Reinforced Handhold
Reinforced handhold is an option I added at request of some in our flagging community.
This is an option I suggest for flaggers who like to flag forcefully or quickly.
It doubles the silk over and around the weight cord. Additional silk remains above the weight cord hand hold area that is sewn down with a zigzag stitch (three layers of silk above the weight).
This reinforcement may or may not extend the life of the flag, and some flaggers may or may not notice a difference in how they fly, as opposed to the standard weighting.
All that said, I do feel that the reinforced weighting adds a certain sturdiness to the flags, and I do recommend the reinforced weighting option.
Standard Weighting
This is the standard old school weighting where the silk is rolled over the weight cord without a hem above the weight line. I prefer this option on my flags, as tearing above the weight line has never been a big issue for me. If you have experienced issues with tearing along the handhold area I suggest flagging more gently and less forcefully, and/or trying the reinforced weighting.
A Note On Size
Small flags are recommended for people of small stature or for use in crowded venues. Medium sized flags are considered the standard size for most people. Large flags are huge (55 inches long by 45 inches wide) and recommended for large spaces.
Most painted flag designs are originally drawn and sized as medium or large designs. Small flags will have that original image "cropped" onto the silk. The size of the elements of the design impacts how well they show when the flags are in flight. These elements will not be downsized to fit the entirety of the original design onto the smaller area of the small sized silk. That said, the smalls look great in flight too.
Life is a dance – Flag On!!