At the tournament
Trading towel. A sports towel or felt banner that pins go into, laid on a table or hung on a fence. The most common way to show pins while trading. Many teams have towels printed with the team logo.
Pin bag. A bag with felt panels inside for carrying and protecting pins between trades.
Hat or bucket hat. Pins on a hat are visible as players walk around; a classic look at baseball tournaments.
Vest or sash. Felt vests hold dozens of pins and keep hands free.
Lanyard. Good for younger kids and a handful of pins.
Tips for tournament displays
- Use the team's own pins in the most visible spot.
- Keep special pins separate from trading stock.
- Use rubber clutches during trading days; they are quicker to swap. Add locking backs to pins you keep.
- Write the player's name on the towel or bag.
At home
When the season ends, collections move to the wall: a shadow box with the team's pin in the center, a framed felt board, or a map with each pin placed by the state it came from. See 30 ways to display enamel pins for more ideas.
Team keepsakes
A framed board with every pin from the season makes a great gift for coaches, sponsors or the clubhouse. Order a few extra team pins for this; see how many trading pins do you need.
Getting ready for your first tournament? Read what are trading pins and pin trading etiquette.
Making a team trading towel
Many teams order towels or felt banners printed with the team logo, so every player has a matching display. Place the team's own pin in the center and arrange traded pins around it. A towel 16 by 25 inches holds 40 to 60 pins comfortably.
Protecting pins in transit
Between tournament days, keep towels rolled with pins facing inward, or move pins into a pin bag. Loose pins in a backpack scratch each other and lose their backs.
Written by the Enamelore team, who proof every order. Questions about this guide? Email hello@enamelore.com.
