What size is a varsity letter?
Traditional letterman letters are larger than 4″, so they are quoted individually. We’ll email your custom price within 6 to 10 hours. Smaller chenille patches and sleeve icons often fit instant pricing.
Varsity Letters
Chenille Letters & Varsity Letter Patches
Chenille letters are the fuzzy, raised letters on a letterman jacket. We make custom chenille letters and varsity letter patches in your school or team colors on a felt base, from 5 pieces, with a free digital mockup before you pay. Looking for logo or mascot patches instead? See custom chenille patches.
- No setup fees
- Free digital mockup within 24 hours
- No payment until you approve
- Real sample photo before full run
- Standard turnaround: 10 to 14 business days after sample approval
- Tracked Shipping | No Extra Charges
- 5-piece patch minimum
- Quality guarantee
What a varsity letter is
A varsity letter is an award given for making a school team or achieving in an activity. It is usually the school's initial in a block or collegiate font, made in chenille and worn on the left chest of a letterman jacket. Students add pins, sport icons and year bars as they earn them, so the letter becomes a record of their time on the team.
Schools, booster clubs, athletic departments and coaches order letters for awards nights; clubs, dance teams, bands and alumni groups use the same look for jackets and keepsakes.
Chenille letters for letterman jackets
Chenille is a looped yarn stitch that stands up from the surface, giving the letter its soft, textured face. It is stitched onto felt, which provides structure and a crisp edge. Combined, they create the classic look seen on jackets for decades.
For where letters, names, year numbers and icons go on the jacket, see our letterman jacket patches placement guide.
Felt base and outline
Felt base: every chenille letter is built on felt, which gives it structure, holds the shape flat on the jacket and leaves a clean edge around the yarn.
Contrasting outline: an embroidered outline in a second color frames the chenille face. Pairing your two school colors here creates the bold, outlined varsity look seen on many school letters. Tell us the yarn and outline colors you want, and they are confirmed on your mockup.
Embroidered detail can be added for small text or mascots, mixing chenille texture with flat stitched elements. The chenille vs embroidered comparison explains when each stitch fits.
Sizes and colors
Chest letters on letterman jackets are large, so they are quoted individually. Sleeve icons, sport symbols, small initials and award patches are often within instant pricing, which covers designs up to 4″ on the longest side.
Most schools use two colors: one for the chenille face and a second for the outline. Send your color codes and they are confirmed on your mockup.
School and team orders
- Send your letter or logo artwork, font name if known, and school colors.
- Tell us the quantity of each design, such as letters, sport icons and year numbers.
- Approve the free mockup, then pay. Production follows approval.
Dance studios and spirit teams can find more jacket ideas in dance team jacket ideas.
Chenille prices
Prices below are read live from our price sheet for chenille within the standard size range, with embroidered shown for comparison.
| Patch type | 25 pieces | 50 pieces | 100 pieces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chenille | $165$6.60 each | $250$5 each | $340$3.40 each |
| Embroidered | $120$4.80 each | $165$3.30 each | $220$2.20 each |
Pricing shown covers designs up to 4″ on the longest side. Over 4″? We’ll email your custom price within 6 to 10 hours.
Chenille letter questions
What is the felt for?
Chenille is stitched onto a felt base that gives the letter its shape and a clean edge. A contrasting embroidered outline around the yarn gives the classic varsity look.
Can you match our school colors?
Yes. Send your colors or color codes with your artwork, and the chenille and felt colors are confirmed on your mockup before production.
Do you have a minimum for chenille letters?
Every custom patch type starts at 5 pieces: embroidered, woven, printed, chenille, leather, PVC and glow-in-the-dark PVC. Larger quantities simply lower your per-piece price.
How are chenille letters attached?
Letterman letters are traditionally sewn on around the felt edge. Iron-on / heat seal backing is also available for lighter garments, and sewing the edge afterwards adds security.
How does approval work?
You review and approve your free digital mockup before paying. After payment, we make a real sample and send you a photo of it to approve before the full production run begins.
Related pages
Order chenille letters
Send your letter artwork and colors. Free digital mockup within 24 hours. Standard turnaround: 10 to 14 business days after sample approval. No payment until you approve the mockup.