Bar-tack using a straight stitch machine?

[WhollyHamaca]

Here's a quick way on a no-zig-zag machine, and I think it's stronger than a bar tack anyway: Just go straight front to back a few times (forward, reverse, forward, reverse) but don't go over the same stitches again and again (weakens the fabric, as was said earlier). So you're making a W if you do 4 lines. If you want to strengthen it more, then do a box around the W afterwards. You can do the whole thing without having to cut the thread, and you only need to turn the fabric to do the box.

[AppalachianHammock]

Here's a quick way on a no-zig-zag machine, and I think it's stronger than a bar tack anyway: Just go straight front to back a few times (forward, reverse, forward, reverse) but don't go over the same stitches again and again (weakens the fabric, as was said earlier). So you're making a W if you do 4 lines. If you want to strengthen it more, then do a box around the W afterwards. You can do the whole thing without having to cut the thread, and you only need to turn the fabric to do the box.

I did some straps last night, and I used 3 bar tacks, with a box between the 2 farthest ones and the middle.

[Lost_Biker]

Thanks all! I'm making my own now with 3 or 4 bars with a box. I used 7 or 8 stitches per inch, which I hope is good enough, and 3 up and downs for each of the bars (sorry for the poor terminology). Then put a box around the bars - didn't cut the threat til the end! I'm going to play with the "X" with a box next. Custom tree straps - why did I ever wait so long for something that's fairly simple? Next project is a tarp or a under quilt - haven't decided which yet, though I'm leaning toward the under quilt.

[hippofeet]

Will it be an actual quilt?