Hello all! This is my first post on here after a lot of lurking over the past week in preparation for Black Friday sales. I've decided to make my own winter tarp using the kit from RSBTR, but with several modifications. Most of the mods (okay, like all of them) I've gotten from this site, and the pictures belong to their respective owners. I'd really appreciate your input/suggestions/feedback/experience on each of the modifications I have planned:
1. Once I saw a picture of an Olive Yellow tarp there (on RSBTR and all over here as well), I had to have it, but they were out of the 1.1 silpoly in that color, or so I thought. They did actually have some Olive Yellow in their pre-cut kit which I ended up ordering. The kit is for a 12' winter tarp, but I just got the HG zippered bugnet hammock and they suggested I stick with an 11' tarp if it has doors, which seems to match what I've read on here. Any reason why it would be better to leave as 12'? If not, my big question to everyone is how to trim down the pre-cut 12' panels to work for an 11-footer? The way I see it I'm going to lose some height due removing/recreating cat cuts, but maybe someone else knows how to scale it better to not lose as much. Also, will a change in length affect reinforcement points, door angles, etc?
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2. The consensus seems to be to stick with a rolled hem over one edged in grosgrain, correct?
3. Plan to use a standing French seam for the ridgeline like FJRpilot did rather than the felled seam in the kit directions, just because I like how it looks. Any feedback on this?
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4. Split rings or the Beatie D's that come with the kit? I've seen arguments for both...
5. Will do the panel pull-out to be able to attach trekking poles like the mod Wafflebox did. This way I can get extra interior space with no added weight while backpacking, and the poles will rest on the standing seam rather than the tarp.
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6. Will add a 1/2" Beastie D on the inside of each corner tie-out to be able to use 2 interior poles when not backpacking. Will add the mitten hook from the ridgeline to support. What size/length poles should I get for this size tarp, and from where?
7. Should I have the doors close via kamsnaps or with shockcord to opposite tie out? Also want to be able to tie doors open (on inside) for fair weather...
8. Guylines: my current plan is to put a loop on each tie-out. Then, guyline will be spliced to stakes with a tensionlock hook on each to snap onto tarp loops and be able to tension quickly. Does this sound like an okay plan? Should loop on tie-out be shockcord or zing-it?
I really appreciate you all's feedback on my design plans. This will be my first MYOG. Although I've designed some fairly complex bag modifications in the past, I always had someone else sew them, so this will be quite the project for me to start with! I did buy a couple little kits and will do the stuff sack first so I can get more comfortable before working on 12' of slippery fabric. I will actually be making TWO of these tarps- the olive yellow for myself and crimson for the boyfriend. I will likely start with his as he will be less persnickety about the stitch quality than I will be I'll be sure to update this thread with images on the process. My dad thinks he has a old Consew industrial sewing machine somewhere, so I'm hoping that (and some MYOG supplies) will be under the tree this year!
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