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?
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I always like going SOBO; somehow, it feels like going downhill.
...and as it harm none, do what ye will.
None. Go for it.
As always, don't hang higher than you're willing to fall.
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.
Last edited by Monkeyboy42; 02-09-2015 at 20:42.
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.
[QUOTE=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.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=This method does use extra material and this makes it a little bit heavier, but it is an easy way to do a hammock.[/QUOTE]
I have 13 feet of material, so I should have plenty of fabric.
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I always like going SOBO; somehow, it feels like going downhill.
...and as it harm none, do what ye will.
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.
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.Originally Posted by OutandBack
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.
On the WBBB it's a small bit of cordage that runs through the channel that is wrapped around the gather. It's hidden by the amsteel. If you ever swap out your suspension you would see it there.
Don't let life get in the way of living.
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