New hammock design?

**Paprika bohlmann** · 11-08-2011, 16:36

As I clean the house and get lunch ready for my daughter I often day dream about drinking a double IPA with friends, what I want to make for dinner, the greek homework I have to do (more like stressing over) and how I would rather be in my hammock. Today, instead of day dreaming I had a hammock design idea. See the graphic below. I used googles sketch up to create this Gathered end hammock. The pockets on each end are supposed to be where your head and feet go so you can lay strait in the hammock. I have limited skills with CAD type programs so use your imagination and pretend the fabric (ripstop or any other type of light weight material) would hang.

It could be thought of as a beach hammock/ gathered end. I was trying to accomplish some way of taking the gathered end hammock and making it so I could lay straight across it, I dislike the feeling placed on my knees to my feet with my gathered end hammock and when its pulled tight its feels to tight on my shoulders. What are you thoughts, reactions, advice? has this been done before? I look forward to your response.

center flat lay hammock by pappy2012, on Flickr

**dejoha** · 11-08-2011, 16:52

In essence, this is the genesis of the bridge hammock. You will experience shoulder squeeze, but have a head-to-foot flat lay.

WV · 11-08-2011, 16:59

Originally Posted by dejoha

In essence, this is the genesis of the bridge hammock. You will experience shoulder squeeze, but have a head-to-foot flat lay.

Probably very astute. I was trying to imagine where the stresses in the fabric would be, and the thought occurred: "a bridge with wings". But where are the spreaders and/or what replaces them? The wings?

Keep thinking, PaprikaB! Better yet, build one.

**Ramblinrev** · 11-08-2011, 17:24

I'm thinking you will still end up banana shaped because the flat area has no integrated rigidity. It will fold like any gathered end if I am thinking correctly. The bridge has a suspension line along to the edge to keep the bed flat.

But by all means... build it an see what happens. Just don't hang higher than you are willing to fall during the testing and design process.

**Carolina Razorback** · 11-08-2011, 17:44

Definitely make sure that your seam work and stitching is ramped up...I see it being weak around where it is cut to accommodate the flat lay. Makes me wonder about a big feller like me?

Just another 2cents throwed into the mix