Instruction: Gathered End Hammock

[monk]

Knotty,Thanks for the advice about the fab. I will find some fabric with that rateing. I did try my hand at the monster of the sewing machine. then try to figure out how to rig a rige line and bug screen.

[dimeotane]

Thanks Knotty for posting your tutorial for us noobs to follow. I now own my first hammock ever and I made it!

Following your tutorial was really easy. It took an hour or two on the sewing machine to do. Really wasn't hard at all to make! I can see myself making another one at some point it was so worth it, and so easy.

I've been interested in getting a hammock for some time, and then had discovered at work in the scrap cloth box about 20ft x 10 ft of nylon cloth. I folded the width in half so it was double layer for extra strength, and cut the length down to about 11ft. Being old cloth, there was a couple small wear marks in the cloth that I fixed with some crazy glue to prevent them from fraying any further. It did the trick nicely.

For my webbing I got a 3 pack of wratchet ties downs from Home Depot for $10. 1" by 10 ft. 1200# rating. That's all I needed to get my hammock up and hanging! I happened to have two trees in the back yard a perfect distance apart for hanging.

Talk about your cheap noob setup! $10, scrap cloth, and a couple hours!

As soon as I kicked back in it on a test run I was amazed how comfortable it was. I was lucky enough to enjoy spending the better part of the evening relaxing in it! I'm officially hooked on hanging!

I think my next step is to figure out some bug mesh and a tarp.

[Knotty]

Glad you took on the hammock project Dimeotane. There are a few detached bug net instructions on the forum. Here's mine. hope you find it helpful.
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=36328

[MrClockWork]

I have watched a few DIY gathered end hammock videos and I was just wondering if there is a benefit to making a curved pattern for the hammock body? If so, is it worth the trouble? If a rectangel pattern works just fine then count me in

[Fronkey]

I have watched a few DIY gathered end hammock videos and I was just wondering if there is a benefit to making a curved pattern for the hammock body? If so, is it worth the trouble? If a rectangel pattern works just fine then count me in

I have a rectangle and it works fantastic for me!

Fronkey

[Knotty]

MrCW - I've stayed away from curved hammock ends because they're usually designed to increase the tension along the hammock's sides but you pay a price in terms of the ability to sit on the edge of the hammock. The extra tension can be uncomfortable on the legs and there's increased chance of tearing out a seam. Still each has to choose what they want vs. what they have to give up.

My solution to the hammock side tension is the Stretch-Side Hammock, a variant on the standard gathered end.

[HappyHiker]

Heres my DL made from the DIYGS plan (http://www.diygearsupply.com/diy_gui...%20Hammock.jpg )using the Knotty guide for the gathered ends:



This was an amazingly easy project, took about 4 hours total for me to complete (hammock only, the whoopie slings and soft shackles took another 2 hours).

Special thanks to Knotty, sclittlefield and Opie for such great guides!

[Knotty]

HappyHiker - Congrats on the DIY hammock. Even going with the double layer version you comment on how easy it was. So true.

If anyone out there is hesitant to try making their own hammock, stop thinking about it and just do it.

[Kodiak1]

Thanks Knotty,Great Video think I'll give this a try.

[Chrisman2013]

Thanks for the great instructions! I'd always wanted to get into DIY Gear and this was my first attempt. I followed your instructions and made the hammock out of 1.5ounce ripstop. I also used your Stretch-Side idea. Coupled with some DIY Whoopies I made this thing is awesome... but very easy.