dukesilver
FNG
For my first MYOG project, I decided to make a clone of a Seek Outside DST Tarp. I purchased materials from Dutchware Gear.
Xenon Sil 1.1 $6.00/yard x 7 yards = $42
300D pack material $4.00 x ½ yard x = $4
5/8” Grosgrain $0.25/yard x 6 yards = $1.50
Gutermann Tera 80 thread $3.40 x 1 = $3.40
Permatex flowable silicone $6.50 x 1 = $6.50
Shipping =$10.90
All in all, it came out to $68.30 for all of the materials. Overall, for a first sewing project, this was doable. Essentially, it is just sewing 2 pieces of silpoly or silnylon together with a flat felled seam and adding the tieout loops. Then finishing the edge with a rolled hem. Joining the 2 pieces of Xenon together was tricky as it is super thin and slippery. This took took a couple of tries to get right. If you’re just starting out, I would recommend making something smaller first like some stuff sacks. A little bit of sewing practice at first would have eliminated a lot of the headaches I ran into on this project. After seam sealing the tarp came out to 13.6 oz.
I got to try this out in the Mark Twain National Forest back in February and it actually worked great. Got some pretty decent rain and wind overnight and the tarp held up well and I stayed dry. I really like the Xenon (silpoly). It has no stretch and doesn’t absorb water like silnylon so, your tarp pitch stays nice and tight.
Anyway, just thought I would share to encourage any members out there that are interested in taking a shot at making their own gear. Go for it. I have no experience sewing, so if I can pull this off so can you. Since the tarp turned out so well, I’ve since made a bivy sack too.
Xenon Sil 1.1 $6.00/yard x 7 yards = $42
300D pack material $4.00 x ½ yard x = $4
5/8” Grosgrain $0.25/yard x 6 yards = $1.50
Gutermann Tera 80 thread $3.40 x 1 = $3.40
Permatex flowable silicone $6.50 x 1 = $6.50
Shipping =$10.90
All in all, it came out to $68.30 for all of the materials. Overall, for a first sewing project, this was doable. Essentially, it is just sewing 2 pieces of silpoly or silnylon together with a flat felled seam and adding the tieout loops. Then finishing the edge with a rolled hem. Joining the 2 pieces of Xenon together was tricky as it is super thin and slippery. This took took a couple of tries to get right. If you’re just starting out, I would recommend making something smaller first like some stuff sacks. A little bit of sewing practice at first would have eliminated a lot of the headaches I ran into on this project. After seam sealing the tarp came out to 13.6 oz.
I got to try this out in the Mark Twain National Forest back in February and it actually worked great. Got some pretty decent rain and wind overnight and the tarp held up well and I stayed dry. I really like the Xenon (silpoly). It has no stretch and doesn’t absorb water like silnylon so, your tarp pitch stays nice and tight.
Anyway, just thought I would share to encourage any members out there that are interested in taking a shot at making their own gear. Go for it. I have no experience sewing, so if I can pull this off so can you. Since the tarp turned out so well, I’ve since made a bivy sack too.
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