Made my first tarps

**Flint** · 03-05-2015, 14:22

Originally Posted by NWAlabamaHiker

What weight silpoly did you use? Also, please tell us what is the trick you discovered to help you pattern off or mark off your cat cuts? Looks like those could be a bear to do?

I'm not the original poster, but i believe they used 1.1 sil poly from ripstop by the roll.com. I've only heard great stuff about the material so far.

**NWAlabamaHiker** · 03-05-2015, 14:45

Great thanks!

**Bladerunner** · 03-06-2015, 03:03

tarps look great. ive actually heard that you don't need to do cat cuts with the silpoly as It doesn't have the stretch that nylon does. ive got some V2 on the way that ill be making a tarp out of for an upcoming forum hang in Ozark AR. my plans to cut it into 2 equal lengths, sew a flat felled seam for the ridge and hem the edges for a 12ish by 10ish tarp with doors. ill definitely be posting a thread on it and how it performed.

**willic** · 03-06-2015, 04:00

Fantastic work!

**sjlawrence** · 03-06-2015, 13:12

What size/type of needle did you use?

**Vela A.** · 03-06-2015, 16:13

Originally Posted by sjlawrence

What size/type of needle did you use?

I used a Blue needle. I don't remember what exact size it is but the top f the needle is blue. It's not the smallest one (orange) but the next one up. il Poly is so thin you don't want to use a big needle.

**Vela A.** · 03-06-2015, 16:14

Originally Posted by Flint

I'm not the original poster, but i believe they used 1.1 sil poly from ripstop by the roll.com. I've only heard great stuff about the material so far.

True. it is fantastic to work with and light

**Vela A.** · 03-06-2015, 16:17

Originally Posted by NWAlabamaHiker

What weight silpoly did you use? Also, please tell us what is the trick you discovered to help you pattern off or mark off your cat cuts? Looks like those could be a bear to do?

Th cat cuts were the trickiest part, but not terrible. I marked half way between the tie out points. then up 5". I used a fairly heavy string and just eyeballed the curve from 5" down to the tie out points. traced that with chalk. I'm sure there is an easier, more scientific way. But that's how I did it.

**NWAlabamaHiker** · 03-06-2015, 17:34

Awesome! I just thought of a way that might work that might be easier. I'll have to try this for myself sometime, but anyway, I wonder if you had a long piece of flexible metal or plastic, seems like you could use that to mark off your cat cuts. Have someone hold one end where your cut will end and then flex the metal or plastic until it was aligned with the top of your "arch" and the other bottom corner of your cut. Idk? Just thinking out loud.