Simple Knot end?

**TreeBeard13** · 02-09-2015, 14:28

OK this is probably a really stupid noob question, but I saw a YouTube vid where a guy made a hammock by just tying a double overhand knot at the end of the fabric and putting the whoopie sling over it. Magnificently simple. This sounds a lot easier than sewing and gathering and whipping and all that stuff I suck at.

What sort of danger, ridicule and tales of woe would actually befall someone using this method?

**Boston** · 02-09-2015, 15:01

None. Go for it.

As always, don't hang higher than you're willing to fall.

**Monkeyboy42** · 02-09-2015, 15:33

It may work. Personally I'd whip the end instead, since this allows for a tighter cinch if done properly.

I've done tests to play with different folding and whipping methods, and have had falls due to the whipping cordage not being cinched tight enough. The loops cinched tight, and then pulled the whipping cordage right off the end of the fabric. Oops! Fortunately it was a 12" fall onto carpet.

edit: just reread this and thought "DOH!" you meant tying a knot in the fabric? Yes this will work. its harder to control some factors, but it will only get tighter as you hang.

**geneaut** · 02-09-2015, 17:41

My first tablecloth hammock is constructed that way, and I'm still using it from time to time for lounging ( it lives in a stuff sack in my van with some old tree straps so it's ready to go anywhere I'm at ).

My only knock on the method is that the knots stake up a bit of the length of the fabric, but I don't find it to be that big of a problem myself. If the thought bothers you just start with a slightly longer blank.

Actually I just remembered my daughters purple tablecloth hammock is constructed that way as well. She's not even 5 feet tall so a shorter hammock doesn't faze her a bit.

**Country Roads** · 02-09-2015, 19:38

I have been hanging about 8 nights per year on a hammock done up this way. I just constructed a Poly D hammock with this method too. Leave plenty of room at the end for the knot to give a bit and tighten them securely (but mine usually don't give much). I actually only us a single overhand knot. This method does use extra material and this makes it a little bit heavier, but it is an easy way to do a hammock. Hammock does need to be hemmed on all 4 sides; although I guess you would not have to on the ends with the knots but they would probably ravel a bit. Take a look at Shugs Greenbean hammock in his videos, it is done up with knots on each end.

**OutandBack** · 02-09-2015, 19:56

I believe Warbonnet and Wilderness Logic does this simple knoted end.

**Monkeyboy42** · 02-09-2015, 20:44

Originally Posted by OutandBack

I believe Warbonnet and Wilderness Logic does this simple knoted end.

You made the same mistake I did. Warbonnet, I believe, runs a cord through a channel and gathers the end (not sure on wilderness logic). He's talking about tying a knot with the fabric itself.

**sunsetkayaker** · 02-09-2015, 20:55

The way you gather the material before you tie the knot makes a difference. For instance, the description I came across said to pull the edges into the knot slightly more than the middle to help the hammock cradle you. Because the gathering method may make a difference, I tied an 8 knot so it would be easier to untie after it is loaded. I am not sure it is makes a big difference since I liked the way I tried it the first time and have not done any further experimenting.

**Tacoma96** · 02-09-2015, 21:04

Throw up a picture on here if you can that would help.

**OutandBack** · 02-09-2015, 23:22

Originally Posted by Monkeyboy42

You made the same mistake I did. Warbonnet, I believe, runs a cord through a channel and gathers the end (not sure on wilderness logic). He's talking about tying a knot with the fabric itself.

I wish I had better picts but I can see no cords running thru a channel on the WB or WL.

WBBB 10'

WBBB XLC 11'

Wilderness Logic Snipe 11'

This is what a channel gathered end looks like. As you can see there is no ball of fabric at the end.