So I had this old synthetic mummy bag and I figured hey why not try this out if all else fails stick with the moving blanket. First off let me say I am no back packer I am a jeeper through and through. So I can pretty much carry all I can in the back of my jeep. So weight is not really a big thing to me. That being said, This is really great it took an amazing amount of disassembly the get what I wanted.
Here are the instructions as I did it. (sorry only pictures of the results)
1.) Seem rip the bit of length from the bottom of the zipper and rip the bottom off as well. Since mine is synthetic I had no worries of everything disintegrating on me it all stayed nicely together.
2.) Once you have the bag as flat as possible proceed to seem rip off the zipper and if you have a shoulder cinch gently rip that off too. Now you should have a mostly flat mummy bag with all the seems exposed.
3.) If you have an extra person to help you this is where you call them in. I recruited my Dad. Measure the length of the bottom of your bag since it tapers this is the widest you can make the Quilt. Mine was 45" wide. It is easier to measure from the center seem of the bag on either side to get it equal all the way down. You can use a washable marker or a sharpie. depending on the color of the bag you are suing or your preferences. Mine is red and black so a few sharpie marker lines didn't hurt anything. Get a long straight edge and mark the width all the way down the fabric. Know is the difficult part especially if you don't have very good scissors. Trim all the way down the sides use your partner to hold the other end of it helps.
4.) now you should have a rectangle from the remains of your old bag. This is where you need to make a decision. Do you want to add darts/pleats or keep it rectangle. I went the full enchilada and added three large pleats. they are about 1.5" so thye each pull in 3" i shortened the over all length of 66" to 57". To pu in a dart follow thes instructions http://www.denverfabrics.com/pages/s...wing-darts.htm I strongly suggest darts and trimming them because my sewing machine did not like sewing through pleats. It is a burly old singer older than me by twice.
When you have the body the way you want it (with or without darts) time to pin it closed.
5.) Before sewing the bag closed to need to add the suspension system. Mine consisted of a nylon channel along all four edges. it is easy once you have the edges pinned the way you want, close all the edges.
6.) All that is left now is to add your cord and hang it up
here it is
My cinching system is just two opposing slip knots comonly found on necklaces.
I used a bead and a large knot to keep the other end of my cord from slipping in
Inside
Outside
This is my first Hammock DIY though I have made may things this one is definitely and interesting one to construct.
Also I plan on making a pillow from the bottom of the hammock and a hood from the mummy hood.
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Originally Posted by EastTexasHanger
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