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important games (Yale or
Princeton) to keep the 'H' jerseys as an award. If a player did not play in an important game, the player had to return the jersey at the end of the season. Awarding the 'H' jersey may have been the birth of the varsity letter as an award. The letterman sweater was first regularly used by the 1891 "Nine" (baseball) and was black with a small Crimson 'H' on the left breast.
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materials. Standard sizes range from 4 inches (102 mm) to 8 inches (203 mm). While 4 inches (102 mm) and 5 inches (127 mm) usually denote Junior
Varsity achievements, 6 inches (152 mm) to 8 inches (203 mm) would denote full (Senior) Varsity. The stitching style used for
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Chenille letters come in many different forms and shapes. Some institutions use Old
English or script style, two or three-letter monogram, 3D shading, chenille bordered or the traditional straight block style. Students generally receive only one actual letter but can win the distinction multiple
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The sweater seems to be the home of the award letter from the 1890s until the 1930s. Another award during the 1920s and 1930s was a stadium-style blanket given as an award. In the 1930s, the letter award started to appear on leather-sleeved, wool-bodied jackets. The jackets from the 1930s were
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baseball team added an Old
English 'H'. The 'H' was embroidered on the gray flannel shirt. The football team started to use the 'H' in 1875. For 25 years following the introduction in 1865 of the letter, it was the practice for the team captain to allow certain players who played in the most
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It is not known when the letter sweater came to high schools. The earliest known example of a letter sweater in a high school is found in the 1911 yearbook of
Phoenix Union High School, Arizona Territory. A student in a group photo is pictured, not in a football uniform, wearing a
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times. These additional designations are shown by adding embroidered sport insignias, modeled metal insert pins, or bars that are attached to the letter. Some schools may embroider non-athletic letters with their award title, such as "Academics" or "Arts".
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The chenille letter is traditionally placed on the left chest of the varsity jacket, which is also at times adorned with championship chenille patches showcasing the team or individual accomplishments. School mascot patches are also commonly used.
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With the advent of organized sports, there was a need for uniforms. There was an additional need for identifications which was satisfied by the use of emblems or letters.
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The award letter is usually made in the colors and initials representing the school that the recipient attends. The letter patch is primarily constructed of
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As a decorative clothing item, the varsity letter has a huge number of variations and no set standard is made to any school on how it should look.
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creating the chenille look is called a moss stitch, while the outlining sew down is called a chain stitch.
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for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its recipient was a qualified
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During the 1980s, and again in the 2010s, varsity jackets have been adopted into
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352:"The Ultimate Guide to Varsity Jackets: Tradition, Style, and Pride"
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Chenille bordered letter with embroidered mascot and sport inserts
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Varsity letter awarded in the Arts (Lyre) and
Academia (Lamp)
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Two-letter monogram with embroidered academic insert
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156:member, awarded after a certain standard was met.
286:Traditional block letter with embroidered mascot
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125:The high school varsity letter (W) awarded to
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421:College sports culture in the United States
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
366:"History of the Letter Award Tradition"
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210:with the letter 'P' on the left side.
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47:adding citations to reliable sources
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383:Varsity jackets as street fashion
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372:on October 17, 2009.
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426:1865 introductions
406:School terminology
401:Sports terminology
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41:Please help
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160:Description
395:Categories
338:References
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411:Monograms
305:Phat Farm
99:June 2019
315:See also
309:Rocawear
174:chenille
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194:Harvard
185:Origins
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