My first DIY Bugnet

**mikewilkinson** · 06-28-2010, 07:41

Thought I'd share with you all my first attempt at using a sewing machine!

This my Mark 1 Bugnet, I know it is using white netting, but It was all I had to hand and I didn't want to spend money on some nice Noseeum to only bodge it up and make a mess!!

It is based on the Mirage Idea on Jeffs intothewoods site.

Slips onto my SLS and uses the suspension line to hold it away from the body.

The ends are stiched closed except for a small hole for line to pass through and seals around the SLS with some 3mm bungee cord sewn into the hem, the bottom is open and is held around the hammocks underside by more 3mm bungee cord in the hem.
Could do with being slightly longer about the hammock as when I did the 'bounce around to see if it slips test' every so often it would ride up over the hammocks sides - not often but enough for me to consider a mark 2!!

**CMPops** · 06-28-2010, 08:05

Mike, looks great! I'm told you can tea dye the white netting to get a darker -- more transparent -- net. Might be worth looking into rather than building a new net just for color.

I have a question, though. I imagine it's fairly easy to get into the empty hammock, but how difficult is it to get out of the hammock with it shock-corded below, once you factor in darkness, lack of real consciousness, and a full bladder? I'm making a bugnet as well and I love this design, but that's my only concern.

**G.L.P.** · 06-28-2010, 08:47

that came out really nice.....i want to remake mine but just havn't found the time yet

**mikewilkinson** · 06-28-2010, 09:46

the shock cord does not need to be amazingly tight, just enough so that it hugs around the sides of the hammock and stops the midges getting in. The elastic of the bungees allows it to move with your body as you get comfortable. Getting out is the same as getting out without it there, as soon as you swing your legs around to sit up the net opens up around you legs. One of my reasons for a mark 2 is that this may not go underneath me enough to prevent accidently opening it on rare occasions, although so far this has not happened.

Excuse the dark image, it was getting late and taken on a mobile phone.

**mikewilkinson** · 06-28-2010, 10:07

Some very ( I mean very, supposed to be working!!) basic directions as to what I did!!

Choice is yours, either sling on seperate ridgeline, or in my case, feed onto hammock SLS and hang over hammock.

Note the Hammock suspension needs to be fed through the side holes as well.

You could, as Mirage has done, put velcro up the sides so that you can sling after hammock set-up and velcro around your suspension, however the KISS principle in my case said leave that out (Don't think my sewing skills would have gone that far!)

Works for me and I'm happy and thats all that counts

**Coffee** · 06-28-2010, 10:11

Looks good. I did something similar around the ends and it works fine keeping the bugs out. Did you try it with your quilt in yet? I had problems with my first one being too small and compressing the insulation on my UQ.

**Goblin** · 06-28-2010, 10:13

Very nicely done. What size is the netting? Also, are there any special concerns when sewing bug netting? Is it just like sewing any other type of fabric?

**mikewilkinson** · 06-28-2010, 11:14

I'm afraid I couldn't tell you the size of the netting, was one side of an old box net that I had. Seems to the stop the English midge though, and those little blighters can get into anything.

I don't use a UQ just a mat, so no problems there.

As for sewing the netting, the only thing is how stretchy it is. I put a little tension in it and let the machine pull it through, seemed to come out o.k.