How to Create Your Own Football Jersey With Sewn-On Numbers

Creating personalized football jerseys with sewn-on numbers is a unique way of showing team spirit or merely paying tribute to one's favorite player. Typical mesh jerseys have large fabric sewn-on numbers and with vinyl letters attached for identification on the field. The letters, unlike the numbers, are not sewn-on but attached with an iron, using heat to meld the vinyl to the jersey material.

Things You'll Need

  • Lightweight cotton or polyester jersey-type shirt
  • Large fabric numbers
  • Iron-on letter set
  • Needle and thread
  • Iron
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the jersey flat on the work area with the back facing upward. Decide on a one- or two-digit number and set those numbers off to the side. Thread the needle and allow one inch of slack.

    • 2

      Lay the numbers onto the jersey nine inches down from the neck and centered; they should read from left to right. Carefully sew each number onto the jersey in a back stitch-pattern (an inch stitch followed by a half-inch stitch in the opposite direction).

    • 3

      Place the vinyl letters on the back of the jersey, three inches down from the neck and spelling out the name of the player who will wear the jersey or the player whose jersey is being emulated. Plug in the iron. Wait for the iron to become hot and gently lay the iron face down on each letter and hold for 10-15 seconds per letter.