How I failed at making a tarp

**Wanderlost** · 01-02-2015, 10:18

I have been fiddling with DIY for a while, but mostly small stuff: Amsteel, lash-it, stuff sacks. I recently acquired my new (to me) thread injector circa 1985. I figured I’d attempt an asymmetric tarp since I wanted one for warmer weather backpacking. I made it a la DIY Gear Supply with a few minor adjustments to make it my own.

I won’t say I failed miserably, but it was definitely a failed attempt and lessons learned. Here’s what I now know:

Rolled hems suck. I much prefer cheating with two simple hems.

Before you start doing a zigzag stitch for a bar tack, ensure you have the proper sewing plate in the machine.

Broken sewing needles are a pain to find in a rug. Feet can find them quickly though.

3/4” webbing is really overkill for the ridgeline attachments, as are large plastic D rings. Next time, it’ll be split rings and 1/2” grosgrain like my WBMJ.

It’s easy to sew attachments on crooked. ...and that'll really mess up the ridgeline.

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Lastly, when you sleep head left, ensure that you sew your asymmetric tarp head left.

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Luckily, I have some green tea silpoly sitting next to me to try again after some more sewing practice and other supplies!

**craige** · 01-02-2015, 10:35

Looks usable, except the ridgeline... unpick the tie outs and try again. Doesn't have to be vendor quality stitching to work as well as a vendor tarp and mistakes happen. At least you're gonna try again, I've read that silpoly is much easier to work with

**FLScouthanger** · 01-02-2015, 10:48

+1 on what Craige said re: the ridgeline. You have already listed many lessons you've learned, so the next time those will be avoided and it should go smoother. As far as the rolled hems go--practice, practice, practice. They're not that bad once you get the hang of rolling (folding), sewing, rolling, sewing, rolling, sewing.

**MAD777** · 01-02-2015, 10:52

Tarps are not nearly as easy as they look. It must be due to the huge pieces of materials that must be managed (maybe "tamed" is a better word) .

I have made 3 tarps that resulted in 2 tarps and dozens of stuff sacks. My first one didn't go so well either.

**craige** · 01-02-2015, 10:57

Originally Posted by MAD777

Tarps are not nearly as easy as they look. It must be due to the huge pieces of materials that must be managed (maybe "tamed" is a better word) .

I have made 3 tarps that resulted in 2 tarps and dozens of stuff sacks. My first one didn't go so well either.

Ha, my first one went great, my second one sucked... probably overconfidence and too much haste. I managed to fix it so that it's functional now, but still ugly!

**Wanderlost** · 01-02-2015, 11:03

Originally Posted by craige

Looks usable, except the ridgeline... unpick the tie outs and try again.

I was actually going to do that until I strung it up and realized that stitched the entire tarp backwards for the way I hang. Hanging head right just doesn't work well for me.

Originally Posted by FLScouthanger

As far as the rolled hems go--practice, practice, practice. They're not that bad once you get the hang of rolling (folding), sewing, rolling, sewing, rolling, sewing.

I know it's just going to take practice. I just have this issue with needing to be a subject matter expert and perfect at everything from the get-go without practicing. It never quite works out well.

Originally Posted by MAD777

Tarps are not nearly as easy as they look. It must be due to the huge pieces of materials that must be managed (maybe "tamed" is a better word) .

I have made 3 tarps that resulted in 2 tarps and dozens of stuff sacks. My first one didn't go so well either.

Taming is most definitely a better word. My sewing area doubles as the dinner table and catch-all place. I noticed that it took a lot of management to keep it all in order on a small table without stitching an unplanned dart in the fabric.

Stuff sacks....I didn't think I needed more of them, but maybe I do.

**gunner76** · 01-02-2015, 11:11

Does it work ?.....if so, then who cares how it looks.

We learn by making mistakes ( and hopefully living long enough to survive them ). Many of my DIY projects are definitely not works of art but are functional.

I also make lots of stuff sacks from my mistakes

. All part of the learning curve.

**jolunder** · 01-02-2015, 11:25

Head left/right shouldn't be a big deal at all: just flip the tarp upside down. Or is there a particular reason you didn't?

**Wanderlost** · 01-02-2015, 11:41

Originally Posted by jolunder

Head left/right shouldn't be a big deal at all: just flip the tarp upside down. Or is there a particular reason you didn't?

I didn't really think that would work given that the seams and reinforcing grosgrain would all be on the top them and exposed instead of more covered on the inside.

**jolunder** · 01-02-2015, 11:48

The seams go through all the material, so they are on both sides and need to be sealed either way. I don't really get what you mean by reinforcing grosgrain? Do you mean the reinforcement-patches for the tieuots? If so: they gonna get wet if you turn the tarp, but so what - it's not too big a sacrifice for getting it to work I'd think :-)