problems with my new hammock

**kitesurfer** · 08-31-2010, 07:52

i made myself a hammock 60"' sewn to two 9", and a double layer for finished width of 65" and length of almost 11'. i sewed a tunnel on each end secured with 3 rows of sttitching. pull a chord threw and then doubled it over and pulled tight and wrapped for that crisamthomen look. then wrapped a prussic and larksheaded to a ring. the problem is tht it doesn't lay right. it seems the middle of the hammock is shorter leaving the sides loose. i'm thinking i should 'unblossom' the ends and thread my pruissic through--leaving my 200' supported by the three seams. ya think the 3 seams will hold?

**TinaLouise** · 08-31-2010, 07:57

do you lay right down the middle or do you try to go a bit side ways?? With my grand trunk, if I'm in the middle, the edges are flappy. If I shift around a bit and go as sideways as I can, the edges flatten out.

**avalonmorn** · 08-31-2010, 08:07

I think it will hold you. I made a camo diy yesterday, and did the end channel with 3 rows of stiching. I used webbing to thread thru, and I left the loop about six to eight inches wide. I like the way it lays, no side sag, but with the width of yours, you may experience shoulder squeeze. I'm sure someone with experience will chime in, good luck.

**RootCause** · 08-31-2010, 08:22

I just went through three different styles of whipping on my DIY this summer, and found that they each create a different lay. (Um, I guess that shouldn't be surprising!)

Search the archives: the "w" whipping allows you to tighten the edges to reduce flappiness. However, for me it created a really uncomfortable lay. The accordian fold allows much the same edge adjustability, and for me a better lay, but still uncomfortable. My final solution was the Warbonnet-style whipping (search for Knotty's excellent video), which created such a comfortable lay that I haven't even looked to see what the edges are doing!

So I haven't answered your question about whether or not the seams will hold, but IMO I would trust a whipping more than a sewn seam over the long term. No doubt it will hold you, but will it continue to hold you?

**nacra533** · 08-31-2010, 08:28

That is why I like that whipping. It leaves the sides floppy so on a diagonal lay you can get flatter. Adding the 9" pieces on the side only adds to the looseness and roominess, especially without a bugnet attached. I don't recall if yours had one or not. If so, adding a cat cut to the bugnet and making the net a little smaller should raise the sides if thatvis what you are looking for. Tinker's post on a "roomy hammock" dicusses thus well.

Some that that use the W whipping pull the middle instead of the ends to achieve the same effect.

**kitesurfer** · 08-31-2010, 09:28

thanks guys..and nnacra..i used to race an 18sq meter. i think it was a nacra 5.5 traded it for a G cat. loved the g cat. gave up cat sailing for whitewater kayaking, which i gave up for kitesurfing. problem is i still have the toys and really feel bad because i don't use them any more

**tiredhiker** · 08-31-2010, 09:31

I don't have the knowledge to diy a hammock. (cant sew a straight line)lo,l but I have a speer and a blackbird,and I love the lay of the B.B. The speer tends to wrap you in a cocoon and it has high sides. The B.B lies flat with low sides. It all depends on the whipping as I am told.
Let me finish by saying that I do love the both of them just a different lay that's all.

**Knotty** · 08-31-2010, 21:51

Floppy sides are normal with the way you fixed the ends. The plus side is you get the very flat, comfortably lay like a Warbonnet hammock.

**Just Jeff** · 08-31-2010, 22:42

Yep - floppy sides are normal with that end-gather method...that's why the WBBB's footbox is so useful. But it does give you a very flat lay.

If you don't like the floppy sides, you can pull the long edges out a bit and then whip it, rather than using that end-gather method.