Simple sewing question

**Lightfoot** · 07-03-2015, 19:43

Starting on my winter tarp today using silnylon. First off, working with 9 yards inside a house is a bugger. I never guessed how slick this stuff is while tring to pin it to make my ridgeline. Am I missing something with pinning it or is their an easier way to prep it first? It almost seems like jumbo paper clips or clothes pins could simplify things? Any tricks,out there to help an old goat out?

**Spark** · 07-03-2015, 20:15

I use these, Clover Clips. I bought them off amazon. But you can get them at most craft or sewing notions.

**Canoefor2** · 07-03-2015, 20:36

I have used paper clips like the clover clips

**Lightfoot** · 07-03-2015, 22:13

I'll give those a shot on the next tarp, I'm making two.

I just finished the first stitch for the ridgeline. In 4 1/2 yards I used about 125 pins. For not using a sewing machine in 40 years it came out looking pretty good. Though, credit goes to my wife for setting up the machine.

Time to fold and re-pin for the second pass. My back is loving me right now.

**Japhy Ryder** · 07-03-2015, 22:28

I would not pin the second time. The material should already be held together. You need to minimize the number of holes you put in the material. Just go slow.

**Lightfoot** · 07-04-2015, 01:23

Originally Posted by Japhy Ryder

I would not pin the second time. The material should already be held together. You need to minimize the number of holes you put in the material. Just go slow.

copy on that, worked great. Thanks

**xxl_hanger** · 07-04-2015, 02:46

You can try to use a Pritt glue stick made by Henkel. It shall work on silnylon. There are also special double sided glue tapes which stick on silnylon.

In German outdoor forums there is often recommended to use a polyester/cotton core spun thread made by Amann for tents/tarps, especially:

Amann Rasant 75 (tex 40) -> #12 Microtex needle
Amann Rasant 100 (tex 30) -> #10 Microtex needle

Amann Saba and Amann Serafil are good substitutes for Gütermann Mara and Tera threads.

**brianb** · 07-04-2015, 05:32

Probably too late, but for long projects like tarps I stand up to sew. I also spin my sewing machine 180* at the edge of my table. Since you feed into a sewing machine, this uses the table for holding and organizing the fabric, and once it passes through the machine it can drop to the floor. Similar to how you might setup a feed table for a table saw. One last tip, roll up both sides of the tarp so that just the seem is flat.
Good luck

**WeWalked** · 07-07-2015, 10:45

Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment, but I didn't even pin the ridgeline the first time on my jumbo tarp (using a FFFS). I just use the factory edge of my two pieces, line them up, and sew, going slow to keep the edges aligned and to make sure I don't grab any extra from the bottom piece. Worked out well. Am I the only one?

**latriper** · 07-07-2015, 10:55

I do not pin either. I off set the factory edges by 1/2 inch, then place the needle 1/2 inch below that and sew a straight stitch down the length, then roll fold longer side over the shorter side and stitch as close to the edge as possible. A hybrid flat felled seam.