Before I make this hammock, let me know what you think. (and how long should I make it?)

**swollen-papaya** · 07-10-2015, 14:54

This is my plan for my second DIY hammock. (I'm making just the hammock body and reusing my trucker's hitch suspension)

Materials
PolyD 1.2 from Dutch with matching Gutterman thread
Whipped ends
Dynaglide ridgeline
Knotty mods - 1/8 shock cord, grogain loops etc

The only question is how long should I cut the material before hemming the edge? I made my last hammock much too short - I started with 9.5" of material and ended up with less than 9" :/.....So what is a good starting length to have before I whip the ends?

**WaffleBox** · 07-10-2015, 14:57

How long do you want the hammock to be? Most people prefer 11', but some are okay with 10'6" or 10". When I made my hammock, I tried whipping it at all three of those lengths before I hemmed it, and settled on 10'6". Whatever length you decide on, add 6-8" when cutting your fabric.

Instead of knotty mods on both sides, you may want to consider the stretchable footbox on one side. It provide the same functionality of a knotty mod but also makes it less likely that your feet or quilt fall over the sides of the hammock.

**MDSH** · 07-10-2015, 16:19

My nominal 10.5 x 5' hammock is very comfortable.

Started with 11 feet, folded 1/2" and marked 3" in from the ends. Gave nice, wide channels and a bit over 10.5 feet to the body.

**MAD777** · 07-10-2015, 18:49

I cut my material 138" to end up with an 11' hammock. If weight is an issue, you can get away with 3/32" shock cord instead of 1/8". In fact, I use 1/16" shock cord with the stretchable footboard referenced above. I put a foot box on both sides so I can change diagonals during the night. I'm a side sleeper.