My Second DIY Tarp!

**XJ35S** · 11-19-2019, 19:20

Originally Posted by 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....

This is a common problem with one thread too tight. If the stitching is pulling more on one it'll slide it forward or back. Be very certain the thread tension is equal. You can read more baout it here. Ray Jardine goes into great detail. http://www.rayjardine.com/ray-way/Ab...Tips/index.htm

**MikekiM** · 11-28-2019, 07:58

Nicely done.. simple. Nice pitch.

I've done three or four tarps with the capped standing French seam at the ridge. I made the tie out point only an inch or so. Also did the ridge a little different.

Fabric layed out right sides together and ran one seam along the ridge. Turned the fabric inside out, insides together. Ran another seam the length of the ridge, about 5/32" from the sewn edge created by the first seam. Then capped it with .75" grosgrain, with one seam in between the two prior. No way it's going to fail and it creates a shingle effect over the structural seams. Never had one leak...