Pull It Up or Cut It Off

I quickly frankensteined a 3/4 UQ from an old sleeping bag the other weekend, which worked great by the way, but it ended up wider than 48 inches. I didn't think that would be a big deal, as my feminine girth would fill most of the extra width and the sides didn't sag from weight, but when I'm in the hammock there's a small gap between my lower back and the quilt. That's the only area that gets cold and eventually the air in that pocket warms up, it just takes a while.

I'm thinking of cutting an inch or two off the side to try and eliminate that air pocket, but I'm not sure that's better than using a couple pieces of shock cord and a mitten hook and pulling the sides up. I know the UQ would be lighter if I trimmed it, but wanted to see if anyone else had any ideas before I started stitching or chopping.

Any suggestions?

Would adding some tabs and shockcord to the sides to pull it up be a quick experiment? That way you can at least see the outcome before the larger cutting project.

Dang.

I read the title and had a Basic Training flashback.

I'd suggest a couple of tabs on the sides and a bit of shock cord. Clip it to the ridgeline. That will probably help pull it up against you pretty well. I've done this in the past and it worked well. Let us know what you decide to do and how it works out.

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Originally Posted by Caveman

I'd suggest a couple of tabs on the sides and a bit of shock cord. Clip it to the ridgeline. That will probably help pull it up against you pretty well. I've done this in the past and it worked well. Let us know what you decide to do and how it works out.

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Originally Posted by dragon360

Would adding some tabs and shockcord to the sides to pull it up be a quick experiment? That way you can at least see the outcome before the larger cutting project.

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That's one of the two things I was considering, and the less permanent of the two. I may just run with that and see how it works out. Cross your fingers and hope I don't kill myself getting caught up in the line when trying to get up in the middle of the night to water the bushes.
:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by sargevining

Dang.

I read the title and had a Basic Training flashback.

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I don't even wanna know... well, actually I DO, but I definitely ain't gonna ask. ;)

I'm for trying to pull it up first myself.

PS: Something about this thread made me start to think critically about what FBG must stand for. lol

Do you have shock cord running the length of the quilt or just on the ends. It's a great weight savings not running the shock cord but I find it also causes saggy problems. The shock cord will help seal the sides to the hammock.

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Originally Posted by sargevining

Dang.

I read the title and had a Basic Training flashback.

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Yeah your dingle dangle dragging in the dirt huh.

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Originally Posted by FBG

I quickly frankensteined a 3/4 UQ from an old sleeping bag the other weekend, which worked great by the way, but it ended up wider than 48 inches. I didn't think that would be a big deal, as my feminine girth would fill most of the extra width and the sides didn't sag from weight, but when I'm in the hammock there's a small gap between my lower back and the quilt. That's the only area that gets cold and eventually the air in that pocket warms up, it just takes a while.

I'm thinking of cutting an inch or two off the side to try and eliminate that air pocket, but I'm not sure that's better than using a couple pieces of shock cord and a mitten hook and pulling the sides up. I know the UQ would be lighter if I trimmed it, but wanted to see if anyone else had any ideas before I started stitching or chopping.

Any suggestions?

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When I first started using my 3/4 u q it did the same thing to me. What I realized was that the tensioning cord that draws the ends together to fit up tight was actualy too tight . When the cords were loosened a little on both ends it let the whole u q come up higher on the hammock which eliminated the gap.
Later I changed the suspension from being pulled up from the ends to being pulled up into my ridge line. This changes the hang angle from out to up making a very warm u q with enough side to be higher than my shoulders. This way of hanging the u q from the ridge line also gives me the ability to fully adjust the hang of the u q from inside the hammock.
If its warm slack it to allow air under the hammock,if cold tighen and the air gap goes away making it warm again.