Hemming/Customizing Tarps?

[claybcook]

I need to alter a mesh/shade tarp for my shelter. Anyone have any guidance on doing this? I can use one original edge with grommets, but the other two sides will be curves, so I'll need to re-edge those sides. Would simply wrapping tape around the raw edge be sufficient? Generally Duct tape solves all problems, but I'm not sure it's up to this task. Any other tapes you would suggest? I can embed some Mule tape into the edge for strength, should I also consider sewing or in some other way binding the finished edge? Would several layers of the mesh folded over be a good enough edge to contain grommets and be strong enough?

[Chowski]

I'm no expert, but I strongly suspect tape isn't going to do anything. At the very least, you will need several folded layers of strong material with metal grommets. Probably best to add some kind of cloth tape inside that fold, sew the whole thing together, then grommet it. 70 MPH winds are going to shred anything that isn't built to last.

[claybcook]

Yes, my thoughts exactly. I'm no seamstress, but I can imagine folding the raw edge over and back several times onto double sided sail tape or something equivalent until a thickness is established and then grommeting. The challenge is finding some industrial sewing facility willing to take the taped version and run a few lines of heavy gauge thread through it.

[Roundabout]

I would not rely on a taped tarp edge. All the wind, dust, and flapping can cause the tape to suddenly release. I sewed up some tarp edges last year on a regular household sewing machine. It took a lot of careful folding to get the tarps properly through the machine. I put 1/8" braided cotton cording into the edge of the fold and sewed it all in. I then placed my grommets on the other side of the cord. This significantly improved the strength of the grommets.

[Ratty]

What Chowski and roundabout said. They got it just right. Cut to size leaving 5 or 6 inches at least. Fold over a single layer of strong fabric. Include a thin rope or paracord in the fold. Let it stick out at both ends long enough to tie onto your structure. It's gonna be a bitch to make the hole for the grommet. Test your hole making on the part you cut off. You may have to resort to drastic measures. Think outside the box and do let us know how this works out. (Maybe reach out to Figjam or the guys on the car thread for help. I would attack it with a woodburning iron or a soldering gun. But that's just me.

[EGAZ]

If you dont have access to an industrial sewing machine, see if you have an awning company in town. I had one make up custom binds for the patio. Hems, grommets, etc.

[motskyroonmatick]

There are places all over the US that make shade cloth to custom sizes. Mostly for agricultural purposes. It would not surprise me if one of them was willing to sew a reinforced taped edge and add grommets. There is a place 3 miles from me that has done just that for a friend with raw shade cloth purchased from another supplier. Usually there is a per foot charge for the taped edges(tape here refers to more of a ribbon of woven shade cloth like material) and a charge per grommet. Since your task is out of the ordinary with a curved edge they may ask for a little bit more as the sewing prices relate to the time to complete the task but are listed as a per foot cost.