Tarp hem

[Tdwhite]

I am getting ready to order the material to make my own tarp. I notice that a lot of the commercial tarps use grosgrain on all of the hems. All of the DIY info I have found shows rolled hems. What are the pluses and minuses of the two different methods. This is going to be my first DIY project.

[OneClick]

I always hated those with grosgrain and to me seems like few are doing this anymore.

What it does is make a "frame" for the fabric, which is always going to sag a little no matter the fabric, creating a "bowl". This is really bad in porch mode where rain will have more opportunity to sit. And in general it prevents the fabric from being fully taut.

If I'm wrong anyone please give your feedback, but that's my viewpoint.

[geneaut]

I find it easier to sew a rolled hem than try to keep sil fabric and grosgrain aligned and moving through my presser foot.

[DrPhun]

Maybe professionals have special machines that quickly attach the grosgrain?

[jcksparow]

It *can* add strength along the edge of the tarp and potentially be easier for a novice to sew (just fold grosgrain over the raw edge and run a stitch, as opposed to a proper rolled hem), but I don't think those purported benefits justify the extra weight or expense.

One place I still see grosgrain used a lot is along the tarp ridgeline, but I'm personally more inclined to use a flat-felled seam.

[Txscout]

There are attachments for both rolled hems and binding. The binders are definitely easier to use and likely why you see bound edges on tarps. Personally I would use my rolled hem guide for the exterior and my binder for the ridgeline. If I remember correctly on my tests the grosgrain ridgeline added about 10% to the weight of the test pieces over a felled seam, neither were seam sealed. Ideally you would have a double needle machine set of for felled hems to do the ridgeline, but those are very expensive.

Hopefully this helps give some context to why you see different things on commercial tarps.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[carmen2kayak]

My preference is the rolled hem if you have a rolled hem foot. I've done grosgrain on a couple of tarps but it was primarily for appearance. The grosgrain seems to make the tarp out of balance. All this lightweight material gets weighed down by the grosgrain edges. And I think it takes longer to dry out.

My $0.02.

[4estTrekker]

I like to use grosgrain on bias hems, especially those with catenary cuts, but just do a rolled hem (sometimes with a rolled hem foot) for the other hems. On a related note, I always use grosgrain for my tarp ridge seams.

[Tdwhite]

Thanks for all of the great information. I was worried I was missing something. Is there much difference in strength on the ridge line between a flat-felled ridge line and one with grosgrain? For some reason, I usually end up getting caught in 40-50 mph winds when I am camping. I just became addicted to hanging so I haven’t got any experience with tarps yet.

[4estTrekker]

Cant speak to the differences in strength, if any, but I’ve used my tarps with grosgrain ridge lines (terminated in Beastee D’s) in high winds/snow loads, and they’ve held steadily. I do double the fabric under the grosgrain.