Cotton Fabric ~ selection for indoor hammock

[johnlvs2run]

What weight cotton would be best for an indoor hammock for sleeping in every night?
The material is listed at 5, 7, 10, and 15 ounces. Would 7 or 10 oz be best?

..

[johnlvs2run]

Here are some of the fabrics that I'm considering.

1) 100% cotton drill duck 62" wide medium to heavy 16oz fabric,
used for decorating, drapery, upholstery, crafts, tightly woven strong;

2) heavy cotton poplin twill fabric suitable for heavy wear 60" wide;

3) ribbed cotton duck fabric medium weight bengaline duck fabric,
a tightly woven strong fabric 60" wide;

4) 100% cotton ripstop fabric, medium weight, 60",
suggested use: jackets, decorating, it is a strong durable fabric.

[Ramblinrev]

1) 100% cotton drill duck 62" wide medium to heavy 16oz fabric, used for decorating, drapery, upholstery, crafts, tightly woven strong;

IMO too heavy. Wouldn't breathe well

2) heavy cotton poplin twill fabric suitable for heavy wear 60" wide;

IMO twill is very heavy. If you want to sleep on Carhart coveralls knock yourself out. But it's too much for me.


3) ribbed cotton duck fabric medium weight bengaline duck fabric,
a tightly woven strong fabric 60" wide;

Duck is probably as heavy as I would go. But ribbed? Like sleeping on hard corduroy.

4) 100% cotton ripstop fabric, medium weight, 60",
suggested use: jackets, decorating, it is a strong durable fabric.

I was not aware they made cotton ripstop but of the four this would make the most sense to me

My preference would be a cotton taffeta if I could find it. Or failing that a cotton broadcloth. Failing that the heaviest I would go personally would be a cotton oxford (think fine quality men's dress shirts... Brooks Brothers quality)

[Knotty]

My cotton Brazilian hammock is made with a very heavy weight fabric that at first one would think uncomfortable. One person online described it as being like a painting canvas. With use it softened up yet still provides a strong fabric that you don't have to baby. I don't think twice about putting my weight on my elbows or hands to shift my position.

However, being a Brazilian it's built with a lot of material that would be too bulky to gather so both ends transition from material to a bunch of strings and it's the strings which come together at the ends not the fabric.

[johnlvs2run]

Rev and Knotty, thank you very much for your comments.
You saved me from getting one of the heavy fabrics today, without knowing much about them.

Here are the fabrics that I'm considering now.

1) 100% cotton ripstop fabric, medium weight, 62",
suggested use: jackets, decorating, it is a strong durable fabric;

2) 100% cotton fabric riverwash 7 oz 60",
great for curtains, upholstery, table cloths, crafting, quilt backing etc;

3) cotton interlock knit soft medium weight fabric, 60", mechanical stretch
in one direction, great for tops, pants, dresses, useful for many different projects;

4) 100% cotton pima broadcloth italian mint fabric 60",
very soft cotton that feels like silk;

5) 100% untreated cotton 10 ounce 60" single filled canvas duck.

[Ramblinrev]

NO KNITS!!!!!!!

Unless of course you _want_ to sag to the ground.

My personal preference would be the broadcloth. Pima Broadcloth is what many very high quality bedsheets are made of. Pima cotton is also widely used in tighty whitey underwear although those would be knit, not woven.. It's a nice fabric But in reality any of those _EXCEPT_ the knit would be a reasonable choice. The duck will be very stiff at the beginning. But a washing before you start the project ( good idea regardless of what you use) will remove the sizing and stiffness. It would be a reasonable choice but rather heavy for my tastes.

[johnlvs2run]

NO KNITS!!!!!!!

Unless of course you _want_ to sag to the ground.

My personal preference would be the broadcloth. Pima Broadcloth is what many very high quality bedsheets are made of. Pima cotton is also widely used in tighty whitey underwear although those would be knit, not woven.. It's a nice fabric But in reality any of those _EXCEPT_ the knit would be a reasonable choice. The duck will be very stiff at the beginning. But a washing before you start the project ( good idea regardless of what you use) will remove the sizing and stiffness. It would be a reasonable choice but rather heavy for my tastes.

Rev, thank you very much for the details and quick response.

This is very helpful and much appreciated.

[johnlvs2run]

I ordered the pima broadcloth. The seller responded as follows.

I would not use this fabric for a hammock. It is more of a blouse of dress
weight and not a canvas or duck. I understand if you want to cancel. You
can let me know. If you want it anyway I will send a corrected invoice.

Rev, do you think this will be okay, or should I go for the riverwash?

[KerMegan]

or use 2 layers!

[Ramblinrev]

I ordered the pima broadcloth. The seller responded as follows.



Rev, do you think this will be okay, or should I go for the riverwash?

Without actually seeing the fabrics in question I can't say for sure. My experience is that most fabric folks have no clue what a hammock really is. For a patio hammock the seller is probably right. For a gathered end sleeping hammock my preference still stands. But I'm not the one who is going to use it or pay for the fabric.