How to Decorate Hockey Jerseys

From the Detroit Red Wings famous wheel and wing logo to the classic jerseys of the original six NHL teams, hockey jerseys have a long history of stellar decoration. While you may want to purchase an existing team's jersey, another option is to start with a blank jersey and make it unique. This how-to guide will take you through the basic process of choosing a jersey design and executing it to your satisfaction.

Things You'll Need

  • Pencil
  • Paper
  • Needle
  • Thread
  • Clothing dye (if applicable)
  • Iron (if applicable)
  • Patches (and/or items to sew to your jersey)
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Instructions

  1. Preparation and Execution

    • 1

      Begin a rough design for your jersey. If you have an existing jersey, note the colors and plan to include decorations that will match those colors. On the other hand, if you still need to purchase your base jersey, visit a website such as Hockey Jerseys Direct for a variety of color combinations modeled after NHL and Olympic team jerseys. You can also dye parts of your jersey to change the color.

    • 2

      Flesh out your design to include the items you hope to sew to your jersey. Patches are popular items to sew to jerseys. Many professional hockey teams have official insignia sewed right into the jersey. Likewise, you may wish to sew a number or your name into the back of the jersey. In addition, team captains and assistant captains have C and A patches sewn into the front of their jerseys respectively.

      Numbers are often individual patches for each number. Most hockey jerseys contain numbers on the back and smaller numbers on each arm. Names on the other hand tend to include the entire name on a single patch. For a less refined look, consider iron-on patches for your logos, name and numbers.

      If you play in a laid back league, you may want to opt for even more elaborate draping to your jersey such as feathers or tassels. Place all your dream decorations on your design.

    • 3

      Locate your items. Hockey merchandise stores will sell patches of your favorite teams or feel free to use non-hockey related patches. If you plan to attach non-patched items to your jersey, make sure to secure those items as well. Another option is to purchase a customized jersey from a website, such as Hockey Jerseys Direct or Ice Jerseys, with your name and number on it. Alternatively, you can visit an embroider who will sew your name and number directly into the jersey.

    • 4

      Sew the patches onto your jersey. Regardless of whether you sew manually or with a sewing machine, follow the proper sewing instructions to ensure safety and decoration durability. Continue to sew your patches and other adornments until you approximate your design. If you choose to use iron-on patches, iron them directly into your jersey according to the patches' instructions.

    • 5

      Try on your jersey and make any desired alterations. You may wish to add more patches or perhaps a large logo on the front. Likewise, if some of the patches don't look good, carefully cut the threads and remove the patch.