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General Upholstery Questions and Comments => General Discussion => Topic started by: jojo on December 02, 2010, 08:46:12 am

Title: Has anyone ever repaired a flag?
Post by: jojo on December 02, 2010, 08:46:12 am
What kind of thread should be used? Will my Singer 111w155 eat the nylon fabric, or should I used a home sewing machine for this? The edge of the flag is really tattered and deteriorated...should I use a narrow hem? Thanks in advance,
Jo
Title: Re: Has anyone ever repaired a flag?
Post by: Mike8560 on December 02, 2010, 11:22:48 am
ihave but it didnt work well  the 111w is probly to heavy
Title: Re: Has anyone ever repaired a flag?
Post by: sofadoc on December 02, 2010, 03:21:59 pm
I repair them all the time for my local Chick-Fil-A restaurant. I use 92 polyester thread. I set a VERY tight stitch length. I fold the end back 2-3 times. My hem is pretty narrow.
The restaurant is so pleased with the results, that they bring me new ones to hem before they ever run 'em up the pole (preventive maintainance).
I use a Juki LU 1508, very similar in size to a 111W.
Be sure to lock your stitches really well, and you might have to fold the corner diagonally, and hem/lock. Don't be afraid if it's a little ugly. You can't see it from the ground.
A local bank has brought me the same flag in for repair so many times, that the field of blue stars now spans half of the flag.
Title: Re: Has anyone ever repaired a flag?
Post by: Mike8560 on December 02, 2010, 04:37:23 pm
i have to say doc mine were very thin and the dyed or    printed flags not the each color sewn kind .i got puckering and it wasnt pretty hoding   it ,, as you said at the top of the flagpole it was fine .
Title: Re: Has anyone ever repaired a flag?
Post by: 206RB on December 02, 2010, 05:24:21 pm
Quote from: sofadoc on December 02, 2010, 03:21:59 pm

I use a Juki LU 1508, very similar in size to a 111W

Hey, I have the same machine! Another U bobbin person! But I use M bobbins, bet you do too?
Title: Re: Has anyone ever repaired a flag?
Post by: stitcher_guy on December 02, 2010, 06:04:50 pm
I've repaired the flags and blowup displays for one of our local car dealers for years. They've gone through about four flags. Where the building sits is like a wind tunnel and they get tattered quickly. I will fold a single layer hem about two inches thick (just a small amount folded under the edge so it doesn't unravel) then run four or five lines of stitching along the hem. If you consider, folding several times with a narrow hem makes it heavy. Imagine putting a lead shot weight on the end of a fishing line. You can make it whip back and forth pretty good with the heavy weight concentrated out at the end. If you spread the hemline out a bit, it spreads the load and hopefully less damage in the wind.

Usually they wait until there is major damage to pull the flag down. THis means I will run into tears running up between the colors. I try my best to resew these so I don't have to radically shorten the stripes field. The one that is waiting to be picked up right how has one rounded corner due to the area of damage I had to work around.
Title: Re: Has anyone ever repaired a flag?
Post by: sofadoc on December 02, 2010, 06:24:37 pm
Quote from: 206RB on December 02, 2010, 05:24:21 pm
Quote from: sofadoc on December 02, 2010, 03:21:59 pm

I use a Juki LU 1508, very similar in size to a 111W

Hey, I have the same machine! Another U bobbin person! But I use M bobbins, bet you do too?

I don't think I've ever even seen a U bobbin. I bought a 100 metal M's off E-Bay.
And I'm still trying to use up all of my G pre-wounds.
Stitcher: I'll have to try your method next time. The reason that I do a thick narrow hem is so it will hold the 92 thread better. But you're right about the extra weight flapping harder.
Title: Re: Has anyone ever repaired a flag?
Post by: 206RB on December 02, 2010, 06:27:43 pm
I would use U bobbins, but can't find a source.
Title: Re: Has anyone ever repaired a flag?
Post by: Mike8560 on December 02, 2010, 07:03:35 pm
my luki takes u also but they are hard to come byi use alllot of m in it ewhen i have them theres alway g i buy g for my singer