Jacket Guide
Letterman Jacket Patches Placement Guide
By 6Six Needles Team · Published
A letterman jacket tells the story of a student's years on a team. There is no single official rulebook, but most schools follow the same conventions for where the letter, name, year numbers and sport patches go. Ordering letters? Start with chenille letters.
Letterman jacket patches placement at a glance
The diagram shows the most common layout on the front of a classic wool-and-leather varsity jacket. Your school, booster club or jacket supplier may have its own rules, so check those first.
- 1. Left chest: the chenille varsity letter
- 2. Right chest: name or mascot patch
- 3. Right sleeve: graduation year numbers
- 4. Left sleeve: sport icons, achievement or championship patches
- 5. On or around the letter: sport pins, year bars and award pins
Simplified, not-to-scale diagram for orientation only.
The varsity letter: left chest
The chenille letter is the centerpiece and traditionally goes on the left chest, over the heart. It is centered between the front opening and the side seam, with its top a few inches below the shoulder seam so it does not fold into the armhole when the jacket is worn.
Most letters are the school's initial in block or collegiate lettering, in chenille on a felt base. If a student earns letters in more than one sport, they usually keep one letter and add pins or icons for each sport rather than adding more letters.
Types of letterman jacket patches
- Chenille letters: the large, fuzzy school initial that anchors the jacket. See chenille letters.
- Chenille numbers: graduation year or jersey numbers, usually on a sleeve.
- Sport and activity icons: small chenille or embroidered symbols for each sport or activity, worn on the sleeve or attached to the letter.
- Achievement patches: captain, MVP, all-conference, state qualifier or championship patches, usually on the sleeve with the icons.
- Name and mascot patches: embroidered pieces for the right chest or back.
- Team and studio crests: dance teams and spirit squads often swap the letter for a crest; see dance team jacket ideas.
- Pins and bars: metal pins and year bars that attach to the letter rather than being sewn.
Name and mascot: right chest
The right chest balances the letter. Common choices are the student's first or last name embroidered in script, a small mascot patch or the school name. Keep it smaller than the letter so the letter stays the focal point, and align its top with the top of the letter.
Names are often embroidered directly on the jacket by the supplier; a separate custom name patch is an alternative when the jacket has already been bought.
Sleeves: year numbers and sport icons
Graduation year numbers in chenille are a classic sleeve item, typically on the right sleeve, either running down the upper arm or across the outside of the sleeve. Some schools place year numbers on the left sleeve instead; follow your school's convention.
The opposite sleeve collects sport icons (a basketball, football, music note or cheer megaphone), championship patches, captain patches and state or conference qualifier patches. Space them evenly from the shoulder downward, leaving room for patches still to be earned.
Pins, year bars and the back
Sport pins and year bars attach to the letter itself or just beneath it. Year bars stack below the letter for each additional season lettered, so leave space underneath when you sew the letter on. Pins go through the chenille and felt, so position them away from the letter's edges where they could loosen the stitching, and add them after the letter is attached so they do not get in the way of the needle.
The back usually carries the school name arched across the shoulders, with a large mascot or the graduation year below. Back lettering is large and is often added by the jacket supplier; chenille back patches are an alternative for teams and clubs.
Common traditions by school and activity
Letterman conventions grew up school by school, so you will see variations. Some schools put the year numbers on the left sleeve and sport icons on the right. Some award a smaller letter for junior varsity and a full-size letter for varsity. Others add a bar beneath the letter for each additional year lettered, or a star for team captain.
Activities beyond sports use the same structure. Band, choir, theater, academic teams, dance and cheer often award letters with an activity icon, such as a music note, drama masks or a cheer megaphone, pinned to the letter or placed on the sleeve. If your school does not have a written guide, ask the athletic office or a coach before sewing anything permanently.
Planning your layout before sewing
- Lay the jacket flat and position every patch you have, plus space for ones still to be earned.
- Check the letter is level and centered on the left panel, clear of the snaps and pocket.
- Try the jacket on and check in a mirror; patches look different on a body than on a table.
- Take a photo of the layout so you can reproduce it if patches shift during sewing.
- Pin or baste the letter first, then work outward to the smaller pieces.
Leather sleeves need extra care. Pins and failed stitches leave permanent holes, so use clips to hold patches on leather and plan placements carefully before the needle goes in. Many families have a local tailor or the jacket supplier attach patches to leather sleeves.
Caring for a letterman jacket and its patches
Most wool-and-leather varsity jackets should not go in a home washer or dryer. Follow the jacket's care label, which usually means professional cleaning. Between cleanings, brush the wool gently and spot clean marks with a damp cloth.
Chenille holds its loft best when it is not crushed or ironed. Hang the jacket on a wide hanger so the shoulders and sleeve patches keep their shape, and avoid storing it folded under heavy items. If a loop of chenille pulls loose, trim it level with sharp scissors rather than pulling it.
Ordering letters and patches for a whole team
Coaches and booster clubs often order letters, sport icons and year numbers together so every athlete's jacket matches. Send the school colors, the letter style and a count for each design. A free mockup lets the athletic director or coach approve the look before the season's awards night.
For logo patches, mascots and back patches, see custom chenille patches; for embroidered name patches, see custom name patches.
Sizing and attaching letterman patches
Letters and back patches are large pieces, so they are quoted individually; smaller sleeve icons and award patches often fit standard pricing. The patch size for jackets page gives guidance for each jacket area.
Chenille letters are traditionally sewn on by hand or with a heavy-duty machine around the felt edge. Wool bodies take stitches well; avoid ironing chenille directly, since heat and pressure flatten the loops. Our how to sew on a patch guide covers the stitching steps.
Choosing between chenille and flat stitching for sleeve icons? See chenille vs embroidered patches.
Letters and patches for your team
Order chenille letters or custom chenille patches in your school colors. Free digital mockup within 24 hours, and no payment until you approve it. Or request a quote.