First Hammock - Making it myself - Suggestions welcome!

[FightingTheTide]

While I wait for materials to arrive, I wanted to get my plan set. I'm going to follow the steps listed here to sew together my two sheets of 1.1 ripstop, leaving room for a pad to be inserted and allowing a channel at the ends for whipping. This seems to be the same idea as Knotty's gathered end hammock instructions, right?

My biggest question is whether or not I should attempt to make this a stretch-side hammock. With my two layers being 1.1oz each, and with it being a double layer, would it be too much trouble? Let me know your thoughts.

I have polyester drawcord to gather the whipped ends, and I am about to run to the store to buy some amsteel to make whoopie slings. I found this youtube video for making whoopies. Let me know if there are any other videos that you would recommend. It does seem a little daunting (and so does all the sewing), but I think I can do it.

So after I get the edges hemmed and the ends gathered, I'll run the whoopie slings through, and then work on making my tree straps.

Am I missing anything here?

[FightingTheTide]

Thoughts on suspension:

So far I have planned on buying amsteel for whoopie slings, but I'm also toying around with the idea of a ring-buckle suspension.

I have a gift card to REI, so to cut costs I am wondering if this setup would work:

-2 Bluewater Titan/Spectra Runners - using a larkshead knot to connect to the hammock on one end, and rings on the other - is this strong enough for this purpose?
-4 SMC Descender Rings - 1.5" inner diameter
-2 Black Diamond Neutrino Wiregate Carabiners - for easy connection to the tree, in place of running my webbing through itself

Any thoughts here? This would keep my entire hammock setup under $50 so far. I'm okay with spending more if this system isn't going to work.

[gmcttr]

I suggest reviewing this thread and use the ideas along with the directions you linked.

Making a dbl layer a stretch side is easy to do just like a single layer. Here are a couple of ways I have done it...way 1.....way2.

[JohnSawyer]

While I wait for materials to arrive, I wanted to get my plan set. I'm going to follow the steps listed here to sew together my two sheets of 1.1 ripstop, leaving room for a pad to be inserted and allowing a channel at the ends for whipping. This seems to be the same idea as Knotty's gathered end hammock instructions, right?

My biggest question is whether or not I should attempt to make this a stretch-side hammock. With my two layers being 1.1oz each, and with it being a double layer, would it be too much trouble? Let me know your thoughts.

I have polyester drawcord to gather the whipped ends, and I am about to run to the store to buy some amsteel to make whoopie slings. I found this youtube video for making whoopies. Let me know if there are any other videos that you would recommend. It does seem a little daunting (and so does all the sewing), but I think I can do it.

So after I get the edges hemmed and the ends gathered, I'll run the whoopie slings through, and then work on making my tree straps.

Am I missing anything here?

Scott's instructions are spot-on. Follow them to the letter and you'll do fine. Your first rolled hems will be ugly, but it makes no difference to the comfort on your hammock! Be proud you did it, and amaze your friends!

Adding the stretch-side mod is easy, just make your rolled hems big enough to run a piece of shock cord down them. You can add that at any time, and it's worthwhile.

Thoughts on suspension:

So far I have planned on buying amsteel for whoopie slings, but I'm also toying around with the idea of a ring-buckle suspension.

I have a gift card to REI, so to cut costs I am wondering if this setup would work:

-2 Bluewater Titan/Spectra Runners - using a larkshead knot to connect to the hammock on one end, and rings on the other - is this strong enough for this purpose?
-4 SMC Descender Rings - 1.5" inner diameter
-2 Black Diamond Neutrino Wiregate Carabiners - for easy connection to the tree, in place of running my webbing through itself

Any thoughts here? This would keep my entire hammock setup under $50 so far. I'm okay with spending more if this system isn't going to work.

Whoopies are easier than you think, it just takes some planning and time. Not a big deal.

Buy 3' of extra amsteel for your hammock. Make a locked brummel with a 8-10" tail, then tie a large (Triple-overhand) knot. Feed the loop through the center of your whipped bundle (I assume you're using Knotty's instructions) with the knot on the outside of the end of the hammock. Now you have a great loop to tie your adjustable ridgeline to. The whoopie and large knot will keep the loop from pulling through when you're in the hammock and the ridgeline is under load.

One trick: Make the loop in your ridgeline (a locked brummel) first, and make the end amsteel loop through it.

I am, of course, assuming you're using something like DIY's techline for a ridgeline...

John

[FightingTheTide]

I suggest reviewing this thread and use the ideas along with the directions you linked.

Making a dbl layer a stretch side is easy to do just like a single layer. Here are a couple of ways I have done it...way 1.....way2.

Thanks!

Whoopies are easier than you think, it just takes some planning and time. Not a big deal.

Buy 3' of extra amsteel for your hammock. Make a locked brummel with a 8-10" tail, then tie a large (Triple-overhand) knot. Feed the loop through the center of your whipped bundle (I assume you're using Knotty's instructions) with the knot on the outside of the end of the hammock. Now you have a great loop to tie your adjustable ridgeline to. The whoopie and large knot will keep the loop from pulling through when you're in the hammock and the ridgeline is under load.

One trick: Make the loop in your ridgeline (a locked brummel) first, and make the end amsteel loop through it.

I am, of course, assuming you're using something like DIY's techline for a ridgeline...

John

Yeah I am using DIY techline for the ridgeline. That seems like a good route for connecting the SRL to the whoopie. I'm still left wondering if I should go with whoopies + ring buckles + tree huggers, or whoopies + carabiner + tree huggers?

EDIT - would whoopies + ring buckles be overkill? It seems like you don't need 2 points of adjustment. Help me out here...I'm new to all of this and getting lost in all the options

[gmcttr]

...I'm still left wondering if I should go with whoopies + ring buckles + tree huggers, or whoopies + carabiner + tree huggers?

EDIT - would whoopies + ring buckles be overkill? It seems like you don't need 2 points of adjustment. Help me out here...I'm new to all of this and getting lost in all the options

Yes, whoopies + ring buckles would be overkill. One point of adjustment is all you need.

With that said, go ahead and get the materials for both suspension systems. You'll always wonder until you try both, so you might as well get it all at once and save on shipping.

[FightingTheTide]

Yes, whoopies + ring buckles would be overkill. One point of adjustment is all you need.

With that said, go ahead and get the materials for both suspension systems. You'll always wonder until you try both, so you might as well get it all at once and save on shipping.

Sounds good. Would this work well for the ring buckle system? Or should I find a strong cord at REI instead? Trying to use my giftcard here.

[AT4ever]

Dude! I'm envious of the way you're going about putting together your rig!
For I have cheapened my own experience by slyly slinking into my nearest Taylor to have the stitch work done. Shhhhhhh! Don't tell anyone!

[Mouseskowitz]

Ring and buckle is really fun and so are whoopies. Try them both and see what work better. This spread sheet made whoopies really easy for me.

I wish I could find the site I used for my hammock pattern. The easy description is single seam all the way around, folded in half, ends rolled to form channels making it 10 ft, then the middle 4ft sown together. That will leave 3ft spaces on all four corners for a pad if I every use one. Hope that makes sense. I'll hopefully have a new thread with pics from my newly done stuff.

[FightingTheTide]

Let me know when you post that. I would love to see your plans. And thanks for the excel sheet. I'll check that out soon.

Does anyone have a suggestion of what rope to get from REI for a ring-buckle suspension? Like I said, I'm wanting to use my gift card to make this cheaper, and they don't sell amsteel. However, I will buy amsteel for my whoopie sling suspension.

And now the waiting game begins as I count the days until my materials arrive!