Pyramid Tent WIP *Pictures Added*
*Edit* I think I finally figured out the Imgur stuff and am adding several photos on page 3 that include some in progress shots and up in the hills.
I finally got started on my pyramid tent and decided I'd take some photos along the way and post it all here. I've gotten a ton of help and good information from this site, so if this somehow helps someone else, I'm happy to do it-especially if it's showing what not to do...
I ordered all of my materials from Ripstop by the Roll and after much reading and research, I decided to go with Silpoly for the tent. I knew I wanted the tent to be big enough to accommodate me and the two kids comfortably, along with a cylinder stove (that I also plan on making). A friend has a GoLite SL-5 and he was kind enough to have me over and set it up so I could check it out. He had a lot of good thoughts from experience using his and I decided I wanted to go with the Silpoly XL 1.1 oz. The wider material would make things a lot easier in regards to getting a larger size with little waste and extra math (I'm not good at math...). I was still deciding on the color when I decided to check out RSBTR's outlet section and saw they had the material I was looking for as "seconds". 100% functioning, but could have some color streaking or otherwise not "perfect" aspect to it. It was green (foliage, I think?) and probably not the first choice I would have gone with, but the price was right, so I ordered a bunch of it. The 1.1 Silpoly XL actually has a higher HH than the standard 1.1 Silpoly, which was also a nice bonus.
I ordered some noseeum netting, a number 8 coil zipper and two double pulls, as well as stove jack material. Also, I ordered two different heavier materials they offer (1/2 yard each) to reinforce the peak on the inside of the tent. I wasn't sure which I wanted to go with, so I got both to see which one might be "better". I'm still not completely sure which I'll use... Along with all of that, I have some nylon webbing, grosgrain, and a bunch of leftovers from the 3 quilt kits and the 1.1 Silpoly tarp I made. As a side note, I'm really glad I did those projects before the tent. I feel a LOT more comfortable with the sewing machine now than the first quilt and practicing the same seam on the tarp as I'd be using to join the panels on the tent certainly helped mentally. Also, I've noticed the 1.1 Silpoly XL feels noticeably different that standard 1.1 Silpoly that I used for the tarp. The standard stuff is "softer" and a bit more slippery. The XL crinkles a bit more when handled and I feel like it's been a bit easier when sewing it vs the standard.
I have the first wall complete(ish), only 3 more to go. I used Sketchup to try and figure out some of my dimensions, which proved helpful. I knew I wanted the center to be tall enough so we weren't stooping over too much and could walk into the tent. I also wanted a decent angle to help shed water/snow. I wasn't sure how much I'd eat away at the width because of my seam allowances, so in the program, I figured 11'4" square foot print and a 7'3" center height. That gave me over a 50 degree wall angle. If I remember right, I think that meant my length (from bottom of the wall, to the peak) should be 9'3". I ended up cutting 4 lengths of the material at 9'6" to get me close to that height after rolling the bottom edge and the seams for the peak shrinking things down. Anyway, on to some pictures.
Here is one of the four panels laid out on the dining room floor:
Then it was time to cut the panels diagonally. It should be noted that while it's subtle, there is a shiny side and more dull side. Keep your diagonal cuts going the same direction and flip two of the panels over so you end up with all triangles with the same finish to the outside, or alternate your cuts accordingly for the same result. I used some homemade sand bags to help hold the light matieral and got some straight edges and channel I found in the garage. Once things were all lined up, I drew a line with a Sharpie and cut.
I marked the dull side on all the panels (I want that side out) and stacked all the triangles up, then marked each 1, 2, 3, 4 so I knew which triangle would go with the other.
I know some folks don't like to use pins when sewing up waterproof materials, but I decided to. I did it for the tarp I made and it worked well for me. I figured the holes I'm making are going to get enveloped in the seam I'm doing, plus I'm going to be seam sealing there anyway. I pinned beginning at the peak and wouldn't you know, at the base, the lengths were a bit off. The extra length I cut the panels at was starting to pay off. Plus, if I had something not quite match up, I didn't want that to be at the peak, so starting the pinning there made sense (at least for me...).
I stitched the edge, removing the pins as I went, locking the stitches on both ends. I did that first seam with the dull sides out, shiny sides in, facing each other. I then flipped the material over, so the shiny sides were out and stitched again (I think that's somehow close to a French seam?) about 5/8"-ish from the now hidden first stitch. After that's complete, you open up the two panels. With the dull side down, there's a flap of material sticking up. Pick a side (left or right) and lay that material down and stitch it down. That completes the seam and the first wall is ready for the next steps.
I plan to have two vents on two of the walls and a stove back near the peak on one wall. I'm struggling to decide where to put the jack-back wall, front one above the zipper...? I don't want to have it someplace where everyone is going to have to dodge a glowing pipe to get by, but if I put it on the back panel, I'm worried a kid's quilt, arm, or whatever else will end up getting burned... I suppose I could plan on always sleeping on the back wall. Thoughts?
Jeremy
*Edit* I think I finally figured out the Imgur stuff and am adding several photos on page 3 that include some in progress shots and up in the hills.
I finally got started on my pyramid tent and decided I'd take some photos along the way and post it all here. I've gotten a ton of help and good information from this site, so if this somehow helps someone else, I'm happy to do it-especially if it's showing what not to do...
I ordered all of my materials from Ripstop by the Roll and after much reading and research, I decided to go with Silpoly for the tent. I knew I wanted the tent to be big enough to accommodate me and the two kids comfortably, along with a cylinder stove (that I also plan on making). A friend has a GoLite SL-5 and he was kind enough to have me over and set it up so I could check it out. He had a lot of good thoughts from experience using his and I decided I wanted to go with the Silpoly XL 1.1 oz. The wider material would make things a lot easier in regards to getting a larger size with little waste and extra math (I'm not good at math...). I was still deciding on the color when I decided to check out RSBTR's outlet section and saw they had the material I was looking for as "seconds". 100% functioning, but could have some color streaking or otherwise not "perfect" aspect to it. It was green (foliage, I think?) and probably not the first choice I would have gone with, but the price was right, so I ordered a bunch of it. The 1.1 Silpoly XL actually has a higher HH than the standard 1.1 Silpoly, which was also a nice bonus.
I ordered some noseeum netting, a number 8 coil zipper and two double pulls, as well as stove jack material. Also, I ordered two different heavier materials they offer (1/2 yard each) to reinforce the peak on the inside of the tent. I wasn't sure which I wanted to go with, so I got both to see which one might be "better". I'm still not completely sure which I'll use... Along with all of that, I have some nylon webbing, grosgrain, and a bunch of leftovers from the 3 quilt kits and the 1.1 Silpoly tarp I made. As a side note, I'm really glad I did those projects before the tent. I feel a LOT more comfortable with the sewing machine now than the first quilt and practicing the same seam on the tarp as I'd be using to join the panels on the tent certainly helped mentally. Also, I've noticed the 1.1 Silpoly XL feels noticeably different that standard 1.1 Silpoly that I used for the tarp. The standard stuff is "softer" and a bit more slippery. The XL crinkles a bit more when handled and I feel like it's been a bit easier when sewing it vs the standard.
I have the first wall complete(ish), only 3 more to go. I used Sketchup to try and figure out some of my dimensions, which proved helpful. I knew I wanted the center to be tall enough so we weren't stooping over too much and could walk into the tent. I also wanted a decent angle to help shed water/snow. I wasn't sure how much I'd eat away at the width because of my seam allowances, so in the program, I figured 11'4" square foot print and a 7'3" center height. That gave me over a 50 degree wall angle. If I remember right, I think that meant my length (from bottom of the wall, to the peak) should be 9'3". I ended up cutting 4 lengths of the material at 9'6" to get me close to that height after rolling the bottom edge and the seams for the peak shrinking things down. Anyway, on to some pictures.
Here is one of the four panels laid out on the dining room floor:
Then it was time to cut the panels diagonally. It should be noted that while it's subtle, there is a shiny side and more dull side. Keep your diagonal cuts going the same direction and flip two of the panels over so you end up with all triangles with the same finish to the outside, or alternate your cuts accordingly for the same result. I used some homemade sand bags to help hold the light matieral and got some straight edges and channel I found in the garage. Once things were all lined up, I drew a line with a Sharpie and cut.
I marked the dull side on all the panels (I want that side out) and stacked all the triangles up, then marked each 1, 2, 3, 4 so I knew which triangle would go with the other.
I know some folks don't like to use pins when sewing up waterproof materials, but I decided to. I did it for the tarp I made and it worked well for me. I figured the holes I'm making are going to get enveloped in the seam I'm doing, plus I'm going to be seam sealing there anyway. I pinned beginning at the peak and wouldn't you know, at the base, the lengths were a bit off. The extra length I cut the panels at was starting to pay off. Plus, if I had something not quite match up, I didn't want that to be at the peak, so starting the pinning there made sense (at least for me...).
I stitched the edge, removing the pins as I went, locking the stitches on both ends. I did that first seam with the dull sides out, shiny sides in, facing each other. I then flipped the material over, so the shiny sides were out and stitched again (I think that's somehow close to a French seam?) about 5/8"-ish from the now hidden first stitch. After that's complete, you open up the two panels. With the dull side down, there's a flap of material sticking up. Pick a side (left or right) and lay that material down and stitch it down. That completes the seam and the first wall is ready for the next steps.
I plan to have two vents on two of the walls and a stove back near the peak on one wall. I'm struggling to decide where to put the jack-back wall, front one above the zipper...? I don't want to have it someplace where everyone is going to have to dodge a glowing pipe to get by, but if I put it on the back panel, I'm worried a kid's quilt, arm, or whatever else will end up getting burned... I suppose I could plan on always sleeping on the back wall. Thoughts?
Jeremy
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