DIY Greek Letter Shirts | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

DIY Greek Letter Shirts

The guide to t-shirt making.

12419
DIY Greek Letter Shirts

Tired of spending $25 or more on one pair of letters? Here is a fun and affordable step by step guide to making your own sorority and fraternity t-shirts!

Step 1. Gather supplies

First things first, before you begin making your first pair of letters you're going to need a couple of things to get started. You will need:

T-shirt My advice is to find a really cheap one, try not to spend more than $3 if you can.

Fabric Jo-Ann's Fabric has a variety of patterns and styles to choose from. You will need two different patterns for your shirt, I recommend getting some designs and some solid colors so you can mix and match it up and have a ton of options. An eighth yard of fabric is more than enough and it usually only comes to a little over $1.

Stencils Print out letters from online to the size of your choice (I'd say 4 inches is a pretty good size). Then cut out the letters and trace them onto card stock paper. You will need two stencil of each letter, one slightly smaller/larger than the other in order to make an outside border for your letters.

Wonder Under Wonder Under is a fabric adhesive that will bond your fabric together and will be sealed with heat.

Other Supplies: Fabric cutting scissors, pen or pencil, iron, ironing board, sewing machine and thread (optional).


Step 2. Prep your fabric

Once you've chosen the two fabric's you will be using it is time to break out the iron. Iron out your pieces of fabric so that there are no creases or wrinkles. Then, cut a piece of Wonder Under to match the size of your fabric (it should be enough to make the amount of letters you need). Iron the rough side of the Wonder Under onto the back side of your fabric. You should now have a non-flimsy sheet of fabric ironed to the Wonder Under. Do this twice with both sheets of fabric that you are using.


Step 3. Trace your stencils

It is now time to trace your letters. Using the stencils that you made, trace them face down onto the Wonder Under that you have ironed to your fabric. Make sure that your outer letters (the larger ones) are all traced on the same fabric and your inner letters (the smaller ones) are also all traced on the same fabric.


Step 4. Cut out your letters

Using a pair of fabric cutting scissors, cut out the letters that you have traced. If your letter contains an inner piece that needs to be cut, I recommend using a small pair of really sharp scissors. You should now have individual letters cut out of the fabric that is bonded to the Wonder Under.


Step 5. Iron your letters together

Peel off the wax paper from the back of the inner set of letters (the smaller ones). Once peeled, the fabric should look glossy meaning that the Wonder Under has successfully adhered to the fabric. Position these letters onto the front side of the outer letters (the larger ones) so that they are centered and even. Then, place the iron on the letters to bond them together.


Step 6. Putting it all together

Now that your letters are made, you can finally put together your t-shirt. Peel off the wax paper from the back of the letters and again make sure it is glossy. Position the letters onto your shirt so that they're centered and about three inches from the collar. When the letters are placed in your desired position, it's time to iron them on.


Step 7. Sewing your letters (optional)

After an extended period of washing and drying your letters, the Wonder Under may begin to peel. To avoid this, you can sew your letters onto your shirt. All that you will need is matching thread and a sewing machine with a zig-zag pattern.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
The Daily Struggles of Being a College Commuter
morethanwheels

I've been in college for four years now. I spent half my time as a commuter and half as a resident so I've experienced both sides of the housing spectrum. One thing I've learned comparing the two is that my struggles as a commuter far outweigh anything I went through while living on campus. Commuters have to deal with the problems school brings along with a slew of other issues; I've filled up my gas tank in the worst kind of weather conditions and napped in random places in public more times than I'm proud to say of. This is a list of some of the most challenging aspects of being a commuter.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

15 Times Michael Scott's Life Was Worse Than Your Life

Because have you ever had to endure grilling your foot on a George Foreman?

2658
Michael Scott
NBC

Most of the time, the world's (self-proclaimed) greatest boss is just that, the greatest. I mean, come on, he's Michael Freakin' Scott after all! But every once in a while, his life hits a bit of a speed bump. (or he actually hits Meredith...) So if you personally are struggling through a hard time, you know what they say: misery loves company! Here are 15 times Michael Scott's life was worse than your life:

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

17145
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments