DIY Tablecloth Hammock (the way I do it)

[Rekoob]

Hi folks,
I'm gonna try and make a couple of these to take on an upcoming camping trip with a bunch of family.


I need your help.
I happen to be blind. I want to buy some stealthy or inconspicuous colors.
What do you suggest from:
http://www.tableclothsfactory.com/ta...shes-s/132.htm

I want colors that won't stand out too much when hung in the trees.

Also, I'm having a little trouble understanding the directions to "pull out the edges." Assuming that the short edge of the tablecloth is folded like a fan, does this just mean to unfold each end of the fan a couple of times? Or, to pull the outside edges, or corners more toward the ends, effectively tightening up the outside edges of the hammock?

thanks for your help!

I don't think any of them are very stealthy, except maybe the black. They are all pretty true to color but like I said, not very stealthy.

Yes to the pull the corners more toward the ends, or more out of the gather, tightening up the outside edges of the hammock. It will be easy to try different gathers if you want to.

Good luck.

[ghh3rd]

I found this thread a particularly good read for a newcomer.

[Caveman]

Thanks. It has grown to quite a usable tutorial, especially with all the great additional information from all the other users.

I found this thread a particularly good read for a newcomer.

[curlymaple42]

Resurrection time!!! LOL!!!! Curious if anyone has added a ridgeline to their TCHammock? And how do you do it? I made my first TCH actually using the heavier fabric as the taffeta ones in sage green were out of stock. My wife's and daughter's are the nylon t though. Mine is heavier by far! Anyways, I did the fold over 1" and thread inject the fish a zip tie through and bind up, so a gathered end. Then I used some Amsteel that was bigger than what people typically use here, and tied a poacher's knot/loop on one end to wrap around and then through itself to grab the hammock, then fished the tag end through the hole left by the gathered end. At first I left it long and used the double ring deal on the tree straps in a biner, but Amsteel didn't like that crushing action very much and it slipped. So I just tied another poachers knot or a perfection loop, can't remember, and biner'd that to the new tree straps with the whole bunch of loops for adjustment. I really should use the poachers know on the hammock and then learn to make a whoopie sling on the other end!

Making my mom a TCH for her birthday in January. Going to add side tieouts to it I think...

[Caveman]

I actually make a long UCR and use that as a ridge line. That way I have a little adjustability until I can get it dialed in like I like it.

Whoopies make life fun, but for ease of use I would say cinch buckles and long straps are the easiest method of suspension that I've found.

[curlymaple42]

UCR? I know I should know what that is but I'm having a brain block here. Lol!

[goobie]

UCR? I know I should know what that is but I'm having a brain block here. Lol!

This might help https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...To-Make-an-UCR

[curlymaple42]

What is the hammock length of a standard tablecloth hammock? I was considering making a fixed ridgeline for one. I certainly could go adjustable, but the fixed is lighter as there is less rope used.

[Artful]

curlymaple42, in another thread it said 83% of the length of the hammock

so using the tableclothsfactory.com defaults
120 * 83% = 99.6
126 * 83% = 104.5
132 * 83% = 109.6
156 * 83% = 129.5

but your ends may eat up some the of length so you may need to recalculate

[Artful]

So I put in a 129" chunk of mule tape on my 90"x156" table cloth and it really changed the way the hammock felt.