How to Make a Custom Jersey Display Case

A team or school jersey is usually associated with significant memories. Building a custom display case ensures the jersey will be proudly featured with other keepsakes and protected over time. Choosing how to display the jersey—hanging or folded—will dictate the finished size of the case. Select complementary colors for the lining to highlight the jersey with a specific color palette. Add a soft padding to the felt lining to pin up such mementos as tickets and showcase them in the custom jersey display case.

Things You'll Need

• Flexible tape measure
• Wood (your choice)
• Wood glue
• Clamps
• Hammer
• Nails
• Wood stain
• Protective gloves
• Protective mask
• Protective eyewear
• Drill
• Hinges
• Glass door
• Screws or bolts
• Felt
• Foam padding, 1/2 inch thick
• Scissors
• Fabric adhesive
• Brush applicator
• Bone folder
• Glass-head pins

Instructions

Building the Display Case

1. Measure the width and length of your jersey with a flexible tape measure as you will be displaying it. If you are folding the jersey to showcase the jersey’s front number as well as a partial sleeve for the insignia, for example, use a 12 ½-inch width by 19 ½-inch length by 1 ¼-inch depth.

2. Choose your wood type, such as birch, oak, cedar or walnut.

3. Cut the wood in the display case’s dimensions or have your local home supply store cut it for you. Make sure the corners are mitered to build the case. You will need two sides, a back panel, a top and a bottom.

4. Add wood glue along the mitered edges of the side and back panel. You will be building the case one side at a time.

5. Hammer nails into the two panels to connect them, and clamp them together for a minimum of 24 hours to allow the wood glue to dry. Read your wood glue brand for the recommended drying time. It is important to use the width and length of nails appropriate for the wood selected to avoid splitting the wood.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until all four sides are attached to the back panel.

7. Stain or prime the wood of the outer panels. Some woods have a natural color that does not need added stain or painting. This step is optional according to your design. Stains are available in a variety of color tones, such as maple, mahogany, dark walnut or cherry. Make sure you work in a well-ventilated area and wear protective gloves, a mask and eyewear during staining.

8. Drill door hinges into the display case to install a clear, glass door, such as Plexiglas. Keep in mind the weight of the glass prior to installing your hinges.

9. Slide the glass door into the hinge. Use the hinge’s screws or bolts to secure the door in place.

Lining the Case

1. Cut your complementary color felt and ½-inch thick foam padding with your scissors, using the dimensions from your wood panels.

2. Brush a light coating of fabric adhesive to one inner panel of the display case with a brush applicator.

3. Position your foam on the fabric adhesive. Continue to repeat step 2 until you have applied the foam to all sides. Read your adhesive’s instructions for drying time.

4. Brush one foam panel with a light coating of fabric adhesive using your brush applicator. Leave a 2-inch border free of glue. You will be inserting the felt in between the foam’s crease in a later step.

5. Place the felt onto the foam and smooth out the felt over any glue bumps with your fingers or a bone folder. The outer edges of the felt will be free of glue.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until all of your foam is covered with felt. Let dry.

7. Insert the loose felt in between the foam’s crease with your bone folder. You will need to repeat this step until all felt panels are inserted into the foam creases.

8. Fold or hang your jersey with glass-head pins on the case’s padded back wall. These extra sharp pins avoid making pin-holes within the jersey’s fabric. The weight of the jersey will dictate how many pins are needed to secure the jersey in place.

9. Pin mementos, such as tickets or photographs, with pins without blocking your displayed jersey.

References

• “Traditional Country Woodworking: 18 Pieces to Make for Inside and Out”; Jack Hill and James Merrell; 2006
• “Making Country Rustic Wood Projects”; Patrick E. Spielman; 1990