The instructions in this booklet are very different from the single appliqué instructions of the
manufacturer of the patterns. So read them carefully before you begin. We think you'll find
this version 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) 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.

3) Some of the dark colors are impossible to see through to trace your pattern with out 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 on
to the tissue.

4) 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.

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.

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 your
not too high, low, left or right. You need enough room above, below and on both sides for the rest
of your design.

3) After you've decided which piece you'll start with, pin the pattern piece in place.

4) Baste stitch around the perimeter of your drawn pattern piece. Then trim away the excess material
from the outside of the pattern piece. Do not cut right up to the baste stitch. Leave a little space for
your zig-zag stitch to grab onto.

5) Remove pins and flip the flag over. Carefully trim away flag back to expose colors on the other side.
Be very careful not to get too close to your straight stitch. You want to leave a small overhang so your
zig-zag stitch has something to hold onto.

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

Note on Satin or Zig Zag Stitching:

Remember that your flag will be viewed from a distance, and not from 10" away. We and all of our pattern designers recommend using black Satin Stitching and not colored thread. Black outlining makes a big difference when viewing a flag from 50' to 100' away. We have seen many flags with the appliqué pieces outlined in the color of the piece and noticed that some pieces were undistinguishable from a distance. the choice is up to you. Our choice is black.

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. Also if you have an appliqué foot, attach that to your machine. If you have never used an appliqué foot before, try one. It allows room for the satin stitching to move through without catching or bunching, especially when turning on smaller radius, and also reduces puckering. Life is too short to put up with "puckers".

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. Always use two pieces of fabric
for practice to be able to adjust tension correctly.

3) Appliqué your flag on the side that was cut away. This way you'll be able to see that your are not missing any of the flag back. Use the stitching to go around every piece of the pattern as well as 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.

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! ) Another way to help the flag stay straight is to sew drapery weights into the bottom hem.

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!!