TM 10-8400-201-23
4-6. REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF UNIFORMS-Continued
(b) Patching and darning Repair small rips and tears not exceeding 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) across their greatest
diameter by drawing the edges together and darning with a zigzag stitch. Repair holes, rips, and tears
exceeding 1/2 Inch (1.27 cm) by patching them when acceptable to appearance standards. Cut the patch from
appropriate material (sec Ill) to match the section being repaired and insert it under the damaged area. Cut
the patch large enough to extend not less than 1/4 Inch (0.635 cm) and no more than 3/8 inch (0.953 cm)
around the perimeter of the opening. Either darn or patch the areas in waist bands, fly linings, watch pocket,
side pockets, and hip pockets, or other areas where the repair work will not show when the item Is worn.
(c) Buttons. Replace missing, broken, or damaged buttons to match the originals (sec. III). Machine stitching for
buttons is preferred, however, hand sewing may be used. Sew buttons on waistbands to align with buttonholes
for a smooth and complete closure.
Table 4-1. Stitching Instructions
STITCH
THREAD
STITCHES
LOCATION
TYPE
NEEDLE
BOBBIN
PER INCH
General
301
IA-50/3
IA-50/3
10-16
Overedge
503 or 504
IA-70/2
IA-70/2
6-8
Buttonholes
IA-30/3
IA-50/3
46-52 (ea)
Bartack
IA-50/3
IA-50/3
21 (ea)
Bartack
IA-30/3
IA-30/3
28 (ea)
Bartack
301
IA or IB-20/4
IA or IB-20/4
15 (ea)
(d) Pockets. Darn or patch damaged corners of pockets by machine or remove badly damaged pockets and
replace with new ones. Fabricate pockets from materials specified in section III and to the design of the
original.
(e) Buttonholes. Reshape enlarged buttonholes by securely tacking the ends for proper fit over corresponding
buttons. Rework damaged buttonholes by stitching a small reinforcement patch to the under side of the
garment and reworking through the patch. Buttonholes shall be of the eyelet-end taper bar type worked over
gimp (sec III).
(f) Hems. Turn under frayed bottom hems and stitch in place. Perform this operation in such a manner as to
prevent areas of sharp color contrast or other adverse effect to the general appearance.
4-8
