It's Always a Great Season for Heat Transfer Vinyl Products & Jerseys

Summertime Is the Right Time

You probably have a lot of images that come to mind when you think of summer. Vacations, cooler clothing, school breaks, and the many sports teams kids can join. You probably also think of summer as the best time for selling team jerseys, and it is! But really, any time is a good time for personalized products due to the variety of items you can produce using heat transfer vinyl.

As you likely know, heat transfer vinyl (HTV), provides a reliable way of creating promotional or personal products where your flair for design can flourish! And since team sports rev up during the spring and summer months, now is a good time to be thinking about getting into offering old and new customers items you can produce using heat transfer vinyl. 

When it comes to custom wearables, team jerseys are one of the most popular applications for heat transfer vinyl (HTV). Whether you're outfitting a local soccer league, little league team, high school team, or professional sports squad, HTV provides a durable, customizable, and cost-effective solution. Let's talk about using HTV for team jerseys, from choosing the right materials to application tips and maintenance.

Heat Transfer Vinyl Advantages

HTV is a special type of vinyl with an adhesive backing that is activated by heat. It comes in various colors, finishes, and textures, including matte, glossy, glitter, and holographic. This versatility makes it a popular choice for customizing t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, and more.

HTV is a fantastic way to create custom apparel with professional-quality designs. Whether you’re a small business owner, hobbyist, or DIY enthusiast, HTV allows you to personalize clothing, accessories, and fabric items with ease.

Heat Transfer Vinyl Products and Jerseys

Team jerseys go through a lot—sweat, stretching, constant washing—you name it. High-quality HTV jerseys hold up well, keeping designs crisp and intact even after tons of wear and tear. And you have the freedom to create unique looks and designs for each customer. HTV lets you personalize jerseys however you want. You can add names, numbers, logos, and sponsor info in all sorts of colors and styles. Unlike screen printing, which usually requires big orders, HTV is perfect for customizing one jersey or a whole team’s set.

HTV is very cost-effective for your clients. They may be used to old-school, screen-printed jerseys, which can be pricey, especially for small teams. HTV is a budget-friendly option that still gives customers professional-looking results without breaking the bank. And it's cost-effective for you, too. With just a vinyl cutter, heat press, and some weeding tools, you can create amazing jerseys. No need for fancy training—just a bit of practice, and you’re good to go.

To Stretch or Not to Stretch

Not all HTV is the same, so choosing the right type is key to making sure your jerseys look great and last long. There is stretchy and non-stretchy HTV. And there are different HTVs recommended for different fabrics.  Which is right for your project?

Standard HTV works best on polyester and cotton jerseys, giving a smooth and durable finish.

Stretch HTV is the way to go for jerseys made from spandex or other stretchy materials. It moves with the fabric and won’t crack or peel over time.

Polyester Jerseys: Use HTV that prevents dye migration (sublimation-resistant HTV).

Cotton or Cotton-Blends: Standard HTV does the job just fine.

Reflective HTV is great for night games or teams that need extra visibility.

Glitter or Metallic HTV can add a flashy look, though they’re not as common in sports jerseys.

Universal HTV  is a film useful for for cotton, polyester, and nylon, too. One of its advantages is the fact that it can be pressed at lower temperatures to prevent dye migration. Learn more in this article. 

Process for using Heat Transfer Vinyl Products and Jerseys 

Choose Your Design – Use design software to create or import your custom graphics.

Cut the Vinyl – Load the HTV into a cutter and mirror the design before cutting.

Weed the Excess Vinyl – Carefully remove unwanted vinyl using a weeding tool, leaving only the desired design on the carrier sheet.

Heat Press Application – Position the design on the fabric and use a heat press to apply firm, even pressure. Follow the recommended temperature and time settings based on the type of HTV you use.

Peel and Enjoy Your Products – Once cooled, peel away the carrier sheet to reveal your custom apparel.

Will You Try HTV?

HTV offers durability, flexibility, and endless creative possibilities. Unlike screen printing, it requires minimal setup and is ideal for one-off designs or small-batch production.

With the right materials and techniques, HTV lets you transform plain garments into unique jerseys, your customers fashion statements, gifts, or branded merchandise effortlessly!