Finished my blackcat tarp

**animalcontrol** · 11-22-2010, 10:36

I'm not a big camo fan, but that looks great!!
nice stiching!!

**Can't Wait** · 11-22-2010, 11:22

really nice like the camo accent

**Knotty** · 11-22-2010, 11:43

Originally Posted by Big Jim Mac

...BTW, i only sealed the top edge and the stitching on the straps to protect the threads, couldn't see the sense in sealing the grosgrain since it is at the edge anyway. Is that what others do?

Correct. Sealing the grosgrain on the edges is extra work and weight but no extra benefit. Nice tarp.

**Cutter** · 11-22-2010, 14:33

wow. i am impressed. superclean, I want to make one of those as well

**Pro Vagabond** · 11-22-2010, 14:37

Nice! Love the camo. Whole lotta stitching!!

**RKP** · 11-22-2010, 15:39

Nice job !

**JayS** · 11-22-2010, 16:04

Nice, tidy job on the sewing! Good looking tarp.

**nacra533** · 11-22-2010, 16:47

Originally Posted by dant8ro

I read that thread too. They determined that bar tacking was the best method to use. This is effectively similar to what you did but employs a very tight zig-zag across the webbing to increase the number of stiches that carry the load. Have a look at the JRB or Arrowhead straps as they are all done with that method.

Bar tacks are not always so good in thin fabric like nylon unless you back them up with something. They tend to cut the fabric. If you fold a piece of webbing and bar tack it, it's OK. ie.. webbing - nylon- webbing.

Rows of bartacks are also much quicker than a box X, so you see it alot in production work by those who don't own a designated box X machine. Also, bartacks are more approriate for a load that is trying to "pull open" the eye than a box x. For tarps, tree huggers and most of our uses, either is very suitable.

If you google "nylon highway" there are lots of good articles on stitch testing. Vol 3 contains great info. Vol 7 contains some additional testing.

One thing to keep in mind is folks that make nylon slings match the webbing
AND the thread type to the anticipated usage. Also the anticipated loading may dictate a certain stitch direction. For example, Nylon webbing is meant to see and absorb shock load. Poly thread, though it lasts longer in the sun, does not stretch like nylon thread.

**nacra533** · 11-22-2010, 16:50

Great work on the tarp. If you weren't using a double needle machine, be very proud of the double stitching cause it's nice.

One of my personal rules is never double stitch without a double needle machine because I just can't make it look professional, no matter how hard I try.

**Big Jim Mac** · 11-23-2010, 08:22

I did all that freehand, one row at a time, you guys who say that it looks good haven't seen all the edges! There's a couple places where the two rows actually cross ;-). I also got well acquainted with a seam ripper because the sil kept pulling out of the grosgrain wrapped. Thought i had all these fixed but found a half inch when I was applying the seam sealer, I just smeared a bunch on and I think that took care of it. I did get better as I went along. BTW, I ran out of grosgrain after the first edge and got some more from Backwoods Daydreamer. The new stuff was much easier to form to the curves. I was thinking of that post on bartacked webbing when I did it this way. You can't see it but I also stitched both sides. The first one was done with contrasting green thread, but the machine I was using (Singer 404) didn't like the webbing and thread was bunching up in the back. So I switched machines, using the black Guttermann thread that was loaded. This thread is way thinner than what I was using.