Howdy, all. I really like using the DIY tarp tensioners in this thread for my silnylon tarps and tents. However, the ends of the shock cord stick out and are always tangling my lines. So, I've devised these little sleeves that go over the tensioners to keep them from fouling things up; they also dress up their appearance.
They're basically silnylon tubes with a bit of thread stitched through each opening that, after sliding over the tensioners, is drawn tight like a stuff sack and tied off. Here's the basic steps I used:
1) Cut a rectangle wide/long enough to slide over tensioner and account for seam allowance.
2) Hem each end.
3) Using a needle, hand-stitch a length of thread along the hem, beginning on the finished/outside face.
4) Sew the sleeve inside-out along the longest edge.
5) Pull the sleeve right-side-out.
6) Slide the sleeve over the tensioners and cinch/tie off each end.
Here's a picture of the progression from start to finish:
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