TM 10-8400-201-23
(2)
Cleaning. Items shall be processed in laundry facilities in accordance with Formula I, FM 10-
280, or Formula E, FM 10-17. When such facilities are not available, items shall be laundered by
contract with private industry but strictly in accordance with one of the above listed formulas.
(3)
Repair.
WARNING
Make all repairs to aircrew clothing with MIL-T-44100 or A-A-50195 thread. Use of non-
aramid thread type may cause hot spots and severe Injury In case of fire.
(a)
Rips and tears. Repair rips and tears of 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) or less by darning in greatest
dimension. Patch rips, tears, and holes exceeding 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) with a single patch of
aramid cloth specified in Section III.
(b)
Stitching and restitching. Repair all stitches, seams and stitching on the aircrew clothing
using stitching for various applications listed in Table 22-1. Seam allowances will be
maintained with seams sewn so that no raw edges, runoffs, twists, pleats, puckers, or open
seams occur. Overedge stitching will be 3/16 to 1/4 inch (0.48 to 0.63 cm) gauge.
(c)
Repair of type 301 stitching. Ends of all stitching, shall be backstitched or overstitched not
less than 1 inch (2.54 cm) except where ends are turned under in a hem or held down by
other seams or stitching. Ends of a continuous line of stitching shall overlap not less than
1/2 inch (1.27 cm). Thread tensions shall be not less than 1/2 inch (1.27 cm). Thread
tensions shall be maintained so that there will be no loose stitching resulting in puckering of
materials sewn. The lock shall be embedded in the materials sewn. When thread breaks,
skipped stitches, run-offs, or bobbin runouts occur during stitching, the stitching shall be
repaired by restarting the stitching a minimum of 1 inch (2.54 cm) in back of the interrupted
stitching. Except for prestitching, thread breaks of two or more consecutive skipped or run-
off stitches noted during inspection of the item shall be repaired by overstitching. The
stitching shall start a minimum of 1 inch (2.54 cm) in back of defective area, continue over
the defective area onto the existing stitching. Loose or excessively tight stitching shall be
repaired by removing defective stitching without damaging the materials, and restitching in
the required manner. When making above repairs, ends of stitching need not be
backstitched.
Table 22-1. Stitching
ITEM REF
SEWING
STITCH
THREAD
STITCHES
PARA -
OPERATION
TYPE
NEEDLE AND BOBBIN
PER INCH
6
General
301
60 TEX
10-12
6
General
401
60 TEX
10-12
6
Overedge Stitching
502
60 TEX
6-10
6
Overedge Stitching
503
60 TEX
6-10
6
Overedge Stitching
504
60 TEX
6-10
6
Safety Stitch
515
60 TEX
10-12
6
Safety Stitch
516
60 TEX
10-12
6
Safety Stitch
519
60 TEX
10-12
6
Bartacking
60 TEX
28 per bartack
6
Buttonholes
60 TEX
44-46 per buttonhole
6
Buttons
101 or 301
60 TEX
20-24 per button
* May be repaired by hand using double ply of E thread.
Change 4
22-7
