My Second DIY Tarp!

[Boston]

I shared my first adventure with tarp making here. I had bought enough material for 2 tarps, and decided to make a smaller hex tarp this time. It's sized similar to a WB Edge or WL Tadpole, except with an 11ft ridge line. I also attempted to do a Warbonnet style ridge seam that wont require seam sealing.

Dimensions:
RL: 11ft
Width: 8ft
Main Edge: 6ft
Weight: 10.5oz without tie/outs (about half the weigh of my first tarp!)

This time I did a rolled hem along the edges, and used 2 6" pieces of grosgrain to create each tie-out reinforcement. I also tried attaching the tie-out's a little differently, we'll see how it holds up. The tie-out's are 3/8" grosgrain, with 1/2" Beastee Dee D-rings.

For the ridgeline I sewed both panels together with a simple seam, then folded 7/8" grosgrain over and sewed it with 1 (unfortunately crooked) seam. I kept 5-6" on each end to use to create the ridgeline tie out - this could probably be reduced to 3-4". With my quick hose test, the ridgeline did not leak.

Pictures attached.

[steveks]

Looks good. I like the grosgrain ridge line. I am getting ready to try my hand at making a hex tarp and think after seeing how you did the ridge I might do the same.

[Boston]

Looks good. I like the grosgrain ridge line. I am getting ready to try my hand at making a hex tarp and think after seeing how you did the ridge I might do the same.

I'm planning to do all my tarps like this in the future. It's much easier than doing a flat felled, or french seam, and so far looks like the no seam sealer is working out.

I think next time I will make guides like shown here. Might make getting a straighter seam easier.

[Burning_Daylight]

Wow! Simple and uncomplicated. A tarp project looks within my ablilty without the flat felled seam and POG's grossgrain and rolledhem guides.

[SailingandSuch]

Nice job!

I'm in the middle of making my first DIY tarp. I am having trouble with the fabric reinforcements at the tie out locations. I'm basically sewing a second piece of fabric over each corner and failing to get them equally tentioned so either the tarp fabric or the reinforcement fabric is looser then the other.

I like how you did your corners especially the one with the two strips of grossgrain as the reinforcement. I have two more left to do and I may do just that.

Anyone else have any experience knowing if these suckers will hold? I like the OP being bold but I don't know how much I want to gamble on my first tarp....

[Boston]

Thanks!

When I did fabric reinforcements on my first tarp I sewed parallel lines of stitching across it to flatten it out and keep tension to the sil.

My edge reinforcements are similar to Warbonnets, so they've definately been field tested. If I did this again I would sew the tie out differently though. I think the way I have it will shear the grosgrain too much.

[BroChaos]

looks super nice dude. would you make the tieouts diagonal?

[Brien]

Looks really good. Where can I place my order?

[Boston]

looks super nice dude. would you make the tieouts diagonal?

Thanks!

I'd change them so the material is all being pulled in the direction of the tie-out, instead of sewing it along the edge of the tarp. See the attached picture below for the general idea. Sewing each end individually is stronger than sandwiching and sewing. I want my tie-out material to be the weakest link.

Looks really good. Where can I place my order?

Thanks!

No plans for mass production, although I may sell one every once in a while to fund my projects. I buy my sil from Noah Lamport 2nds, and due to their minimum order I'll buy enough for 2 tarps at a time.

Warbonnet and Wilderness Logic's both sell very similar tarps for $80-$85. I modeled mine on Warbonnet's which does not require seam sealer. I adjusted the dimensions slightly to fit my setup and taste.

I have realized while making this tarp that material cost for a smaller tarp is the same as for a larger tarp (this vs a mamajamba sized tarp). You just end up with more scrap. I do however have plenty of sil for snake skins and stuff sacks now. I wonder if anyone produces silnylon in 48" bolt widths.

[mando]

found the answer