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DOUBLE APPLIQUÉ 
Flag Making......the method we recommend !

Double Appliqué, Single Appliqué, What's the Difference ?

Most decorative flags you see are " single appliqué", which means you sew a pattern piece,
such as an apple, directly to the flag back and then "cut away" the flag back behind the
apple. This gives a stained glass effect.

Double is when you use two identical pieces for the apple and put one on one side and
one on the other side, with the flag back in the middle like a  ham sandwich. You then
sew all three pieces at the same time, without cutting the back away. It is not any
harder, in fact easier once you have used the technique. This method gives the
finished flag more body, stability and allows for more creative techniques. We teach
double appliqué, however you use the method you choose.

WARNING:   Put down your scissors until you've read the instructions completely!

Things to have on hand:

1) Black 100% Polyester thread - Long Fiber Polyester ( Swiss Metrosene Serger
    Thread or Permacore Tex-40 recommended ). Except for hemming the flag back,
    we recommend BLACK thread for all stitching. It defines your pattern on the flag
    and makes the design really stand out. Remember when you are stitching you are
    viewing from 12" away but you  generally see the flag from 15' to 20' away.

2) Sewing machine needles; size 14(90) seem to work best on the nylon. We have
    found that ball points are not necessary.

3) Pins, pins and more pins. The more pins you use to secure a piece smoothly on the
    flag back the better. It's easier to stitch and makes a better product.

4) Optional - Medium weight Pellon - for light material on a dark background.

5) Optional - Mountain Mist 100% Polyester Quilt-Light Batting - to use for creating
    a 3-D effect on your flag. We call this "poofing!"

6) Optional - Fusible Fleece - can also be used for poofing, when you just want a little.!

7) Erasable fabric pencil, fine point black permanent markers,

8) Fabric eraser, tissue paper.

Before you start - - Press all fabric with medium to hot steam iron to pre-shrink the nylon.
( since iron settings differ, test a small section first ) Press all fabric with medium to hot steam
iron to pre-shrink the nylon.

Flag Back:  Follow the instructions below.

(Note: Since both sides of the flag will be appliquéd, there will not be a true right or wrong
side. However, these instructions will refer to the edges folded under and stitched down
as the wrong side.)

1) Fold both long edges and one short edge of background fabric under 1/4" to 1/2" and press.
Fold under 1/4" to 1/2" again and press. Machine zig-zag or long satin stitch close to inner edges.
Usually polyester thread the color of the flag back looks best.

2) For the flag pole casing, fold remaining short edge under 1/4" to 1/2" and press. Fold
under again 3" and press; unfold fabric. To keep flag from siding on flagpole, use the leather
tab included.  Place the leather tab on the 3" fold and machine straight stitch around outside
edges of the inside half of the leather tab. To reinforce the tab, machine straight stitch an
X on the tab.

3)Refold fabric and machine zig-zag stitch 3" from top edge, to form the casing. ( For garden
flags, tab isn't needed and casing should be 2" to fit on garden stand. If you are using a
dowel to hang the flag, make casing smaller to fit. )

NOW YOUR PATTERN

DO NOT CUT YOUR PATTERN!!!! The pattern will serve as a template to place the various
pieces onto the flag back.  We think you'll find this easy and fun.

1) Examine your flag pattern and look for separate pattern pieces that can be on ONE piece
    of material. i.e. two white flowers next to each other are one piece of white material.

2) For each pattern piece you need two pieces of material.

3) Most of the flag material is transparent enough to see through. Place your flag material
    on the pattern piece that corresponds by color, and trace the pattern piece right onto the
    material. Trace only the lines that are part of that color pattern piece. Make sure the
    fabric extends at least 1/2 in more than your drawing.

4) Don't forget you need two pieces of material for each pattern piece, so plan accordingly
    BEFORE YOU MARK ANY MATERIAL! You only mark or draw on one side of one piece
    of the material. 

5) Some of the dark colors are impossible to see through to trace your pattern without the
    help of a light box or table (makeshift or otherwise). For these colors you need to use
    a piece of tissue. Place the tissue on your flag pattern and trace off the outline and the
    appliqué lines onto the tissue.

6) Place the tissue onto the dark piece of flag material and use a contrasting indelible
    marking pen. Go over the lines you've already drawn, slowly to allow the ink to
    bleed through the tissue and mark the material. Don't forget, two pieces of this,
    one for each side of your flag, one marked and one blank.

7) After all of your pattern pieces are drawn, move onto placing them onto your flag.

PLACING YOUR PATTERN PIECES ON THE FLAG

(Use black thread for the sewing from here on)

1) Cut apart your traced pattern pieces. You don't need to cut them on the lines
   at this point. Just rough cut around the perimeter of the design. Try to keep the
   blank piece of material as large as possible.

2) To place your pattern pieces on your blank flag, start with the piece that appears on
    the bottom of the design. You may use your tissue pattern as a template to place the
    pieces exactly as they appear on your flag picture, or you can eyeball it. When placing
    your pattern pieces make sure you're not too high, low, left or right. You need enough
    room above, below and on both sides for the rest of your design.

3)Place the blank piece of the color you're working with underneath the flag back. Before
   pinning all the layers together, make sure the bottom piece of material is placed so that
   when you sew the pieces, together you don't miss the material.

(If you are using poof or Pellon that material must be part of the sandwich at this point.)

4) Pin all your layers together.

5) Straight stitch around the perimeter of your drawn pattern piece.

6) Now trim away the excess material from the piece on the front and back, and VOILA!
    Perfectly lined up.  (appliqué scissors are terrific for this ! )

7) Keep building your flag in this fashion, until all of your pattern pieces are stitched to
    your flag.

NOW YOU'RE HALF WAY THERE!

APPLIQUÉING YOUR FLAG

Now that all your pieces are placed and machine stitched onto your flag, you're ready to
appliqué.

1) Before starting, we suggest you trim any fly away threads. Change your machine stitch
    to a zig-zag stitch, as wide as possible and very short. Now install your appliqué foot..

2) To begin, we suggest you start with a long straight piece to get the feel of the zig-zag
    appliquéing. You may like to practice on some scrap, so you get the look you like.
    Position presser foot so that most of the satin stitch will be on the appliqué piece.
    Take a peek at the other side of your flag to make sure you're not missing the edge
    of the appliqué on that side. If you do, never fear, you can zig-zag stitch that side too!

3) Use the zig-zag stitch to go around every piece of the pattern.

4) Use the zig-zag stitch to do all of the top stitching on the designs. You may want to
    change the stitch width a bit, or narrow your stitch to a point, depending on the look
    you want.

5) Last but not least, sign your flag!! Remember, this is your art work. You have put a lot
    of your time into it. Be proud of it!!  Choose any spot on the flag and use an indelible
    marker. Your signature may also help identify your flag if it ever happens to have the
    misfortune of leaving your house with someone other than you! We warn you of this
    from experience!

NOW TO HANG YOUR BEAUTIFUL FLAG!!!

Of course you will want to hang your flag as soon as possible. It is best to hang your flag
on a pole that has a plastic sleeve on it. Some forces of Mother Nature such as wind will
cause your flag to do flips, often leaving it half-flipped! You will then have to constantly
be un-flipping it. ( A yard stick or long pole by the door helps! ) But if you use a pole with
a sleeve on it, the flag will generally un-flip itself.  ( At least nine out of ten times! )

We even suggest a sleeve flag pole for your American flag. You can purchase a piece of
white material, make a sleeve for your American flag, and presto! You don't have to flip
that one anymore either!!

Another alternative are our flagpoles. They have a "unwrapper" sleeve, with a nylon stud
or string to hold your leather tabs on.  No more strings, rings or clips.

Send mail to Scotty    Phone:  800-828-7798
Copyright © 1998-2008,KarLin of Quakertown, All rights reserved.
Last modified: June 11, 2008