TM 10-8400-201-23
5-6.
REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF UNIFORMS - Continued
Table 5-1. Stitching Instructions
THREAD
STITCHES PER INCH
LOCATION
STITCH STYLE
NEEDLE
BOBBIN
SHIRT
TROUSERS
General
301
50/3
50/3
10-14
12-16
General
401
50/3
50/3
10-14
12-16
Overedge
502
50/3
50/3
6-10
504
*Bartacks
Bartacks
50/3
50/3
28 Per bartack
*Buttonholes
Buttonholes
50/3
50/3
44-46 per buttonhole
*Buttons
101 or 301
50/3
-------
20-24 per buttonhole
*Eyelets
Eyelet machine
50/3
50/3
1924 per eyelet
* May be repaired by hand using double ply of 50/3 thread.
(4) Patching and darning. Patching and darning may be applied to any areas of the two items. Repair small
tears not more than ½ inch (1.27 cm) across with a darning or zigzag stitch. Patch holes having a diameter
of ¼ Inch (0.635 cm) or more. Repair rips, tears, and thin areas greater than ½ inch (1.27 cm) by patching.
Patches shall be limited to a maximum of 2 inches (5.08 cm) in the greatest dimension. Patches shall match
the garment in color and type of material. Insert patch under the damaged area; cut away damaged area
and turn edges under approximately 3/8-inch (0.955 cm) turn-under of all edges except selvage edges. Pre-
cut all patches to provide for symmetry. Materials shall be those specified in section III.
(5) Buttons. Replace buttons that are missing, broken or damaged. Buttons are the 30 line, style 26 and should
work freely and fit properly in the buttonholes.
(6) Buttonholes. Repair buttonholes by reshaping enlarged buttonholes before reworking them and then pulling
them into shape by hand or machine whipping a small reinforcement patch to the underside of the garment.
Rework the buttonhole through the reinforcement patch.
(7) Pockets. Darn or patch corners that are damaged. Attach new pockets of matching shade by machine and
in the same manner as those removed. Remove trouser pockets that are badly damaged and replace with
new pockets fabricated from material specified in section III. Alternate method of pocket repair is to cut off
damaged end of the pocket. Replace that portion of the pocket with one having the same length and made
from new material.
(8) Hems. Bottom of frayed trouser legs will be neatly trimmed, turned under, and stitched in place.
(9) Belt Loops. Replace missing, broken, or torn belt loops with new loops fabricated of basic material specified
in section III.
5-5
