Custom Jersey Framing
Custom jersey framing usually starts with the story already attached to the jersey. Our job is to figure out how that story should look on the wall.
Some jerseys are all about the name and number. Others have a signature, a patch, a photograph, or another piece that belongs with them. We start there, then work through the fold, spacing, mat colors, frame, and overall size until the whole piece feels balanced.
We Start With the Jersey
Before we choose a moulding or mat color, we look at the jersey itself. The name, number, signature, patches, team colors, and anything you want to display with it all affect the fold, spacing, colors, and final layout. There isn’t a stock arrangement we start from — we work out what looks right for that particular jersey.
What Needs to Show
The name and number are often the starting point, but not always. A signature, sleeve patch, championship detail, or team logo may be just as important. We decide what should stay visible before we settle on the fold.
What Goes With It
If the jersey comes with a signed photo, ticket, patch, card, or plaque, we lay those pieces out with the jersey before we settle on the mats and spacing. The goal is to make everything feel like it belongs together, rather than looking like extra pieces were squeezed in afterward.
How It All Comes Together
Once we know what needs to show, we start working through the moulding, mat colors, spacing, and placement. Sometimes the jersey colors lead the design. Other times, a photo, patch, or signature changes the direction. We keep adjusting until the whole piece feels balanced.
Sometimes the Right Frame Isn’t a Shadowbox Frame
Jerseys need depth, so a shadowbox moulding is usually the starting point. But sometimes the moulding a client really likes simply isn’t made deep enough for the piece.
When that happens, we can use the regular moulding on the front and build the extra depth behind it with a matching or coordinating shadowbox moulding. You still get the frame you really want, while the jersey gets the room it needs.
How We Mount the Jersey
A jersey needs to be held securely, but that doesn’t mean it should be glued down. We shape and support it from the inside first, then sew it to an acid-free backing so it sits cleanly and naturally inside the frame.
Shape & Support
We cut acid-free foam board to the shape of the jersey and place it inside. That gives the fabric support and helps us shape and position it evenly before anything is sewn in place.
Sewn in Place
Once the jersey is shaped, we stitch it to a backing made from acid-free matboard and foam board. Depending on the piece, we use fishing line or cotton thread to hold the jersey securely in position.
Reversible by Default
We don’t glue the jersey to the backing. The mounting is designed to be reversible, and everything that comes into contact with the jersey is acid-free. If a project ever requires a non-reversible method, we discuss it with you first.
All of the matboard and foam board we use in our shop is acid-free. We don’t offer a lower-grade acidic option for artwork or memorabilia.
Jerseys Can Get Big Quickly
With custom jersey framing, jerseys need enough room to keep their shape, and once you add mats, a frame, and anything else that belongs with the piece, the finished size can grow quickly. We pay attention to that from the beginning. A different fold, a slightly tighter mat border, or a narrower frame profile can make a real difference without making the jersey feel cramped. The goal is to give it presence on the wall without making it bigger than it needs to be.
Questions About Custom Jersey Framing
Will you glue my jersey to the backing?
No. We shape the jersey with acid-free foam board inside, then sew it to an acid-free backing using fishing line or cotton thread. We don’t glue the jersey down. The mounting is designed to be reversible, and everything that comes into contact with the jersey is acid-free. If a project ever calls for a non-reversible treatment, we’ll talk with you about it before we proceed.
Can you frame a signed jersey?
Yes. A signature often affects how we position and fold the jersey because we want it to remain clearly visible in the finished design. We look at where the signature sits first, then work the jersey, mats, frame, and any other pieces around it.
Can you include photos, patches, tickets, or a plaque with the jersey?
Yes. If there are other pieces that belong with the jersey, bring them with you when we work on the design. We can lay out photos, patches, tickets, cards, plaques, or similar pieces alongside the jersey and see what actually works before anything is finalized. We don’t try to fit everything in just because it’s available — the finished piece still needs room to breathe.
Bring Us the Jersey. We’ll Work Through the Rest With You.
You don’t need to know which frame you want or exactly how the jersey should be laid out before you come in. Bring the jersey — and anything you may want to include with it — and we’ll work through the design together.
