My first DIY Tarp!!

cmc

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Feb 19, 2013
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Arizona
Curious if you applied any cat cut pattern to your design?

Also what was your technique in sewing the two panels together. It looks like a felled seam. I struggled with mine greatly. Did you use any basting tape or pins in the process.

Sent from the boonies
 
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ckossuth

ckossuth

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Rolla, Missouri
Curious if you applied any cat cut pattern to your design?

Also what was your technique in sewing the two panels together. It looks like a felled seam. I struggled with mine greatly. Did you use any basting tape or pins in the process.

cmc,

There are no cat cuts on this tarp. They're all straight. It is a flat felled seam. I did not use any tape or pins. I just took my time and worked through it slowly. The toughest part is getting the seam started.
 

cmc

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Feb 19, 2013
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Location
Arizona
What's your sewing machine setup? Are you using a walking foot? After a lot of reading on MYOG ultra light packing site they recommend one. I'm planning on getting one as it's not that expensive of an investment if it doesn't help.

Im using a singer 4411. I got it because I had some big projects in canvas and sumbrella material.

Sent from the boonies
 

WoodBow

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Jul 21, 2015
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A walking foot machine will help alot with keeping the top and bottom fabric lined up. With slippery fabrics the feed dogs will advance the botttom material faster than the top bc the friction between the two pieces is low enough to allow that to happen on a non walking foot machine. My industrial singer is a walking foot and needle. None of my lighter duty machines are. I used double sided tape for the seams on my tipi. It worked like a dream.
 
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ckossuth

ckossuth

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What's your sewing machine setup? Are you using a walking foot? After a lot of reading on MYOG ultra light packing site they recommend one. I'm planning on getting one as it's not that expensive of an investment if it doesn't help.

I have no experience with a walking foot. I have a heavy duty Kennmore that took a crap on me right before I started the tarp so I used my $70 Brother from Walmart. It did phenomenal with the tarp given its lightweight material. I was aware the top piece of silnylon would end up being longer if I just ran it through. On the first stitch for the flat felled seam (which is where you'll get the most stretch) I kept pressure on the bottom layer, pulling it toward me, as I ran it through the machine. This kept it from getting too far ahead of the top layer. Over a 10'4" run I only had about a 1/8" difference in material length at the end.
 

cmc

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Feb 19, 2013
Messages
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Location
Arizona
It took me a bit to get the tension right to get a decent seam. I was darn near the same on my 10ft center seam when I got to the end. But I felt like I needed a shot of whiskey at the end. I was tensed up it was going to be crap and I'd have to start it all over.

I went with 1.6 ripstop with sil coating one side and poly the other. I still need to finish the tie out points.

Sent from the boonies
 
Joined
May 18, 2014
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What did you use to "attach" the guy out points? The seam sealer?

I couldn't tell if you used something else.


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ckossuth

ckossuth

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What did you use to "attach" the guy out points? The seam sealer?

I couldn't tell if you used something else.

All of the guy out points are double bar tacked through the paracord, silnylon, and the Kryptek 500 D cordura reinforcement panels. I sewed the perimeter reinforcements on before I did the double rolled hem. I held them in about 1". The I double rolled the perimeter hem over them and sewed it thorough the cordura. I hope that answered your question.
 
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Never mind, found a video.

What's the diameter of your reinforcement points on your ridge line? (The full circles)
 
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lam396

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Dec 4, 2014
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This looks great! I'm planning a tarp build and currently looking at the kits that ripstopbytheroll sell. Seems to be a great value.
 
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