Grosgrain Tarp Ridgeline...

[anvil440]

How do you incorporate grosgrain into the ridgeline of a DIY tarp? Do you still use a flat-felled/french seam?

[Detail Man]

Not necessarily. When I've done it, I just sew the two tarp halves together, then roll a hem about 3/8" wide. Lastly I attach the grosgrain evenly across the hem. Doing it this way allows you to keep the entire tarp to the left of the presser foot. (With a flat-felled seam half the tarp has to go under the arm of the machine.) I make loops in the grosgrain at each end for the ridge line attachment. I quit using d-rings after the first tarp, and just use the loops. Hope this helps.

[anvil440]

Not necessarily. When I've done it, I just sew the two tarp halves together, then roll a hem about 3/8" wide. Lastly I attach the grosgrain evenly across the hem. Doing it this way allows you to keep the entire tarp to the left of the presser foot. (With a flat-felled seam half the tarp has to go under the arm of the machine.) I make loops in the grosgrain at each end for the ridge line attachment. I quit using d-rings after the first tarp, and just use the loops. Hope this helps.

Are you suggesting something like the bottom half of the figure?



(I think there may be an extra stich there in 3b I could exclude.)

.

[bruinfan]

Are you suggesting something like the bottom half of the figure?



(I think there may be an extra stich there in 3b I could exclude.)

.

listening go on.

[Boston]

I do a simple 1/4" seam (like step 1) then simply bind over it with grosgrain. When you do a grosgrain seam you're not trying to make a flat seam.

I don't see any benefit in doing anything more complicated, and so far my tarp has held up very well, including being set up outside for months through KY storms.

Here's my build thread.

[Mrprez]

I would stop at step 2 above.

[streamline]

Just out of interest, why are you wanting to use Grosgrain on the ridge line at all? A flat-felled seam is just as easy and any you show above and you aren't adding additional weight.

[halfastronomical]

I have been using grosgrain with the few tarps that I have made. I stopped at your step 2 and it has not leaked and did not need seam sealing. I ironed the grosgrain in half and clipped it with hair clips along the whole of the ridgeline. Then I just sewed whole thing, the doubled over the grosgrain for the end loops.

I am really new to tarp making, but with my skill level, it seemed easier (no pun) than doing a ff/fs hybrid w/o grosgrain. I did practice runs on long skinny scrap pieces to see which one was easier. The best thing is: It covers up my less than perfect seams to a certain extent.

[eviscerate3]

I have been using grosgrain with the few tarps that I have made. I stopped at your step 2 and it has not leaked and did not need seam sealing. I ironed the grosgrain in half and clipped it with hair clips along the whole of the ridgeline. Then I just sewed whole thing, the doubled over the grosgrain for the end loops.

I am really new to tarp making, but with my skill level, it seemed easier (no pun) than doing a ff/fs hybrid w/o grosgrain. I did practice runs on long skinny scrap pieces to see which one was easier. The best thing is: It covers up my less than perfect seams to a certain extent.

+1. I recently made my winter tarp and found the grosgrain much easier to work with and requires no seam sealing. I've had it out in very heavy winds and heavy rain with no problems at all. I did the same thing, iron the grosgrain and clipped it and sewed it on. Super easy.

[VictoriaGuy]

I'm not a big fan of using grosgrain on a tarps.

IMO, putting grosgrain on a tarp instead of making flat-felled seams & rolled hems is weaker and really doesn't look as good.
With a grosgrain ridge line seam, the 'outward and downward forces' from the tie-downs are concentrated on pulling the stitching apart. With a flat-felled seam, the stitching is much more in a 'shear' situation. (I need an engineer to step in here.... )

Anyway, it doesn't really matter much, since grosgrain top seams are apparently strong enough for the purpose most folks put them to. For me, it's mostly appearance and the idea of craftsmanship that are the differences.

I sew for fun and relaxation, so I don't mind the extra work of flat-felling seams.
(I'd have a different idea if I were doing it for money, I suppose, but I still judge products by the shortcuts used. )
These aren't circus tents, and I don't have any trouble rolling up half the tarp and putting through my machine (to the right of the needle). This could be an issue if you are using one of the newer 'compact' machines with a narrow throat.

Have you ever seen a quality tent fly with grosgrain on the ridge seam?

The other drawback of grosgrain on the ridge seam is that you limit your possibilities for extra attachments (loops) along the tarp ridge - which can be useful if you need to pitch a large tarp between close-spaced trees.