The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-22
HOW TO MAKE A FLAG.
Bunting is the Material Or
dinarily Uscd--Measurcments.

The ordinary material selected for a
flag is wool bunting. There is a differ
ence in the quality, but the heaviest Is
the most durable, particularly IL there
Is to be much exposure to the weather.
Wool bunting is eighteen inches wide,
and the average price Is twenty-five
cents per yard. 1t is sometimes to be
had cheaper, but quite as often dearer
in these days. For war-times have oc-
casioned a lavish display OF our ma
tional emblem, and this has made
bunting, as well as flags, ''go up"
1t is better TO decide the exact d.
mensions OF the flag before the mater
ials are purchased, and in this way
avoid too much piecing of the stripes
of "Old Glory" and also too much
waste in cutting the material. AS the
bunting is so narrow, II of course cuts
some width stripes to better advant-
age than others. 1t is therefore well ID
plan your flag according to the width
of your bunting, IL you can do so. A
flag OF ten or one of fifteen feet will cut
economically. In the first case, three
OF the stripes can be cut from each
width OF bunting; i'm the second, ex-
actly two. In the blue, also. this size
is convenient.
The standard measurements or an
American flag, as given by the army
and navy code, are as follows:
1.-The depth or hoist of the flag must
be -nineteenths of the length. The
thirteen stripes are of equal width and
the union is four-tenths of the length
of the field In length and seven stripes
in width
In trying to calculate on these pro-
portions, the fractions and inches grow
horribly formidable. Certain sizes, how
ever, are easier to make than others,
partly because there are not so many
parts of inches to consider. and parity
because they cut better from the bunt-
ing The ten feet long or fifteen feet
long flags aforesaid, are good sizes for
the amateur to make. for these reasons.
Flag ten feet long: In this size each
stripe (seven red and six white) Is five
inches wide. This makes the whole
width five feet five inches. The union
is four feet long. and seven stripes OF
thirty-five inches wide.
A flag of fifteen feet in length must
have each stripe seven and hall
inches wide, which makes the whole
width eight feet one and a half inches
The union Is six feet long by seven
stripes or fifty-two and half inches
wide.
For a flag ten feet long, three yards
of blue bunting, seven of red, and six
OF white VIII De ample. One nIteen Ieet
long will take seven yards OF blue
fourteen OF white, and fifteen OF red
bunting.
Selvages may be left on the outside
edges OF the flag. but on each side OF
each stripe and on three sides OF the
blue union seams must be allowed OF
one-half to three -fourths of an inch
All seams must be fiat fells, evenly
sewed Two inches are allowed on The
outer ends OF the stripes for broad
flat hem Sew all seams with silk. Al
is stronger and wears better.
The stars are cut from linen or Q
soft finished muslin. Ninety are need.
ed, as they are put on both sides of the
union--forty- five on each side. and eacf
row sewn exactly over that on the op
| poslte side. A perfect five-pointed stal
| is necessary. Make a pattern first, ,ant
| cut the muslin slightly larger to allow
l for turning. Sew them on by hand, Land
| allow the sewing to run across from
| point to point Of the star, making |
| fiat In the centre.
| A wide strong binding of canvas Il
| sewn on the inner edge. This has eye
| let's fastened on II to allow the inser
tion of the flag halyard.-Harper'
l Bazar.