DIY OutdoorINK Sil-Poly Hex Tarp with Grosgrain RL/Edges ("Starry Night")

[kitsapcowboy]

I'm impressed. I'd like to see some photos of your tie-outs when you get a chance to update the thread.

Thanks, geneaut. Here you go. The bar-tack stitching was a bit rough on the first side tie-out where the needle has to go through six layers of grosgrain, but it got easier on the next three corners... I'm definitely happy with the way the ridge line tie-outs work; they are super-strong!

[Crazytown3]

That looks fantastic! Beautiful design and beautiful material!

Do I understand correctly, that you did not incorporate the sil-poly reinforcement patches into the 1/4" rolled hem? If I follow, the reinforcement patches are laid on top of the rolled hem, and incorporated into the grosgrain edge.

[kitsapcowboy]

That looks fantastic! Beautiful design and beautiful material!

Thanks, Crazytown

Do I understand correctly, that you did not incorporate the sil-poly reinforcement patches into the 1/4" rolled hem? If I follow, the reinforcement patches are laid on top of the rolled hem, and incorporated into the grosgrain edge.

Actually, the converse was true. My construction steps were as follows:

1) I stitched down the (inverted) 1.1 oz sil-poly reinforcement patches on the underside of the tarp at all the corners. Then I flipped each patch over, finger-pressed the anchor seam, and laid down a second row of stitching parallel to the first one across each patch 1" further out toward the corner.

2) I completed a narrow (approximately 3/8") perimeter roll hem all the way around each side of the part, starting just past the ridge line seam and stopping just short of it on the opposite end. (During this step I incorporated the sil-poly reinforcement patches into the roll hem of the tarp material.)

3) Following the same path as the roll hem, I carefully laid down the folded 7/8" grosgrain ribbon edge binding.

NB: This is significantly more work (and significantly more nerve-wracking) than single-stitching (or even double-stitching) a typical perimeter roll hem, which I usually make a bit wider (the width of my standard presser foot) than the skinny one I needed to hide inside the ribbon. At various point while you lay down the ribbon, the hidden roll hem will try to walk out on you like a mail-order bride, so you'd best remain mindful and moderate your speed. However, this method hides well the minor variances typical of sewing a roll hem with slippery fabric around an aggressive catenary curve, and the edge it creates is undeniably strong, with the wind loads borne by the grosgrain from the ridge line down to the corner tie-outs.

[Crazytown3]

Thanks, Crazytown

Actually, the converse was true. My construction steps were as follows:

1) I stitched down the (inverted) 1.1 oz sil-poly reinforcement patches on the underside of the tarp at all the corners. Then I flipped each patch over, finger-pressed the anchor seam, and laid down a second row of stitching parallel to the first one across each patch 1" further out toward the corner.

2) I completed a narrow (approximately 3/8") perimeter roll hem all the way around each side of the part, starting just past the ridge line seam and stopping just short of it on the opposite end. (During this step I incorporated the sil-poly reinforcement patches into the roll hem of the tarp material.)

3) Following the same path as the roll hem, I carefully laid down the folded 7/8" grosgrain ribbon edge binding.

NB: This is significantly more work (and significantly more nerve-wracking) than single-stitching (or even double-stitching) a typical perimeter roll hem, which I usually make a bit wider (the width of my standard presser foot) than the skinny one I needed to hide inside the ribbon. At various point while you lay down the ribbon, the hidden roll hem will try to walk out on you like a mail-order bride, so you'd best remain mindful and moderate your speed. However, this method hides well the minor variances typical of sewing a roll hem with slippery fabric around an aggressive catenary curve, and the edge it creates is undeniably strong, with the wind loads borne by the grosgrain from the ridge line down to the corner tie-outs.

Outstanding! Thank you for clarifying that. My eyes almost popped out of my head when I read that you had done a 3/8" roll hem AND grosgrain edge treatment.

[kitsapcowboy]

Outstanding! Thank you for clarifying that. My eyes almost popped out of my head when I read that you had done a 3/8" roll hem AND grosgrain edge treatment.

Yeah, I know, and I agree, but since it was my first time experimenting with the method, I wasn't completely sure whether the raw edge could simply be inserted into the binding and stitched. Since I was using relatively expensive fabric ($12 per yard on the printed side), I decided I was better safe than sorry, and I roll-hemmed the perimeter first. At least I know I created a super-strong tarp for my efforts.

Next time I try it, I'll try to use less expensive sil-poly seconds and eschew both the roll hem and the corner reinforcements; I'd like to see just how well a grosgrain-only hex tarp holds up. It will cut the build time down significantly, although I will say the relative stiffness of the roll-hem made it easy to insert the tarp material to a uniform depth within the folded ribbon, minimizing puckering; I have a feeling running the raw edge into the folded ribbon neatly will have its own learning curve. C'est la vie...

[AsaHanger]

An absolutely beautiful tarp. Thank you for sharing and letting us see your work.

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[kitsapcowboy]

That's a work of art in more ways than one!

An absolutely beautiful tarp. Thank you for sharing and letting us see your work.

Thank you, guys. It should be getting the overnight test in a few weeks' time.

[kitsapcowboy]

Today I replicated this tarp to virtually the same design specifications, except that I omitted the sil-poly corner reinforcement patches and used the same two-way looped tie-outs that I debuted on my Batwing DIY all-season tarp. Finished weight was a very attractive 13 ounces on the nose. Eliminating the reinforcement patches at the corner knocked somewhere between one and two hours off of the build time (part of which involved the time-consuming encased roll hem on the original tarp). I also used my new edge-binding presser foot to install the grosgrain edging, which can improve both speed and precision once you're acquainted with its function.

[Trail Troll]

Amazing as always! You have phenomenal workmanship sir, I'm sure your wife was very happy with her work of art.

[bluzharp]

That is one gorgeous tarp!!! I'd give my left ear for one!


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