Taking a crack at sewing

**Freakin Farmer** · 11-20-2014, 11:30

I haven't touched a sewing machine since 7th grade home econ. (over 20 yrs)
Been taking a few practice loops on some old towels for practice...it's all coming back to me.

First project: Tarp

*cracks knuckles* here goes nuthin'

Freakin Farmer

**Wanderlost** · 11-20-2014, 11:48

Good luck! I'm going to be making my first tarp here shortly too. I'm a little more than a little nervous. I know it won't be pretty, but hopefully it'll be functional.

**Mouseskowitz** · 11-20-2014, 11:48

Have fun and post pictures. A tarp is what I started on as well.

**Bubba** · 11-20-2014, 11:58

Good luck! Looking forward to some pictures.

**Freakin Farmer** · 11-20-2014, 12:47

I decided on Silnylon, I'm not overly worried about weight.

**h_ngm_n** · 11-20-2014, 12:59

Good luck. I'm heading down this road too for the first time. Unlike you I've never sewed anything...except my oats that is

. I'm doing a Silny tarp too and plan on using a lot of pins. It is very slick. Apparently ripstopbytheroll has a Silpoly that is very easy to work with and same weight a Silny hk2001 just made a tarp from it and couldn't say enough good stuff about it. As I still haven't figured out how to imbed thread links into posts just search: Sil Poly Tarp Contest/Giveaway!. I've already got my Silny so I'm using it, but you might consider the Silpoly. Best of luck and looking forward to seeing your build.

**Freakin Farmer** · 11-20-2014, 13:03

Originally Posted by h_ngm_n

Good luck. I'm heading down this road too for the first time. Unlike you I've never sewed anything...except my oats that is

. I'm doing a Silny tarp too and plan on using a lot of pins. It is very slick. Apparently ripstopbytheroll has a Silpoly that is very easy to work with and same weight a Silny hk2001 just made a tarp from it and couldn't say enough good stuff about it. As I still haven't figured out how to imbed thread links into posts just search: Sil Poly Tarp Contest/Giveaway!. I've already got my Silny so I'm using it, but you might consider the Silpoly. Best of luck and looking forward to seeing your build.

Thanks for the suggestion, I will look into it!

**Mouseskowitz** · 11-20-2014, 13:54

Originally Posted by h_ngm_n

I'm doing a Silny tarp too and plan on using a lot of pins. It is very slick.

I really don't like the idea of pins holes in my tarp. I've used those little black binder clips instead. There are also these wonder clips. I've never used them but others have spoken highly about them.

**h_ngm_n** · 11-20-2014, 15:19

Originally Posted by Mouseskowitz

I really don't like the idea of pins holes in my tarp. I've used those little black binder clips instead. There are also these wonder clips. I've never used them but others have spoken highly about them.

The only area where pinning could be a factor in terms of waterproofing is along the ridgeline. You will seal need to seal this w/ a polyseal anyway. The hemmed edges don't need to be waterproof. Anyway, you are still using a thread injector to stitch right? So in reality you are putting 1000s of holes in your tarp

I don't think a few extra hole from pinning the hem will make a difference. But the binder clips are a good thought, be cool if you could rig something up similar that you could run along the edges that put the fold in for you. Similar to a hemming foot attachment for the thread injector, but held in your hand as you run the fabric through...I call patent rights

. Seriously though...I'm a newb so what do I know.

**Mouseskowitz** · 11-20-2014, 16:06

Originally Posted by h_ngm_n

The only area where pinning could be a factor in terms of waterproofing is along the ridgeline. You will seal need to seal this w/ a polyseal anyway. The hemmed edges don't need to be waterproof. Anyway, you are still using a thread injector to stitch right? So in reality you are putting 1000s of holes in your tarp

I don't think a few extra hole from pinning the hem will make a difference. But the binder clips are a good thought, be cool if you could rig something up similar that you could run along the edges that put the fold in for you. Similar to a hemming foot attachment for the thread injector, but held in your hand as you run the fabric through...I call patent rights

. Seriously though...I'm a newb so what do I know.

If you're seam sealing a couple extra holes don't make a difference, true. I guess I really don't like extra sharp things around my fabric. Whatever gets the job done in the end. I tend to use attachments and skip the while pinning thing. Some people love them and others hate them. I was able to do a 1/4" double fold seam down one side of a 12' hammock the other day in under 4 minutes with one, so I'm hooked. This is also how I do the edges of my tarps, but sewing a cat cut is a little trickier.