is double-sided or single sided, so if you can, iron the layers together. The iron-on interfacing will help the letters be sitffer and prevent fraying. (Never put your letters in the dryer)

I wouldn't sew letters on by hand; you'll get a much more secure stitch if you do it on a sewing machine, so I'd ask someone to teach me how or ask someone to do the stitching for me.

[Aquastar]

I used the iron on interfacing for making letter shirts. It is double sided and works great. Another way to do it is to "finish" the edges of the letters with hot glue before you use the webbing/interface. I think its fun and you get to use any cute fabric you find (and its cheaper). Definitely try it. Its fun

Sewing works as well and it isn't too hard so if you can find someone to teach you, you can try that out as well.

[SigKapSweetie]

Thanks, ladies!

How does one 'finish' the edges with hot glue? Do you tuck them under and glue them down, or just smear some on the edges to keep them from fraying, or what?

[SigKapSweetie]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

(Never put your letters in the dryer)

Is this just for letters that have been ironed on? I've thrown my other letter sweatshirts into the dryer a billion times.

[Aquastar]

Originally Posted by SigKapSweetie

Thanks, ladies!

How does one 'finish' the edges with hot glue? Do you tuck them under and glue them down, or just smear some on the edges to keep them from fraying, or what?

Tucking the edges under and gluing them down.

Originally Posted by SigKapSweetie

Is this just for letters that have been ironed on? I've thrown my other letter sweatshirts into the dryer a billion times.

The problem with washing your letters is that sometimes the letter fabrics shrinks more than the shirt fabric (or vice versa) so your letters rip. It goes for all of them, but :shrugs: I do it all the time as well. I wait far too long to do my laundry to wait for things to air dry

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by SigKapSweetie

Is this just for letters that have been ironed on? I've thrown my other letter sweatshirts into the dryer a billion times.

They get frayed easier in the dryer, any kind of letters, whether they're cotton woven or the nylon twill from the Greek store. Your letters will look newer longer if you dry them flat or hang them dry.

[SigKapSweetie]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

They get frayed easier in the dryer, any kind of letters, whether they're cotton woven or the nylon twill from the Greek store. Your letters will look newer longer if you dry them flat or hang them dry.

Maybe that's why mine are so sad now! I will hang to dry from now on, Violet-Wan Kenobi!

(I honestly don't know what's going on with the Star Wars references this week. Sorry. )