{"id":2609,"date":"2016-09-15T00:20:25","date_gmt":"2016-09-14T21:20:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gerald-zojer.com\/blog\/?p=2609"},"modified":"2024-09-19T12:33:41","modified_gmt":"2024-09-19T09:33:41","slug":"instructions-make-diy-lightweight-tarp-with-patterns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gerald-zojer.com\/blog\/instructions-make-diy-lightweight-tarp-with-patterns\/","title":{"rendered":"DIY – How to Make Your Own Lightweight Tarp – With Patterns"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"build-up<\/a>
My DIY tarp in action<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since I am still experimenting with different kind of shelters for hiking, I made myself a tarp this year, in order to be more flexible and faster set up than with a tent. Here you’ll find how I created my tarp: What materials did I use, sewing instructions, and patterns.
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Why a Tarp?<\/h1>\n

In the past years I have been experimenting with other types of accommodation than a tent, which I perceive as something where I am closed in in the meantime. I love the idea of being able to the see the sky before falling asleep, and also right after waking up in the morning. For this purpose I sewed myself a bivy bag<\/a> two years ago, and it proofed as a great shelter in wintertime. For summer, though, with the possibility of rain, I wanted to have something more spacious. This should be more convenient during rainy days, but also more communicative for non-solo trips. I also like the idea that on a rainy day, you have a quick to set up shelter for cooking or resting. Thus I decided to make myself a tarp.<\/p>\n

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Materials & Considerations<\/h1>\n

Unlike for my earlier bivy project, the choice of material was much easier, as the fabric doesn’t need to be breathable. With the only criteria of having a water proof and light-weight fabric, my choice easily fell for a silicon coated nylon.<\/p>\n

Main material<\/strong><\/p>\n

I found a 20den nylon, coated with silicon on both sides, with only 36 g\/qm<\/a>. Perfectly light weight, and with 2000mm hydrostatic head I thought enough water proof for its purpose. While the tear strength of min. 9,2 kg (DIN EN ISO 13937-4) seemed enough for the tarp, of course I wanted to strengthen the anchor points.<\/p>\n

Other materials<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anchor Points<\/span><\/p>\n

For this purpose I used old left over light weight tent floor with 90 g\/qm, though since it is also a coated material, I made wholes into the individual pieces, so that water (for example from condensation) can escape.<\/p>\n

\"anchor<\/a> \"anchor <\/a>\"tarp<\/a><\/p>\n

For attaching tent stakes or lines, I found some very light-weight aluminum rings<\/a>, with only 1.3 g each.<\/p>\n

Webbing & Velcro<\/span><\/p>\n

The rings are attached with a 10 mm webbing to the main material.<\/p>\n

Since I wasn’t sure how much I can trust the strength of the main material, but also to make sewing easier (the silnylon is very slippery), I decided to sew the two fabric lanes on a ca. 20 mm thin and felxible webbing.<\/p>\n

Since I often sleep somewhere in the tundra, there are no trees to attach the tarp to. When using poles only at the end, I was afraid that all the wind would blow through, but also that in stormy weather rain could easily come inside. Thus I wanted to be able to built up the tarp from inside, like a tent.
\nFor this purpose my plan was to use hiking poles. Due to the slippery surface of silnylon it wouldn’t be possible to simply place the poles underneath. Consequently I got the idea to attach velcro in certain places to the middle webbing. With some left over fabrics I made kind of hoods with velcro for my poles, which only add a few more grams to the whole tarp.<\/p>\n

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\"pole\"<\/a> \"pole\"
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Water-proofing seams<\/span><\/p>\n

While along the outer seams I used regular nylon threads, in the middle the main material is sewed with a nylon thread that has a cotton coating. The expanding cotton – when getting wet – should better seal the seams.<\/p>\n

Additionally I attached a layer of silicon<\/a> on the outside of the middle seams. It is recommended to put some talc powder (like baby powder) on top of it, to avoid having a sticky surface.<\/p>\n

Other materials<\/span><\/p>\n

For setting up the tarp I also got me some tent fasteners<\/a> and a a reflective tent rope. And finally, I also sewed in some reflective piping in the top corners of the tarp.<\/p>\n

Material List<\/h1>\n