Rolled Hem on Catenary Cuts

[swalkerv]

Let me start by saying I had NO IDEA how hard it would be to do nice rolled hems on my tarps cat cuts.... I'm in the process of making my firs tarp and I figured the outer hem would be the easiest part of the entire project. I've spent hours and can't seem to keep the material from twisting.

catcut.JPG

I've given up and am rolling with twisted hems all the way around which is discouraging but I would love to know everyones tricks for dealing with this issue. I've looked at a number of other threads and tried most of ideas that have been posted and I cannot seem to figure it out. I can roll hems on a striaght edge without any difficulty but these curves! Anyways, any tips would be greatly appreciated! (I'm chalking this tarp up to practice) I had such high hopes for it..

[Boulderman]

Pins are your friends. I pin the rolled hem at the ends, then the middle, then halfway between the middle and the ends, then halfway between those, etc., until I have pins every 6-8". The hem ends up looking good and straight. When stretched, however, the parts that are on the bias will look a little twisty, but I don't know if that's avoidable.

[Cabmanhang]

Are you using clips or pins to secure the hem as you sew?

[jellyfish]

The narrower your hem, the less fabric that will have to stretch to make the curve. The chunkier your hem, the more twisting and creasing you will get.

I have had a lot of success with using a double rolled hem foot, but that is a specialty foot that also has a learning curve. If you want to explore this, you can read more here: https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...utdoor-fabrics

Other methods are:

* roll and pin, then sew
* roll while sewing, holding a few inches at a time in your hand

Or, you could forget the rolled hem all together and put a folded grosgrain hem on.

Good luck!

[Double]

Start at the middle of the cat cuts and work towards the points. I remember reading it in a thread like this one. Tried it and works great. Some also suggest cutting little V's into the fabric to help with the excess material in the rolled him.

[FJRpilot]

Basting tape..... for those of us that are "Hem-challenged"....

[swalkerv]

Pins are your friends. I pin the rolled hem at the ends, then the middle, then halfway between the middle and the ends, then halfway between those, etc., until I have pins every 6-8". The hem ends up looking good and straight. When stretched, however, the parts that are on the bias will look a little twisty, but I don't know if that's avoidable.

Boulderman, I used your advice on one of the sides and it did help to keep the folds consistent throughout, however, it still had twisting going on throughout.

The narrower your hem, the less fabric that will have to stretch to make the curve. The chunkier your hem, the more twisting and creasing you will get.

I have had a lot of success with using a double rolled hem foot, but that is a specialty foot that also has a learning curve. If you want to explore this, you can read more here: https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...utdoor-fabrics

Other methods are:

* roll and pin, then sew
* roll while sewing, holding a few inches at a time in your hand

Or, you could forget the rolled hem all together and put a folded grosgrain hem on.

Good luck!

Jellyfish, I actually watched some of your youtube videos while searching for an answer... I even checked my sewing machine for a rolled hem foot I found out its an 'extra' that I'll need to order... Your videos may have sold me on it though. Thank you for putting together such nice videos! Yours were the only relevant videos that showed up when I searched for "rolled hem catenary cut" for what thats worth. Nicely done!

Start at the middle of the cat cuts and work towards the points. I remember reading it in a thread like this one. Tried it and works great. Some also suggest cutting little V's into the fabric to help with the excess material in the rolled him.

Double, I did try starting in the middle and it worked for a little bit and then started twisting on me again.

Basting tape..... for those of us that "Hem-challenged"....

I've got some but I'm yet to try it! Do you use it in the 1st or 2nd fold/roll?

Thanks everybody!

[FJRpilot]

I've got some but I'm yet to try it! Do you use it in the 1st or 2nd fold/roll?

I do it on the first roll...

https://youtu.be/41BnNDk_sm4

[MAD777]

As you roll the material, be sure you are staying parallel to the edge, whose angle is constantly changing (its a curve, duh) Lol

Also, keep the stitched short and do only a inch at a time.

Finally, remember that you want notice any twisting as you slumber in your hammock at 3:00am.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[swalkerv]

Finally, remember that you want notice any twisting as you slumber in your hammock at 3:00am.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

You never know... Might be the very thing keeping me up.