How to make a hoodie: A step-by-step guide

What's not to love about the hoodie? Not only is it incredibly comfortable, but it's a timeless fashion staple that goes with nearly any outfit.

Whether you already run an online store or are considering developing merch for the first time, custom hoodies are definitely worth including in your product offerings. But how exactly do you go about making your own hoodie to sell online?

Join us for a step-by-step guide to designing and selling custom hoodies with a print on demand (POD) provider like Gelato. You'll learn how to make a hoodie featuring your own design without ever having to worry about dealing with inventory or shipping.

• Working with a print on demand partner like Gelato makes it easy to make a hoodie of your own to sell online.

• Partnering with a POD service allows anyone to start a clothing business without ever learning how to operate a sewing machine or use complicated printing machinery.

• We'll walk you through how to use Gelato's easy tools to create your own hoodie and offer it for sale online in an easy, cost-effective way.

Ever wonder how so many people create their own clothes to sell in their online stores? After all, you're not likely to find many influencers sitting around sewing and making a hoodie by hand or stitching together pattern pieces to create a custom t-shirt.

Instead, many online store owners and merch creators turn to a print on demand service for help. POD providers like Gelato will not only provide you with the perfect hoodie to customize, but we'll also take care of the order fulfillment and delivery process.

When you sign up for a free Gelato account, you'll be able to upload your hoodie designs to feature on one of our customizable products. To offer your creation for sale, simply connect your Gelato account to your ecommerce store using one of our easy integrations.

When a customer places an order, we'll take care of everything from letting them know how to make a custom hoodie to delivering it right to your customer. We offer a whole catalog of high-quality products at competitive, transparent prices that you can work into your final retail price.

You'll never have to worry about purchasing expensive equipment to start your custom hoodie business, juggling inventory, or running out of materials. Best of all, you never have to purchase any merchandise until it's already been sold.

After you sign up for a free Gelato account, take a good look through Gelato's hoodie catalog. You'll find plenty of options, including pullover hoodies and zip-up hoodies in a variety of different sizes, colors, and materials.

Choose from bestsellers like the Premium Unisex Pullover Hoodie or eco-friendly options like the Organic Unisex Zip Hoodie and the Organic Unisex Pullover Hoodie. We even offer choices for younger family members with a Classic Kids Pullover Hoodie that's available in multiple sizes and colors.

You might even choose to integrate a sweatshirt option into your shop, just in case you have any customers who prefer to go the hood-free route. Simply select the hoodie pattern of your choice, or offer your customers multiple choices to choose from.

Now comes the fun part, which is coming up with a design that will transform a normal, unassuming hoodie into a unique piece of merchandise. If you don't already have a design or pattern in mind, flip through a few magazines or hit up some of your favorite websites for inspiration on how to make hoodie designs.

Notice what hoodie or sweatshirt designs catch your eye and why. Start to pay attention to what types of colors, fonts, and images appeal to you the most and even different design placements.

Just be sure you don't go too crazy when you start to come up with ideas. It's always best to avoid using too many different colors, fonts, and design elements to prevent your hoodie designs from appearing crowded.

Also, consider how your designs will look against the background color of the hoodie itself. When you're ready to begin bringing your ideas to life, head to Gelato's Design Editor, where you can design your own hoodie using plenty of integrated features.

Choose from pre-configured layouts or design your own, complete with access to millions of stock images, text fonts, customizable settings, and more. You can even upload your own images, complete with warning messages for low-resolution photos.

Gelato+ and Gold members also enjoy exclusive access to our mockup generator, which can generate a preview of your hoodie in real life. If you're not sure you have the design skills to come up with your own hoodie pieces, rest assured that you can always hire a freelance designer who will be happy to help!

Once you've completed your design and selected the type of hoodie you want to use, it's time to bring all the pieces together to finalize your creation! Not sure how to put a design on a hoodie? At this point, you'll want to use Gelato's Design Editor to position your design right where you'd like it printed on your hoodie. 

While there's not really a wrong side to select, if you choose to position your design on the hoodie front, make sure you take things like the zipper into account if you're creating a zip-up. Don't be afraid to try out different options to experiment with what works best!

While the center front is always a popular design placement choice, flip your shirt over and see how it looks on the other side. If you're using a smaller pattern like a logo, you might even see how it looks on a single sleeve, both sleeves, pocket, or right above the cuffs.

Just make sure your design lines up with the edges in a way that makes sense, and don't position it too near the neckline seam. When using the Gelato Design Editor, you'll be able to generate a limited number of mockups, but if you choose to upgrade to a Gelato+ subscription, you'll also gain access to Gelato's Mockup Studio tool.

The Mockup Studio allows you to create a range of personalized mockups that can also be used as product photos in your online store. It also comes with additional cool features, such as an extended array of stock images, graphics, and fonts.

Any time you make a hoodie you intend to sell, it's always best to order a sample before introducing it to your customers. There's nothing like being able to check out your hoodie pattern placement in person to ensure you didn't accidentally place your design on the wrong side or too close to the neck or edge of the shirt.

You'll also be able to see how your designs flow along the curved edges of your shirt when you put it on and get a feel of the fabric itself. If you don't intend to use the same fabric for all of your hoodies, then samples are also a great chance to get a feel for different fabric pieces, so you can describe them in more detail for your customers.

In addition to print and fabric quality, you'll be able to ensure that the size you ordered offers enough stretch to fit as expected. Last but not least, you'll also get a sense of delivery time to make sure the POD provider you choose can deliver your orders in a timely manner.

Once you've had a chance to check out your hoodie from the top edge to the hem band, it's time to unleash it on the world. In order to start a hoodie business, you'll need to select a sales platform.

There are plenty of options here, each of which comes with its own considerations. Online platforms like Shopify are designed to help you set up and run your own stand-alone ecommerce website, which can be a solid choice if you already have a large following.

Shopify offers plenty of great customization options and tools that make it possible to sell your products on popular social media platforms. But on the opposite side of the coin, it also charges a monthly subscription fee.

Online marketplaces like Etsy, on the other hand, allow you to set up your own shop amid millions of other retailers. This can be the way to go if you want to benefit from being featured on a side that already offers an established customer base.

While Etsy doesn't charge monthly fees, it does take a cut out of every sale you make, so be sure to familiarize yourself with its fees before making the right choice for you. No matter which platform you use, Gelato offers multiple integrations that make it easy to connect your account to your sales platform.

Once your hoodie is ready to make its premiere, it's time to nail down a solid price tag. You'll quickly discover that there are two layers to consider when it comes to pricing.

It's important to charge enough to cover all your overhead expenses and still make a profit. But on the other hand, it's important not to overcharge if you want to stay competitive.

Make sure you factor in all your expenses, including the cost of POD service and shipping. Then, check out your competitors' prices to see how much you can tack onto the top without going overboard.

When you list your hoodie in your online store, make sure to include a detailed product description and only the highest-quality product photos you're able to capture. It's also worth looking into basic marketing tactics like search engine optimization (SEO).

SEO is basically the art of including relevant keywords in your product titles and descriptions so that they rank more highly in search results. The key here is learning to think about the type of things that someone might type in if they were searching for your product.

It doesn't necessarily have to be as specific as a "French terry hoodie with cat pattern on the left side and stretch stitch sleeve cuffs." Something more along the lines of "Funny cat hoodie " will likely do just fine.

Learning how to make a hoodie to sell online need not involve figuring out how to use a sewing machine and twill tape or securing a pattern piece with the perfect straight stitch! Partnering with the right POD supplier is all it takes to start designing and selling custom hoodies in your own online store.

At Gelato, we provide a wide range of high-quality hoodies that are just begging to be turned into custom designs. If you decide to expand your hoodie business, we also offer everything from sweatshirts and long-sleeve t-shirt options to tank tops and short-sleeve regular tees.

You'll find a nice array of fabric options, sizes, and colors to help you design beautiful, eye-catching hoodies your customers are sure to love. As part of our commitment to sustainability, we utilize a global network of over 130 local producers to ensure that we can get your hoodie printed and shipped quickly and sustainably.

When you create and sell hoodies with Gelato, you can always count on exceptional customer service and sales support 24/7. Sign up for a free Gelato account today and take the first step toward creating a high-quality hoodie your customers are sure to love.

If you go the traditional sewing machine route and attempt to DIY a hoodie from a pattern or sew along with YouTube tutorials, then yeah, it can be pretty challenging to make a hoodie! But when you choose to partner with a print on demand provider like Gelato, making your own hoodie gets a whole lot easier!

Simply use the Gelato Design Editor to create your custom design, and choose a high-quality hoodie from our collection to feature it on. Each time a customer makes a purchase, we'll handle everything from order fulfillment to delivery.

Starting a custom hoodie business online begins with understanding your target audience and the kind of designs they might like. You need to research and find a reliable print on demand service like Gelato. This allows you to produce hoodies without maintaining large inventories. 

You’ll start by creating a few standout hoodie designs, possibly by looking for inspiration in fashion magazines or online platforms. Once you have your designs ready, use Gelato’s tools to upload and customize your hoodies. After setting up an online store on platforms like Shopify or Etsy, promote your hoodies through social media and other marketing channels to attract customers.

Gelato is an excellent resource for designing custom hoodies. Our user-friendly design editor allows you to easily upload your own images or choose from millions of stock photos and fonts. The editor provides various customizable settings, ensuring your hoodie looks just the way you envision. Moreover, Gelato+ and Gold members can use the mockup generator to visualize their designs on a hoodie, making it easier to perfect the look before making it available for sale.

Yes, you can absolutely create your own hoodie designs. With Gelato’s design editor, you have the freedom to craft unique designs from scratch or modify existing templates to fit your vision. You can mix and match different fonts, colors, and images to come up with something truly special. If you’re not sure where to start, looking at different hoodie styles and trends can spark some great ideas. Remember to keep the design balanced and not overly complicated; you want your hoodie to stand out but also be appealing and wearable.

Ordering a sample hoodie before selling is a wise move. It lets you set expectations for the quality of the print and fabric, ensuring it meets your standards. With Gelato, you can order a sample to see exactly how your design looks in real life. This step helps you make any necessary adjustments before your hoodie goes on sale. Plus, having a sample on hand allows you to take high-quality photos for your online store, which can significantly improve your product listings and attract more customers.

There are several platforms where you can sell your custom hoodies. Popular ecommerce sites like Shopify and Etsy are excellent choices because they offer a wide reach and have tools to help you manage your store. Gelato integrates well with these platforms, making it easy to handle orders and fulfillment. You can also consider using social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to promote and sell your hoodies directly. Each platform has its own advantages, so choose the one that best fits your business model and target audience.

Pricing your custom hoodies involves considering several factors. First, calculate the cost of production, including materials and printing, which you can easily track with Gelato’s transparent pricing. Next, research what other sellers are charging for similar hoodies to ensure your prices are competitive. Don’t forget to factor in any additional costs such as shipping and platform fees. Lastly, consider the value your unique designs add – if your hoodies have standout features or are particularly trendy, you might be able to price them higher. The key is to find a balance that covers your costs while also appealing to your target customers.

When you work with a print on demand service like Gelato, you can choose from a range of different hoodies. Our cheapest hoodie starts at a base price of $19.55, and the prices of our others vary depending on the style and fabric you'd like to offer.

You'll find transparent base + shipping prices on the product page of each of our options, which you can factor into your final retail price. And remember, you only have to pay for a product once it's already ordered.