sewing stick numbers on...

[MM5AHO]

I have a set of dodgers and the letters applied (boat name) were the sticky type.
Now after some heavy use, the edges of the letters are starting to peel off, but its not a write off. They're all still there, and only peeling at the edges yet. Another season and they'd be off.

I thought to sew around the edges of the letters to make them more permanent.
But my 1st mate says that the glue between canvas and letter material will cause the needle to stick and get gummed up and that will make it difficult for the needle to penetrate after a while.
This makes sense, but I wonder is there a way to do this? I'll be using a domestic sewing machine, probably a zigzag stitch.

 

[ip485]

I would think it fine.

I use a Sailrite and often sew on sticky backed items such as Velcro and sticky tape to join fabrics.

There will be some sticky residue on the needle but it wipes off easily enough and i doubt significantly blunts the needle.

 

[lw395]

I don't have a problem stitching on spinnaker tape which has adhesive already in place.
I'd keep an eye on it and maybe stitch through some clean cotton to clean the needle between numbers?

 

[Martin_J]

You shouldn't have too much trouble. At least you've had the dodgers on for a season now... The hardest part is rolling the spare fabric up so you can get it under the machine.. When new the fabric would have been so much stiffer.

If you've got white letters on blue dodgers then how about using white thread on the letter side and blue thread on the dodger side so the stitching looks a little less obvious.

I've never used zig-zag around letters - Straight seems to work okay.

When you get to a corner - Did you realise that if the needle isn't going to pierce the letter in the right place then a small press of the reversing lever as the needle goes down, and you'll be able to reduce the last stitch length to get the needle to pierce the letter precisely at the corner.

 

[MM5AHO]

Good advice there, thanks all.
2 colours of thread a good idea.
Now I remember that I did once stitch spinnaker tape when I managed to split my lightweight spinnaker across the middle, and it didn't stick too badly.
Straight stitch probably better than ZZ, yes.