zuzmara

Catenary-cut tarp

Bag type: Shelter. Style: Tarp.

A flat tarp to pitch as an A-frame over a ridgeline: two panels joined by a flat-felled seam down the ridge (one piece when your fabric is wide enough), every edge between two tie-outs cut on a true catenary curve so it pulls taut when pitched. A patch and a webbing or grosgrain loop at every tie-out: the four corners, both ends of the ridge and along the eaves. The edges are rolled and stitched; the guy lines are on the shopping list.

A free shelter sewing pattern. Set your sizes and download it at true scale, with a cut list and a shopping list. Free, no account.

You can change: size · tabs and webbing · edges and corners · seams and finish.

Sizes

• Default: 300 × 240 cm (118 1/8 × 94 1/2 in)
• Solo A-frame: 280 × 220 cm (110 1/4 × 86 5/8 in). One sleeper and a pack under a low A-frame between two trekking poles; sil-poly, one tie-out halfway along each eave.
• Two-person: 300 × 270 cm (118 1/8 × 106 5/16 in). Two sleepers side by side, wide enough to pitch low in wind; two panels of 150 cm fabric and a tie-out at each eave’s middle.

What you need

• Outer fabric
• Tie-out loop webbing, 20 mm: 80 cm
• Guy line cord, ridge ends (2 lines): 374 cm
• Guy line cord, corners and sides (6 lines): 900 cm
• Line tensioners (line-locks), one per guy line × 8

The other patterns

• Zip pouch
  • Boxy zip pouch: A boxy zippered pouch: front and back panels (straight or tapered) and a gusset loop.
  • One-piece zip pouch: The classic single-piece pouch: one panel wraps the whole box.
  • Packing cube: A two-panel packing cube.
  • Boxed zip pouch: The easiest pouch to cut: one rectangle.
  • Rounded zip pouch: A rounded gusset pouch.
  • Clamshell pouch: A pouch that opens flat like a book.
  • Dopp kit: A wash bag that hangs open.
• Hip pack
  • One-piece hip pack: The simplest hip pack: one panel wraps the whole body.
  • Boxy hip pack: A boxy hip pack: front and back panels and a gusset loop.
  • Hip pack — rounded bottom: A hip pack with square top corners and rounded bottom corners.
  • Hip pack: A fully rounded hip pack.
  • Hip-belt pocket: A small zip pocket that threads onto a backpack’s hip belt, cut as a pair.
• Stuff sack
  • Stuff sack: A sack with a round, oval, boxed or flat bottom.
  • Roll-top sack: A sack with a round, oval, boxed or flat bottom, sewn from two body panels with a side seam at each end of the roll.
  • Drawstring backpack: A flat sack worn on the back.
  • Compression stuff sack: A round stuff sack with a drawcord top and a round cap over it on four webbing straps.
• Sleeve
  • Sleeve: A flat zip sleeve or wallet.
  • Strap pocket: A slim zipped pocket for a backpack shoulder strap, cut as one rectangle.
• Holder
  • Bottle holster: An open cylinder for a bottle on a pack strap.
  • Stem bag: A feed bag for the handlebar.
  • Chalk bag: A climbing chalk bag.
  • Chalk bucket: A wide, low chalk bucket that stands open on the ground.
  • Bellows bottle pouch: A bottle or phone pocket for a pack strap or hip belt.
  • Flap strap pocket: A phone or bottle pocket for a pack’s shoulder strap or hip belt that opens with one hand.
• Tote
  • Tote: An open tote bag with two handles.
  • Convertible tote-pack: A tote that converts to a simple backpack.
  • Musette: A flat, light shoulder bag with one long strap, worn across the body.
  • Sling: A flat crossbody bag.
• Tray
  • Darted tray / box base: A one-piece tray: a rounded-corner base whose walls fold up, with darts at each corner that close the excess fabric so the walls stand vertical.
• Wallet
  • Folded card wallet: A bifold card wallet from one strip of a fabric that does not fray (laminate or coated cloth).
  • Coin purse: A small zippered coin purse in three shapes.
  • Tool roll: A flat roll of pockets for tools.
• Bike
  • Frame bag: A bag for the frame's main triangle, drafted from your own frame.
  • Handlebar bag: A roll that mounts across the handlebar.
  • Top-tube bag: A small zippered bag on top of the top tube, behind the stem.
  • Saddle bag: A small zippered wedge that hangs under the saddle, for a spare tube, tyre levers, a multi-tool and a small pump.
• Duffel
  • Folded duffel: A light duffel folded from one rectangle of cloth.
  • Barrel duffel: A barrel bag for the gym or a weekend away.
• Shelter
  • Groundsheet: A groundsheet to lay under a tent, a tarp or a sleeping mat.
  • Rain kilt: A rain kilt for the trail.