It is important to remember that varsity letterman jacket patches go much further than the initials of your high school or even the sport you play. Letterman jackets can be customized with a variety of patches that include your interests both in sports and academic areas, as well as your interests beyond sports.
Typical Varsity Letterman Jacket Patches
You should know that when you get a letterman jacket, you will be able to add a variety of patches to it. You can expect your school to have a particular style or method of putting on patches that sticks to one particular style or mode.
There will be an awards ceremony during which most of the patches will be handed out to the students. Among the many patches that could be seen on most letterman jackets, there are a few that are considered “typical” across the board and are likely to be found on most of them.
Chevrons
Every year a player has been committed to the sport, he or she is awarded with a chevron for his or her dedication to it. In both cases, you can either give out general chevrons every year or you can give out chevrons that are specific to a certain sport every year. Whether it is a baseball, hockey stick, or pom pom symbol, these chevrons have the bars representing years of dedicated service, along with the sports’ symbol of commitment.
A disadvantage of having chevrons that are specific to one sport is that if you have an athlete who participates in a variety of activities for all four years of high school, the jacket may start looking cluttered after a while.
In general, chevrons are not awarded to individuals based on the number of years they spent on varsity teams, but rather based on the number of years they spent playing the sport in high school. In general, chevrons are worn on the sleeve of a shirt.
Large Letters and Mascots
The front of your jacket is usually adorned with a large letter that is usually worn on the front. This letter is usually the first letter of your school’s name. It is expected that students at “Gateway High School” will have a “G” embroidered on the front of their jackets. There are some schools where letter jackets are offered for academic, musical, and athletic pursuits, and the letters can vary in style based on the pursuit.
There is a possibility that a student in marching band may have a letter in an Olde English style, whereas an athlete may have a letter in a block style. It is also a part of the traditional letterman jacket that mascots are a part of, and they are usually customized by the school or booster club and ordered in advance.
Commemorative Patches
What is the ranking of your school in the state? Is it ranked first? Have you won the conference title this year? Did you win the conference title last year? Have you attended any special scrimmages or games that took place after the season ended?
In the majority of schools, commemorative patches are given out at the end of the season indicating which championship was won or which event was won. It is generally customary to wear these patches on the sleeve of the shirt.
Large Back Patches
Typically, these patches go across the back of a shirt and indicate the name of the team’s mascot, or the name of an activity such as “cheerleader” or “marching band”. It is not common for every student to be given a patch to go across their back, but rather these patches are often reserved for special groups within the school’s overall athletic organization, rather than being distributed to every student.
Activity and Sports Patches
The majority of activities and sports have a universal symbol that represents them. As an example, two masks are often regarded as a symbol of drama. As a symbol of sports, the ball can often be shown in play, or a small figure depicting someone performing an activity, such as diving or swimming, can often be incorporated into the design.
For each extracurricular activity in which an athlete is involved, he or she is likely to receive a sport or activity patch that represents that particular activity.
Sewing Patches on the Easy Way
Once you have earned your patches, you need to make sure that you wear them proudly on your jacket! The following is a quick and easy way for you to get professional results with the least amount of effort.
It is necessary to have the following items:
- There are a number of products that use “no-sew” adhesives, such as Stitch Witchery, Liquid Stitches, and so forth
- The thread that coordinates with the patch should be used
The following steps should be followed:
- It is recommended that you apply Liquid Stitch, Stitch Witchery or any other adhesive product to the back of your patch, and then attach the patch to the desired location on the jacket by using an adhesive product.
- You should follow the instructions for applying the adhesive, and then wait for a full day before sewing the seams. Taking your time and working step by step will make your sewing a lot easier, and will also help the patch stay on much better.
- In order to match the color of the patch rim, choose a thread color that matches that color.
- The patch should be sewn on with a whip stitch using a needle and thread. As it is already attached to the jacket, you don’t have to stitch at super small intervals since it has already been glued to the jacket.
Where to Buy Varsity Letterman Jacket Patches
In most cases, the companies that sell jackets also sell the patches that go with them. In spite of this, here are some comprehensive resources you may find useful:
- There is no better place to get patches for letterman jackets than Custom Chenille Patches, as it is one of the most comprehensive companies that specialize in in stock patches and customized patches.
- Compared to Mount Olympus Awards, Mount Olympus Awards is a less expensive option and offers a set of stock patches that can be customized with specific details once purchased. Furthermore, they offer a good variety of sports pins as well as letter inserts (embroidered patches that are placed on the main block letter on the jacket.)