Getting your name on your jacket

[TheAvocado5]

I qualified for summer nationals recently, and someone in my club told me I'd have to get my last name on my jacket or knickers. I've been looking around, and I can't find anywhere to get this done. Where did you guys get this done, and (I know this isn't very armory related) is there anything else I should know before going to summer nationals?

[shango]

You can usually send it to a vendor, and they'll do it for you. As for anything else, I assume that, as you qualified for summer nationals, that you know of the whole two weapons and body cords and such...

[oiuyt]

Get it done at summer nationals, preferably at least the day prior to your fencing.

Otherwise the two commonly used companies are ProPrintwear and Marx Enterprises. I'd imagine that addresses for both are on the USFA website or at least googliable.

Hope that helps.
-B :)

[Montoya]

Yes, you can get it stencilled at Summer Nationals. However, a much better option (and one available in many communities) is to have your jacket embroidered. The same places that embroider logos on sweatshirts, baseball caps etc. can do a great job with your fencing jacket. Lasts longer (stencilling fades in the wash) and looks better. When I had it done, it cost me $25. However, make sure that the embroiderer has the official specs - I believe (but verify this) that your name must be in block letters, dark blue, and at least 8 cm high.

I don't have a picture of my jacket, but we did a mini one for one of our fencer's babies -

http://www.dcfencing.com/dcfc/photos.asp

You can find these places by looking up "embroidery" in the Yellow Pages.

NB Make sure that the person doing it knows how expensive your fencing jacket is.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by Montoya

I believe (but verify this) that your name must be in block letters, dark blue, and at least 8 cm high.

...and not more than 10 cm's high.

I don't have a picture of my jacket, but we did a mini one for one of our fencer's babies - http://www.dcfencing.com/dcfc/photos.asp

Cute!

[Mergs]

If you can’t stand the thought of paying someone to do something you know you can do yourself, here is how to stencil your own name (or if you are a club and want to keep track of your jackets) on to your jacket/lamé.

The hardest part of this process is getting a stencil of your name or club. One way is to go to the local reproduction store, like Kinko’s, and get one made, but make sure that you have either the dimensions you want or a jacket with you to make sure you get the correct sized stencil and remember the specifications outlined in previous posts.

Another way is if you have access to a computer and either MS Word or PowerPoint, you can print out your name on a sheet of paper (use 200 size, bold, font of any of the following: Arial, Arial Narrow or Verdana. 200 size font is equal to 2 inches in height for these font styles). Make sure that the name will fit on the jacket/lamé. You may have to play around with the font size a bit to get it right. Once you do, use spray adhesive to glue the paper to a stiff material like a manila folder and cut out the stencil with a ruler and very sharp Exacto knife. Be sure to keep the inner pieces of letters like A, P, O, Q, R, etc.

If you purchased your stencil, see if you can get it with an adhesive already applied. If not, you can use spray adhesive to attach it to the material to keep it from moving around.

Now you are ready to apply the stencil. Lay out the jacket/lamé on a flat surface. Be sure the space you are working in is well ventilated and somewhere where you don’t mind getting some paint on the floor, or surface your working on. Dry fit the stencil onto the jacket/lamé. When you are satisfied with the placement of the stencil, mark it somehow within the area you are going to be covering. A good technique is to use a pen and mark the lower left corner of the first letter and the upper right corner of the last letter.

Turn the stencil over and LIGHTLY spray adhesive to the back of the stencil and the little inner pieces. Let dry for about 15 – 30 seconds. Now reposition the stencil on the jacket/lamé, aligning the marks. Make sure you have the inner pieces positioned, too. If the stencil has a backing, remove it. Make sure that the edges of the stencil are pressed flat on to the material. Now using masking tape and newspaper, mask off the area around the stencil to make sure that no over-spray will get on to the jacket/lamé. Be generous with this masking. Newspaper is cheap.

For this application blue Krylon paint is a good spray-paint to use. Shake the can per the directions and holding it about 12 inches away from the material, spray lightly back and forth along the length of the stencil. Be sure to start and end beyond the ends of the stencil cut outs on either end. This will prevent an excess of paint from building up on the end letters. When stenciling a jacket, keep spaying until you get the color you want.

For lamés you do not want too much paint on it because it will interfere with the conductivity of the material. You may want to experiment a couple of times on an old lamé that still has some good spots on it to see how much paint you can apply before you affect the conductivity of the material. A good idea is to go over the area lightly with a Scotchbite® pad when the paint is dry. Be sure to check the conductivity and resistance of this area when you are finished.

Once the paint is dry (use a hair dryer to speed the process) remove the stencil. An alternative to paint is fabric dye applied with an airbrush. The problem with dye, though, is that it will wick (spread by soaking into the adjoining fibers) around the edges of the stencil and not give as sharp an edge as paint. The recommendation is to experiment first with old material and various application methods before trying it on your new jacket/lamé.

[KD5MDK]

How did you qualify at Divisionals without it already being done? Or did you just take the card?

[DHCJr]

How many Divisions actually require the name on the uniform? At the Pacific Coast Junior/Cadet Sectionals, the only ones required to have their names on their uniform was those competing in the Super Youth. At the Senior PCC's, it will not be required.

[Purple Fencer]

Fencing Post also does the stencilling.

[TheAvocado5]

I'm from Michigan, I've never been carded for not having my name on my jacket (although I have almost been carded for sock failure). If you go here http://www.michfencing.org/comp_list_04-05.html the event I fenced in was on the 9th of April. Maybe you're confusing it for the event on May 7th?

[noodle]

Originally Posted by TheAvocado5

I'm from Michigan, I've never been carded for not having my name on my jacket (although I have almost been carded for sock failure). If you go here http://www.michfencing.org/comp_list_04-05.html the event I fenced in was on the 9th of April. Maybe you're confusing it for the event on May 7th?

http://www.fencing101.com/vb/showpos...59&postcount=6

[smeric28]

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

How did you qualify at Divisionals without it already being done? Or did you just take the card?

i just fenced at the great lakes sectional and it wasn't enfoced untill the last few de's. actually i found out after the tournement that i should have had my name done. i though you only needed it for national level events

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by DHCJr

How many Divisions actually require the name on the uniform? At the Pacific Coast Junior/Cadet Sectionals, the only ones required to have their names on their uniform was those competing in the Super Youth. At the Senior PCC's, it will not be required.

Wait, SYRCs require stenciling?!

[DHCJr]

Supposedly! It caused problems, because Cadet was on Friday and they were not required and the same fencer fences youth and it is now required. The SRYC is a national event.

Among the various things I carry is a Large Washable Blue Marker. It got a lot of use.

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by DHCJr

Supposedly! It caused problems, because Cadet was on Friday and they were not required and the same fencer fences youth and it is now required. The SRYC is a national event.

Among the various things I carry is a Large Washable Blue Marker. It got a lot of use.

So at the SYRC in connecticut in May, will they card for the lack of a name?

[mrbiggs]

Originally Posted by mrbiggs

So at the SYRC in connecticut in May, will they card for the lack of a name?

And would it be safe to assume that proprintwear or some such company will be there?