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Flag for Beach?

Fledge | Posted in General Discussion on

Greetings,

Coming from Cooks Talk and I have a question.

I am going to attempt to sew a flag for my mother as a gift for our vaction.  The flag I am interested in making is referred to as a windfeather type. It will be staked in the sand to mark our house spot at the beach and the pole part I have not fiqured out yet.

Is anyone familiar with this type of flag and do you have any suggestions as to thread type and fabric?

Hello to some familiar names I see here.

Curstey,
Fledge

 

Replies

  1. kai230 | | #1

    Hiya FF! The windfeathers.com site says it uses "DURABLE NYLON WITH UV INHIBITORS" for theirs. I wonder if you can sew it w/fishing line or something like that? Clearly, I have no idea, but they look very attractive!

    1. Fledge | | #2

      hiya cute kai!

      I went to their site, read alot, but, really now, do you think those sewing ladies at (insert name of popular store) know what that means? lol...I swear, sometimes I think I know more than these ladies do. I was thinking I needed a common term when asking, like parachute, kite, or flag, material.

      Thanks for the tip though...someone mentioned quilting thread for use.  I figured somebody here may have made a flag.

      Fledge

      1. kai230 | | #3

        FF, I think the operative words for the fabric you seek is weatherproof (waterproof/resistant?) and lightweight, but I've never made one. My GF used to make banners of sorts but used cotton, and they were heavily appliqued, meant for stability rather than waving.

        1. Jean | | #4

          Hi Birdie, I googled around.  Those things are expensive!

          Nylon fabric and nylon thread would be the way to go, I would think. Kite material? Sounds like a project. What design did you have in mind?  A sea gull?

          How's Moses?

          1. Tish | | #5

            Full-Fledged, Jean's right about nylon.  In general, that will be the best combination of weather resistence and color retention, plus, you can get nylons fabrics in many weights fairly easily.  Some other buzz-words that might be helpful:

            "Sunbrella" That's the proprietary name for a UV resistant acrylic.  I know that it is used to make high-end patio umbrellas, and I do not know if it is available in bright colors or light weight fabrics for flags.

            "Olefin" a synthetic used for tents, canopies, etc, that is water, sun, and wind resistant.

            "Rip-stop nylon"  is available in many weights and sizes.  Every quarter inch or so there is a heavier thread in both the warp and weft so that if you have tearing, the tear stops at the heavier thread.  Beach winds are very powerful.  The better beach kites are made of rip-stop.  I don't think that it's a propriety name, but I could be wrong.

            All of the weather at the beach will contribute to wearing the fabric of your flag- the wind, the sand, the water, but especially the sun.  What ever fabric you get, you might want to consider going to REI or Hudson Trail or some other outdoors gear supplier and getting a UV protector that you can spray or brush onto the fabric.  When you've gone to the care and trouble of making something for your folks, it would be worth it to add the extra protection to help it last.

            Good luck wqith your project.  Now I'm feeling guilty because I've been meaning to make a flag for Blossom Hill and I still haven't done it.  I think BeeJay bought one.

          2. Fledge | | #6

            Ah, ladies...kai, Jean and Trish, ooooh, I mean Tish...(snort, snort). :-)

            I will print out your advice for my blue haired ladies at the store.

            Yes, the are expensive....when bought, but hey IGOTMAGINATION.

            I am thinking just letters that say CAMP GRACE. And different blocks of color.

            Sorry I been busy with family stuff or would  have replied sooner.

            Meaux-zez says: "Go on my perch?"

            Poopers,Fledge

            (bird is talking)

          3. kai230 | | #7

            Hmmm, could you do a wax resist to spell out Camp Grace? (Nice name, BTW!) Hoped-for longevity/reusability and weather conditions might also come into play.

            Best wishes to you, family, Grandmere.

          4. Fledge | | #8

            Yeah thanks.  Grandmere will not be there this year...she still living though.

          5. sanderson | | #9

            Hey there...you might want to explore fabric paint that is outdoorable.  I've made a couple of those yard flag things and although beautiful, quite the pain.  Nylon is the best fabric ...especially the stuff for kites or light ripstop material...there are hot knives for cutting/searing but I was doing it with scissors and a candle and the fumes were intense.  Also, itty-bitty neatnick seams were tricky but necessary as I was making those mosaic, almost seminole quilting style flags.  As for poles etc. I'd suggest 1"pvc pipe and heavy duty fishing lure swivels with steel leader cable. If your flag is conical you can weight the tip to make the post bend a bit and be more wind available.

  2. Susannah | | #10

    Hi

    A visit to my son's soccer game at the weekend inspired me to add to this thread.

    During last year, my son's soccer coach (who was also a senior referee, as well as holding a senior position in the organising body for soccer in our state) pointed out that the club did not have a full set of flags for our corner posts.  In a thick Yorkshire accent he asked me if I happened to be interested in sewing.  "Yes, Jim, why do you ask?"  Silly question.  Would I be able to make a new set of flags, similar dimensions to the one that Jim just happened to have with him?  He was such an old flirt, I could hardly refuse!!  The flags are triangular, with a sleeve on the side to fit over the top of the posts.  I selected ripstop nylon (I thought it would stand up to the weather for what is, after all, a winter sport).  The diagonal sides on the first attemp rippled when I hemmed them, so I ended up making them double sided (blue on one side, red on the other, the club colours).  Jim was delighted.  "and would you be able to run up another set for the other ground, just for when we have two games on at once?"    Some weeks later, one of the flags got lost - three flags are not much use, so I said I thought I had some spare ripstop, to make another one (actually I had used it all, and had to buy some extra).

    Unfortunatly Jim had a heart attack at the end of last season, and was not with us to celebrate at the end of season celebrations.  The boys (mainly 16 and 17 year olds) were quite devastated.   He is still remembered by many in the club, and by me not least of all, especially when I see "Jim's" red and blue corner flags, not much dimmed by nearly 18 months of display at matches, still fluttering in the breeze as someone takes a corner kick.

    A bit of a digression, but to sum it up, ripstop nylon is a very hardy fabric, stands up to the weather well, and it takes a lot of sun and rain to even start to dim the brightness.   Sewing really adds another dimension to life.

    regards from Tasmania

    Sue

    1. Fledge | | #11

      Dear SueM and Sanderson,

      Thank you very much and your advice has been helpful.  Fishing equipment trick....good, good, I know tackle.

      If I ever get this thing done, I will post a pic.

      Thanks again,Fledge

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