I have laced several 2 piece tramps--you can't start at one side and work your way to the other. The small lacing strip moves to the side you start with and gets off center. I found that if you use 2 ropes and start from the outside and work your way in, you get a better look. That way, the lacing strip doesn't drift and you can tighten the outer edge of the tramp first instead of tightening the middle and having the outer edge bind.