Sew names on outside of mittens

[mwymore]

I'm knitting mittens for all the girls on my daughter's soccer team and would like to personalize them by adding their names to the outside of the mittens. Or even putting a soccer ball on the outside of the mitten. What is the easiest way to do this? Would I do it after the mittens are finished? Or would I work the design or lettering in as I knit? Thanks for any help you can provide!

[khaosx5]

Why not try to work in their numbers? Might be easier...you could either knit them in or do them in duplicate stitch later.