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  1. #1
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    Felled Seam vs French Seam

    I'm making final decisons on my tarp constrution and I'm trying to decide between the hybrid-French and traditional-Felled

    Felled: http://www.backpacking.net/makegear/...latfelled.html

    French: http://www.backwoodsdaydreamer.com/d...sewing-skills/

    Why would you pick one over the other? The felled seems to be easier to construct as it has fewer stitches and less folds of material. Both utilize mutilple passes along the fabric.

    Thanks in advance for your insight.

  2. #2
    Senior Member dragon360's Avatar
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    have you seen the tarp tutorials at DIYGearSupply.com? Might be worth a peek to see what Scott has (this will be the way I will be doing mine).
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    Senior Member raiffnuke's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 100milerunner View Post
    I'm making final decisons on my tarp constrution and I'm trying to decide between the hybrid-French and traditional-Felled

    Felled: http://www.backpacking.net/makegear/...latfelled.html

    French: http://www.backwoodsdaydreamer.com/d...sewing-skills/

    Why would you pick one over the other? The felled seems to be easier to construct as it has fewer stitches and less folds of material. Both utilize mutilple passes along the fabric.

    Thanks in advance for your insight.
    The major difference is the ease in managing the amount of fabric involved in making a tarp.




  4. #4
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
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    There has been a lot of discussion, as well as disagreement, about this question. In the final analysis I am not sure it matters. I have always been a flat-felled seam advocate. But the stitched down french seam is used by many professional stitchers in place of the flat felled. Personally I think the flat felled is a little easier to construct, but other equally skilled folks find the folded french seam easier.

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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by dragon360 View Post
    have you seen the tarp tutorials at DIYGearSupply.com? Might be worth a peek to see what Scott has (this will be the way I will be doing mine).
    The DIYGearSupply tarp tutorial uses the seam I labeled French above. That type of seam is very common in the online tutorials I've looked at. The Speer tarps and various other tarp tents show the one I labeled felled.

    I'm wondering if any of the experienced guys out there think one of the other is easier to construct or better functionally.

  6. #6
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    Thanks

    As usual, YOU GUYS ROCK! I love the sketch book with hand draw pics of the seams. You guys are total DIY ninjas.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ramblinrev View Post
    There has been a lot of discussion, as well as disagreement, about this question.
    I tried to search function but got no luck. Sorry if this is a beat up old topic.

    Thanks a ton for your insight. I guess I flip a coin and see how it goes.

  7. #7
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    Ditto on what Rev and Raiffnuke said. I think all in all we completely overbuild some things and don't pay attention to what's important elsewhere. Strength at your tie-outs, with forces properly spread to the fabric, is probably more important than the type of ridgeline seam chosen.

    That said, you can see from the drawings that with three machine passes you'll have a total of four layers of fabric completely engaged in spreading stress from one side of the tarp to the other. I also used it because it's a clean, flat seam that's nice to have in the middle of the tarp. I like the (unmodified) French seam in stuff sacks and other places where I want a finished edge, the geometry of sewing a flat felled seam is more difficult, and where strength isn't as critical.

    Whatever you choose, go slow, pin your seams, and keep your fabric folded. Watch Rev's videos. If you're in a hurry you'll sew your ridgeline to the middle of one of the tarp faces (been there, done that....).

  8. #8
    Paulie's Avatar
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    Does anyone know what type of seam Warbonnet uses on their tarps?...the no seam sealing required seam...

  9. #9
    Senior Member Roadrunnr72's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dragon360 View Post
    have you seen the tarp tutorials at DIYGearSupply.com? Might be worth a peek to see what Scott has (this will be the way I will be doing mine).
    DIYGearSupply and BackwoodsDayDreamer are one in the same. They used to be BWDD, and there business evolved into DIYGs. I guess thats the easiest way to explain it....RR
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  10. #10
    Senior Member BIG JEFF's Avatar
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    I don't think I can add anything to this topic but I prefer a French felled seam.

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