best knots for testing hammock

**bigwig** · 05-17-2010, 16:30

Well, I'm starting my projects. I have the material and the rope. I want to be able to try out different sizes of hammocks to see which ones my kids will fit in best. The wrapping on Jeff's page seems more permanent than I want it to be and may be a great way to do it once I know the size and have cut the fabric but I'm wondering if there's something else that is easier to tie and untie while testing different lengths.

Something like this may work well but I don't know how well it would work in slippery, lightweight fabric:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJlEQpcbM1I

Any suggestions?

**Cranky Bear** · 05-17-2010, 16:35

You could do a whipped end type, but use a very small diameter line to tie the whipping! Then attach the suspension! This could easily be un-done!!

**sclittlefield** · 05-17-2010, 16:37

Double-Sheet Bend.

Pretend the thicker rope is your hammock fabric gathered and folded over about 3inches.

**bigwig** · 05-17-2010, 16:38

Originally Posted by Cranky Bear

You could do a whipped end type, but use a very small diameter line to tie the whipping! Then attach the suspension! This could easily be un-done!!

I'm not sure what you mean. I'm new at this and only know this way:

http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeHammock2.html

and the way that I linked in the first post. Do you have a link to what you're suggesting?

As for using small diameter line, wouldn't that make it harder to untie?

Thanks for the help!

**bigwig** · 05-17-2010, 16:39

Originally Posted by sclittlefield

Double-Sheet Bend.

Pretend the thicker rope is your hammock fabric gathered and folded over about 3inches.

Very good, thanks. I was actually just looking at that knot in a book of knots that I have and thinking it may be good. It's nice to hear it from someone that has used it!

By the way, sclittlefield, I got my fabric today and it looks great!

**sclittlefield** · 05-17-2010, 16:42

Originally Posted by bigwig

Very good, thanks. I was actually just looking at that knot in a book of knots that I have and thinking it may be good. It's nice to hear it from someone that has used it!

By the way, sclittlefield, I got my fabric today and it looks great!

Excellent! I look forward to your next thread with pics of a completed hammock.

**Cranky Bear** · 05-17-2010, 16:44

I might be confused here are you talking about tying the end of the hammock together? Or knot's to use with the suspension? The link you provided for Jeff's site shows a whipped end using a zip tie, so instead of the zip tie I was referring to using a small diameter line instead!

**grakker** · 05-17-2010, 16:50

Just put an overhand knot it in. That has to be the quickest way to try different sizes.

**bigwig** · 05-17-2010, 16:54

Originally Posted by Cranky Bear

I might be confused here are you talking about tying the end of the hammock together? Or knot's to use with the suspension? The link you provided for Jeff's site shows a whipped end using a zip tie, so instead of the zip tie I was referring to using a small diameter line instead!

-just tying the end of the hammock together. The last frame on that page uses the zip tie, the instructions above that show using the small line to whip it. It looks like you would have to almost cut the small line off to retie it at a different size.

**bigwig** · 05-17-2010, 16:55

Originally Posted by grakker

Just put an overhand knot it in. That has to be the quickest way to try different sizes.

Interesting. I assume you're talking about tying the fabric with an overhand knot at each end and then tying a rope behind the knot with something like a lark's head knot. Is that right?