How to Paint Yankees Pinstripes

Paint a room in Yankees pinstripes to give homage to the team.

The white Yankees uniforms with navy blue pinstripes might be the most famous and iconic uniform of any sports team in America, says the official website of Major League Baseball. The Yankees debuted this look in 1912, abandoned it for a couple seasons then embraced it again in 1915. Decorating a wall or room to resemble the pinstripes on the uniforms of this New York team is one way to express your admiration and solidarity for the Yankees.

Things You'll Need

• 1/4 cup all purpose cleanser
• 1 gallon warm water
• Bucket
• Sponge
• Painter's tape
• Drop cloth
• Oil-based primer
• Paint roller pan
• Paint roller
• Oil-based white paint
• Step stool
• Pencil
• Yardstick
• Foam Brush, 1/4 inch wide
• Oil-based navy blue paint

Instructions

1. Combine 1/4 cup all purpose cleanser with 1 gallon of warm water in a bucket. Dip a sponge in the mixture and wring it out. Wipe down the wall, removing dust and caked on debris. Allow the wall to dry.

2. Apply painter's tape along door frames, window frames, molding and trim. Throw down a disposable drop cloth covering all furniture and floor space.

3. Pour a few inches of oil-based primer onto a roller pan. Dip your paint roller in the primer and cover the wall with an even coat of primer. Allow it to dry.

4. Rinse off your pan and paint roller. Pour a few inches of oil-based white paint into the pan. Dip your clean paint roller into the pan and cover the wall with an even coat of white paint. Allow the paint to dry, then add a second coat. Allow the second coat to dry completely.

5. Stand on your step stool. With a yardstick and pencil, draw vertical lines down from the top of the wall to the bottom. Space each line 1.5 inches apart.

6. Check the lines to make sure they're straight. Dip a foam brush in oil-based navy blue paint. Go over each pencil line with the foam brush. Use the yardstick as a guide to make the lines straight but check the back of the yardstick for blue paint before painting each line. Wipe down the yardstick with a dry cloth if paint seeps onto the back side.

Tips & Warnings

• Another option to paint straight pinstripes is to stick a line of painter's tape along each line using the yardstick as a guide. Then paint along each pencil line with the foam brush without worrying about smearing paint on the yardstick.

References

• Major League Baseball: History: Uniforms
• "Painting and Finishing: Expert Advice from Start to Finish"; Michael M. Dresdner; 2002