Felled Seam vs French Seam

[100milerunner]

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.

[dragon360]

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).

[100milerunner]

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.

[Roadrunnr72]

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

[BIG JEFF]

I don't think I can add anything to this topic but I prefer a French felled seam.

[Michelle the Camper]

@ Raifnuke…awesomw diagrams, just like having x ray vision! I'm getting my thoughts and materials gathered to start a DIY UQ, and now have more food for that thought!
Thanks 100milerun for starting the thread!

[raiffnuke]

@ Raifnuke…awesomw diagrams, just like having x ray vision! I'm getting my thoughts and materials gathered to start a DIY UQ, and now have more food for that thought!
Thanks 100milerun for starting the thread!

Thanks. If you have questions, feel free to ask me, I will try and help as best as I can.

[raiffnuke]

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.

[Ramblinrev]

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.

You picks your poison and takes your chances.

[100milerunner]

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

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.