How to Make a Team Shirt

When you arrive at a match-up in cohesive team apparel, you show the opposing team that you value solidarity. Team T-shirts also demonstrate that you’re serious about the game, according to designashirt.com. If you're on a strict budget that doesn’t allow for commercially screen printed shirts, there is an affordable, hands-on approach that will get the whole team involved and produce an end product full of team spirit.

Things You'll Need

  • Plain T-shirt
  • Washing machine
  • Clothes dryer
  • Iron-on letter and number transfers
  • Iron
  • Cardboard T-shirt template or cardboard piece
  • Fabric pen
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a T-shirt for every team member at a craft retailer, or purchase multi-packs of T-shirts at a major retailer. Select the same color of shirt for everyone in the team's dominant color. Buy one package of athletic iron-on letters and numbers for every player in the size of your choice and in the team color opposite of your shirt. For example, if red and blue represent your team, go with red shirts with blue lettering. Obtain a fabric pen.

      Buy a cardboard T-shirt template from a craft store or disassemble a cardboard box to create several large pieces of cardboard that you can fit between the layers of each T-shirt.

    • 2

      Wash and dry all T-shirts, according to label instructions.

    • 3

      Fold each T-shirt in half vertically and place three fingers below the bottom tip of the front shirt collar. This is where the top of your letters should hit–to be center on the chest. Mark this center point using a fabric pen.

      Fold the shirts in half vertically once more, with the back of the shirt on the outside. Place six fingers below the bottom tip of the back collar. This is where the top of your letters and numbers should hit–to be center on the back of your shirt. Mark this point with the fabric pen.

    • 4

      Place a T-shirt template or piece of cardboard between T-shirt layers to create a smooth work surface. Place iron-on letters on the front of the shirt to spell your team name, spreading them in a straight horizontal line or sloped horizontal line across the center chest using the marked point from Step 3.

      Position a light towel over the letters and apply pressure with an iron until set. Allow the front of the shirt to cool completely.

    • 5

      Turn over T-shirt and place letters to spell the player‘s last name, if desired, and the player number in the center using the marked point from Step 3. Place a light towel over the iron-ons and apply pressure with the iron until set. Allow the back of the shirt to cool completely before turning T-shirt over.

    • 6

      Remove cardboard from between the layers and wear your team T-shirt.