This is the first of several articles from the “old” site that I will be reissuing on the blog. I have some great info on tarps along with a file full of assorted schematics that I plan to put together in a tarps entry coming up.

Silnylon is silicon impregnated ripstop nylon. It is extremely waterproof, extremely lightweight (1.1 oz. per yard), and extremely durable. Ultralight backpackers love it for this reason. It’s a little tricky to work with, but making your own gear out of silnylon is very rewarding.  Tarps, tarptents, raingear and even re-usable shopping bags can be made with silnylon.

You can find it at Thru-hiker.com, Outdoors Wilderness Fabrics. Check the Sources page for additional suppliers.

Sewing:

• use “taut sewing”: apply tension to the fabric with your hands, in front of and in back of the needle. The object is to tension the fabric, not pull it through.
• use a good quality polyester thread
• a walking foot (even feed) is a very helpful accessory
• Use a #80 or 90 needle and make sure it is new and sharp

 

Pinning:

• glue stick
• binder clips
• pins in seam allowance

 
Cutting:

• use SHARP shears.
• try hot cutting two layers with a soldering iron, using a sheet of glass underneath. This will seal your cut edge so it won’t ravel, and if your two edges are going to be seamed anyway it will hold them together.
• rotary cutter with mat

 
Seam ideas:

• Plain Hem: fold 3/4″ twice and edgestitch.
• Mock flat fell seam: illustrated here. To make a “mock” felled seam, use a 1″and 1/2″ seam allowances, and fold the longer one around, then top stitch
• Seam illustrated at Ayce’s Workshop

 
Sealing silnylon: use McNett Silnet.