When you're tying down, there are never enough loops. I use about 3" of paracord per loop. Keep them big enough for any size of rope or stake you might have to use. You can sew on loops a foot apart all the way around if you want to. When you sew your own, you can get creative.
Oh yeah - don't go cheap on thread. Get the strongest stuff you can find. One of the big problems with low price imported clothes is that the threads break letting the seams come apart.
