Chenille patches
Chenille patches for letterman jackets are the raised, fuzzy varsity letters, numbers and emblems that go on school and club jackets. We make them custom, on wool-blend or acrylic felt with a chain-stitch outline, from 50 pieces.
| Price | From $2.50 per piece — full grid on patch pricing |
| Minimum order | 50 pieces |
| Production | 10–12 business days standard, 5–7 rush at no extra charge |
| Shipping | Free and tracked worldwide, usually 3–7 business days in transit |
| Proof | Free digital proof — nothing is made until you approve it |
| Payment | 50% deposit once the proof is approved, 50% before dispatch |
What you can order
| Piece | Typical size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Varsity chest letter | 5–6 in tall | The school initial, worn on the left chest |
| Graduation year numbers | 3–4 in | Usually on a sleeve |
| Sport and activity emblems | 3–5 in | Football, band, drama, academic awards; often layered on a felt shield |
| Mascot and school name | 8–12 in | The large back piece |
| Name patch | Name tape or script | Right chest or under the letter |
Chenille runs large by necessity and is priced per piece, starting at $2.50. Pieces above 4.5 in — which includes most letterman letters — are quoted individually. Send your artwork and sizes and we will price the set. See the price list for how pricing works.
How chenille letters are made
Short loops of yarn are stitched up through a felt base so they stand proud of it, then the shape is outlined in a flat chain stitch in a contrasting colour. Two-tone pile, a second felt layer behind the letter and a contrasting border are all standard options. Because the loops are thick, the smallest readable detail is about 10 mm — chenille is for bold letters and shapes, not fine text. Everything else about the construction is on the chenille patches page.
Attaching letters to a letterman jacket
Letterman jackets are usually wool bodies with leather sleeves, and chenille is heavy. Iron-on adhesive struggles to hold that weight on wool, so sew-on is the standard and the backing we recommend. Where each piece traditionally goes is covered in letterman jacket patch placement, and the stitching in how to sew on a patch.
Ordering letters for a team, club or class
Chenille is priced and produced per design, with a minimum of 50 pieces per design. That shapes how a school or club usually orders:
- One letter design for every sport. Most schools give every athlete the same varsity letter and show the sport with a separate emblem, so the letter order reaches the minimum quickly.
- Emblems and year numbers as their own designs. A football emblem, a band emblem and a graduation-year set are each a separate design on the quote.
- Send the whole set at once. Artwork, sizes and quantities for every piece in one request, and we price and proof the set together.
Letter styles, colours and layers
| Option | What it means |
|---|---|
| Block varsity letter | The classic squared letter, the most common choice for a chest letter |
| Letter on letter | A second felt letter behind the chenille, cut slightly larger, for a two-colour outline |
| Two-tone pile | Two chenille colours in one piece, for example a letter and its inner border |
| Chain-stitch outline | A contrasting stitched edge around the chenille shape |
| School colours | Send Pantone references or a photo of your colours; yarn is matched as closely as yarn allows |
Specification
| Item | Standard |
|---|---|
| Minimum order | 50 pieces per design |
| Base | Wool-blend or acrylic felt |
| Pile | Looped chenille yarn, single or two-tone |
| Outline | Chain stitch, contrast colour |
| Typical sizes | Letters 5–6 in; emblems 3–5 in; back pieces 8–12 in |
| Minimum detail | About 10 mm |
| Backing | Sew-on recommended; iron-on for cotton jackets |
| Proof | Free digital proof before production |
| Production | 10–12 business days standard, 5–7 rush at no extra charge |
| Shipping | Free, tracked, worldwide |
What do you guarantee on every order?
These are the terms every order is made under — the same ones written in our order terms, not a sales promise.
- Free proof, usually the same working day. It shows size, thread colours, border and backing.
- Unlimited free changes. Ask for as many proof revisions as you need.
- Nothing is made until you approve it in writing. You can cancel free of charge at any point before approval.
- Remade at our cost if it does not match the proof. Tell us within 14 days of delivery with photos and we cover the remake and the return shipping on our errors.
- No setup or digitizing fees. Redrawing and digitizing your artwork is part of the price.
- Free tracked shipping worldwide.
Honest limits: thread is matched as closely as thread allows, so a small shift against a printed Pantone chip is normal, and very fine detail is flagged on the proof before you approve it.
Chenille letter jacket patches
Chenille letter jacket patches are the soft, raised letters and emblems sewn onto varsity and letterman jackets. We make chenille letterman patches as school letters, mascots, numbers, years and achievement emblems, with a felt base and an embroidered outline.
Common questions
What size is a letterman jacket letter?
A varsity chest letter is typically 5 to 6 inches tall. Back pieces with the school name or mascot run 8 to 12 inches.
Are chenille letters sewn or ironed on?
Sewn, on almost every letterman jacket. Chenille is heavy and wool does not hold heat-seal adhesive well, so sewing is the only method that lasts.
How much do custom chenille letterman patches cost?
Chenille starts at $2.50 a piece. Most letterman letters and back pieces are over 4.5 inches, so they are quoted individually from your artwork.
Can you make patches for a whole team or class?
Yes. The minimum is 50 pieces per design, which suits a team, band, club or graduating class ordering the same letter or emblem.
How much do chenille letterman patches cost?
Chenille starts from $2.50 a piece. Most letterman letters are larger than 4.5 inches, so they are quoted individually from your artwork and sizes — send the set and we price it together.
How long do chenille letters take?
10–12 business days after you approve the proof, or 5–7 on a rush at no extra charge, with free tracked shipping.
Can chenille patches go on a hoodie or denim jacket?
Yes. Sew them on for anything worn often; an iron-on backing works on cotton, but chenille is heavy, and stitching is what keeps it flat through washing.
Get a free quote
Send us your artwork, size and quantity for chenille patches for letterman jackets and we will come back with a price and a free digital proof. Nothing goes into production until you approve the proof, and shipping is free worldwide.
Related reading
- Chenille patches — construction, backings and options
- Letterman jacket patch placement — where each piece goes
- The patch jacket — planning a jacket full of patches
- How to sew on a patch — stitching heavy patches on by hand
- Custom back patches