Anywhere soccer is mentioned, one of the things that come to mind is the soccer jersey. The soccer jersey is a significant material worn by soccer players whenever they are playing a match.
It is often regarded as a uniform that every soccer player must wear before they can be allowed to play along with their teammates. So many teams have emerged since the origin of soccer and each team has a unique soccer jersey to help differentiate them from other teams.
In the past, soccer jerseys were only worn by soccer players but today fans have picked up the interest of putting on their favorite team’s jerseys as a way of showing support and also representing their favorite team wherever they go.
The uniqueness of each team’s soccer jersey is expressed in their breath-taking colors and designs although some soccer fans like customizing their jerseys with paint and graffiti.
Fans on numerous occasions carry out crafts and arts like painting images, inscribing write-ups, and writing inspirational quotes on their soccer jerseys for personal reasons. They sometimes write pleasant messages on a soccer jersey and present it as a gift to a fellow fan or soccer lover.
Paints are usually used by fans to carry out this act, this is because they last over a longer period—some paints even stay permanently on soccer jerseys. Painting a soccer jersey requires attention and precision in order not to make a mess of the jersey.
We understand that some fans may find it difficult to accurately use paints on their soccer jerseys. No soccer fan will like to make a mess of their expensive jerseys.
If you are among those scared of using paint on their soccer jersey, you are not to worry any longer as we have carefully discussed the different methods of putting paint on soccer jerseys.
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How to paint a soccer jersey?
Fans usually have fun customizing their soccer jerseys to their desired taste, it is one way of being different and unique. There are numerous ways of customizing or inscribing markings on a soccer jersey and applying paint is one of those ways.
Painting soccer jerseys is not something new, it has lingered on over a long period although it has become more popular today. Fans often love adding colors and designs to their soccer jerseys to make them more localized and personalized.
Various fabric paints can be successfully used in carrying out this procedure. Some of the popular paints include acrylic paint, spray paint, Krylon paint, and puffy paint.
Choosing the right paint for your jersey job is the first step towards having a successful result. Therefore, you need to be intentional with your selection.
One of the best options to go for while conducting this procedure is the acrylic fabric paint because it is manufactured from an acrylic polymer that is emulsified and is merged with a color. This process makes the paint on the soccer jersey durable when exposed to sunlight and soapy water.
For best results, a fabric medium is usually mixed with acrylic paint, this makes the paint stick to the soccer jersey effortlessly without cracking.
Other fabric paints can also be used on soccer jerseys but be sure to test out the design you wish to make on a different surface before committing it to the soccer jersey you wish to paint.
There are various methods of painting a soccer jersey and you can go with any method that is suitable and more accessible for you. Below are the methods you can apply.
Freehand method
It is fun to paint a design on your soccer jersey using freehand, it is easy to carry out with little stress but it should be done by someone good at freehand design.
If you are not versatile with freehand sketching, the other way you can go about this is to, first of all, make a sketch of what you want to paint and follow it up with the paint.
To carry out this method, the following pieces of equipment are needed:
- The soccer jersey you intend to apply paint on
- Brush
- Painter’s tape
- Fabric paint
- A flat surface
- Thin Plywood
Last update on 2023-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Step 1
Arrange the flat surface and remove any existing obstacle.
Step 2
Place the soccer jersey on the surface and make sure that all the sides are well arranged then carefully measure the size of the soccer jersey. Use the measurement to cut out thin plywood.
Step 3
Put the plywood inside the soccer jersey to help prevent the paint from touching the other side of the soccer jersey.
Step 4
Dip a brush into the paint and start painting whatever design you wish to paint on the soccer jersey. Do this with care and try not to move the soccer jersey to avoid wrong designs.
Step 5
After painting, allow the paint to dry completely, you can use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process. Make sure you don’t remove the plywood from the soccer jersey until the paint completely dries up.
Step 6
Use a cloth iron to set the paint to make the design last longer. Do not press directly to avoid causing damage to your soccer jersey. Cover the design with a cotton fabric and then press over it with a pressing iron set on medium heat.
Step 7
Carefully remove the plywood from the soccer jersey when the paint completely dries up.
Paint on trace method
This method is good especially for people who wish to get a perfect design with little or no flaws on their soccer jersey. It is easy to apply if all the instructions are strictly adhered to.
This method is best for soccer jerseys that are light in color, this is because you can see the design on paper through a light-colored soccer jersey than a dark-colored one.
To carry out this method, the following pieces of equipment are needed:
- The soccer jersey you intend to apply paint on
- Brush
- Painter’s tape
- Paper
- Fabric paint
- A flat surface
- Thin Plywood
Step 1
Neatly prepare the flat surface and make sure is free from unwanted materials that may cause mistakes or spill.
Step 2
On a plain piece of paper preferably white, design what you wish to paint on the soccer jersey the way you want it to appear.
Step 3
Place the soccer jersey on the surface making sure all sides are neatly arranged then carefully measure the size of the soccer jersey, then use the measurement to cut out the thin plywood.
Step 4
Put the plywood inside the soccer jersey this will prevent the paint from touching the other side of the soccer jersey.
Step 5
Put the paper inside the soccer jersey on top of the plywood so it can be seen through the soccer jersey. Tape the paper to the plywood so it stays firm, this helps to avoid accidental drips and splashes.
Step 6
Dip a brush into the paint and start tracing what is designed on the paper, do this with care and try not to move the soccer jersey to avoid the wrong design.
Step 7
After painting, allow the paint to dry, you can try speeding up the process by using a hairdryer to blow the paint. Make sure you don’t remove the plywood from the soccer jersey until the paint completely dries up.
Step 8
Use a cloth iron to set the paint, when you do this the design will stick over a long period. Do not press directly to avoid destroying your soccer jersey, the design should be covered with a cotton material before pressing on medium heat.
Step 9
When the paint dries up, gently remove the plywood from the soccer jersey.
Paint on stencils method using a brush
This method makes use of stencils which makes it an easy-to-do method. To carry out this method, little effort is required and it doesn’t take much time to accomplish. Although the steps must be followed accordingly for best results.
This method unlike the paint on trace method can be used on any soccer jersey whether light or dark in color.
For this method, you can either use a regular stencil, a fabric painting stencil, or a homemade stencil from cardstock or freezer paper.
To carry out this method, you will need the following:
- The soccer jersey you intend to apply paint on
- Stencils
- Brush
- Flat surface
- Fabric paint
- Cardboard
- Plate
- Newspapers
Step 1
Wash and dry your soccer jersey to eliminate any form of starch or shrink, this will enable the paint to stick to the soccer jersey properly.
Step 2
Arrange the flat surface where you will carry out the work. You can spread lots of newspapers on the surface to make it smooth.
Step 3
Put a cardboard sheet inside the soccer jersey, this will help prevent paints from penetrating to the other side of the soccer jersey.
Step 4
Place your stencil properly on the soccer jersey and make sure it is safe. If you are using a homemade stencil, you can use painter’s tape to adhere the stencil to the soccer jersey.
If you are using a fabric painting stencil, it will have a sticky back so you just need to place it on the soccer jersey and smooth it using your hands. If you are using a regular stencil, use a repositionable adhesive spray to coat the stencils back then place it down on the soccer jersey.
Step 5
Pour the fabric paint into a plate. You can use more than one plate if you are dealing with multiple colors so that the colors will not mix up and become a mess.
Step 6
Gently dab your brush into the paint to avoid splashes and apply it directly to the stencil. Don’t be too fast to avoid mistakes due to shaking.
Step 7
Continue tapping and dabbing the brush on the stencil. Working inwards, that is, moving from the edge of the stencil to the middle is better as it will stop the paint from accidentally leaking beneath the stencil.
Step 8
When you are done, carefully remove the stencil from the soccer jersey before the paint dries up. If it dries up with a stencil, the paint might tear because fabric paints form a thick layer while it dries.
Step 9
Allow the paint to dry completely, then cover the design with cotton material and press a cloth iron over it.
Step 10
Gently remove the cardboard from the soccer jersey.
Paint on stencils method using spray
This method is very similar to the above method but spray paint is used instead of a liquid one. It is faster and safer as no overflow occurs when applied.
This method can also be applied on any jersey type whether light or dark as it doesn’t need tracing on the soccer jersey.
To carry out this method, the following are required:
- The soccer jersey you intend to apply paint on
- Stencils
- Flat surface
- Spray paint
- Cardboard
- Newspapers
- Plastic gloves
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Last update on 2023-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Step 1
Wash and dry your soccer jersey to remove shrinks or starch that might be on it, this allows the paint to sit properly on the soccer jersey.
Step 2
Arrange the flat surface where you will carry out the work. Always cover your work area using lots of newspapers or plain sheets.
Also, put on your plastic glove and an apron because spray paint can often get messy.
Step 3
Place cardboard inside the soccer jersey as it will prevent the spray paint from bleeding to the other side of the soccer jersey. Make sure the cardboard is almost the same area as the soccer jersey to avoid stretching the soccer jersey.
Step 4
Place your stencil properly on the soccer jersey and make sure it is safe. When using a homemade stencil, use painter’s tape to adhere the stencil to the soccer jersey to stop it from moving while you work.
If you are using a fabric painting stencil, it will have a sticky back and you just need to place it on the soccer jersey and smooth it using your hands. If you are using a regular stencil, use a repositionable adhesive spray to coat the stencil’s back, then place it down on the soccer jersey.
Step 5
Stay in a well-ventilated area, you are strongly advised to stay outside, but if you wish to stay indoors, stay in a large room with many windows.
Step 6
Shake the spray container for 30 to 50 seconds to evenly distribute its content and hold it up about 6 to 8 inches away from the stencil. Use a slow sweeping motion to apply the spray paint on the soccer jersey.
Step 7
If the paint is not thick enough, you can apply a second coat but you should wait for about 20 minutes before you do so to allow the initial paint to dry up. You can use a hairdryer to speed up the process.
Step 8
After the second coating, allow the soccer jersey to dry for about 20 minutes before removing the stencil. Do this cautiously as the paint might still be wet especially on the edge axis.
Step 9
When the soccer jersey dries up completely, you can safely remove the cardboard.
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Conclusion
A work of art can be easily executed on many surfaces, and fortunately, soccer jerseys are included. Fans of soccer around the world wear soccer jerseys to represent their favorite teams and they sometimes beautify these soccer jerseys with beautiful designs and write-ups which makes them stand out.
Making use of paints brings any decoration to life on the surface of soccer jerseys. The most exciting part is that these designs can last over a long period even after numerous washes. But be sure to adhere to the instructions of use to avoid destroying your soccer jerseys.
Hi there, I’m Jay.
Soccer is everything in my life! My friends and I have created this blog with all our enthusiasm, passion, and understanding after years of playing pro soccer. Hope you will enjoy it!