•  Machines: 301 straight stitch—medium duty 7–11 SPI  and 308 zigzag—medium duty 7–11 SPI •  Equipment: Scissors, seam ripper or scalpel, marking  pencil, 6-inch ruler, hot knife, hot glue gun, butane  lighter, ripstop tape (optional), and straight pins 1.  Remove all extraneous parts from the container,  including canopies, handles, toggles, etc. 2.  Inspect the damaged area to determine which repair  method is appropriate. Procedure Disassembly Reassembly Restitching Besides holding the canopy, the container’s main function  is to protect the canopy from damage. To that end, a certain  amount of wear and damage is to be expected. The most  common repairs involve re-stitching broken threads and  binding tape repairs. Other damage involves tears, punctures,  and fabric abrasion. The appropriate repair varies according  to need. There are five primary repair procedures to basic  panel repairs: re-stitching, binding tape repair, hidden  patches, overlay patches, and single-side fabric patches. 1.  Using the same type and color of thread, sew directly  over the original stitching. The amount of overstitch  may vary according to location. If the affected area  is completely exposed and accessible, overstitch the  ends of the damaged area a minimum of 1.25 inches.  If this is not possible, then backstitch a minimum of  3 stitches to lock the ends. Repair complete. 1.  Many times the binding tape is worn through  due to bridle abrasion or other wear patterns.  [Figure A]  Rather than remove the panel and rebind  it, a practical and cost effective repair is to overlay a  section of new binding over the damaged area. 2.  Cut a piece of binding tape a minimum of 1 inch longer  than the damaged area. Scissor cut the tape and then  lightly sear with the butane lighter.  [Figure B]  If the  tape is cut with a hot knife and then folded, the cut  edge cracks at the hot-knifed end. Searing with the  lighter results in a more flexible end. Fold the tape  in half lengthwise to form a crease. Take a marking  pencil and mark the crease.  [Figure C] 4.  Overstitch the original tape on the inside row up to the  point where the new tape is to start. Leave the needle  in the material. Place the folded tape over the damaged  area and hold tightly in place. Make sure that the edge  is pushed up against the original and the end is against  the needle.  [Figure E]  The next stitch should catch  the new tape. 3.  Overlay the new tape over the damaged area and mark  the start of where the new tape begins and covers the  damaged area completely.  [Figure D] Binding Tape Repair or Splice 7-39