Every Greek knows how important it is to wear their letters, whether on a hat, a shirt or even a tote. While there’s no shortage of Greek apparel and accessories available to order, sometimes a little DIY project can be a lot of fun. Iron-on Greek letters offer an easy option for customizing clothing, totes, hats and other fabrics with fraternity or sorority letters. Adding iron-on letters is easy, just arrange the letters face-down, place your T-shirt, sweater or tote on top and apply heat with the iron. The heat melts the adhesive on the back of the letters and bonds them to the fabric. Looking for project inspo? Check out our post on Project Ideas for Iron-On Greek Letters.

Materials Needed

• Something to put the letters on. A T-shirt, a sweatshirt, a tote bag or even a hat will work. Cotton works best for this project.
• Iron-on letters. Greek 4-Inch Twill Letters are large enough to be seen from a distance but fit easily onto most tote bags and T-shirts.
• An iron. A basic iron will work just fine.
• An ironing board. If you don’t have an ironing board, don’t worry. You can fold a towel several times and iron on a tabletop instead.

Steps for Ironing on Letters

Step 1: Prepare your surface.

• Wash and dry the fabric according to the manufacturer’s care instructions.
• Iron or steam out any wrinkles to ensure a smooth, flat surface.
• Inspect the surface for lint or piling, and remove if present.
• Mark the center of the shirt or tote bag to assist with letter placement.

Step 2: Gather materials.

• Gather all your materials and ensure you have all the letters needed for your project. 
• Make sure your iron is ready and that you have an outlet nearby.

Step 3: Determine placement.

• Arrange the letters, face down, on an iron-safe surface. Place the fabric on top of the letters, being careful to center the design. Ensure that the fabric is smooth and flat.

Tip: Use a washable or disappearing fabric marker to mark the center of your fabric or where you want to place the letters. The markings will assist in letter placement but will easily wash off or fade away.

Step 4: Iron-on the letters.

• Preheat the iron to the “cotton” setting. Do NOT use the steam setting when working with iron-on letters. 
• Place the iron on the fabric directly over the letters. Press firmly and hold the iron in place for 40 to 50 seconds to ensure proper heating. You can use the tip of the iron to get into small spaces, like along seams. 
• If the letters do not adhere, apply heat for another 30 to 40 seconds. It is common for the middle of the letters to stick, but not the edges. Use the tip of the iron to ensure that the edges adhere properly.
• Allow the project to cool slightly before handling. 

Designs can be customized by adding a Greek crest, symbol or other embellishment. You can also customize your project by starting with a shirt or tote bag in the group’s official colors. Using iron-on Greek letters, you can personalize all kinds of clothing or accessories without any sewing needed.