I made myself a hammock, and I love it!

**gcvsa** · 07-25-2012, 15:27

Hello, everyone! My name is Gemma, and I found this site linked in the Kindle Edition of Derek Hansen's book, "The Ultimate Hang". I've been a camper and backpacker since I was about 10 years old, but the last few years, my camping has been limited to car camping. At the same time, I have been dreaming of hammocks for a long time, but it wasn't until I came across Just Jeff's Hammock Camping site last year that I understood that making my own hammock could be so easy, cheap, and viable.

So, after mulling over a few ideas, I ended up making myself a 60" x 120" DIY hammock out of a cotton tablecloth I picked up off the clearance rack at a local discount store. It has ends whipped with a pair of Kiwi waxed cotton shoelaces, and I used some leftover 5/16" or so utility cord that I had hanging around for the suspension. It's from a climbing shop, so I know it's good stuff. The suspension is attached to the hammock body with a (double? triple?) strangle knot, and the ends are formed into a loop with a triple fisherman's bend. I used two 5/16" stainless shackles from Home Depot to connect the suspension to Hammock Bliss treehugger straps. The whole rig, minus the treehuggers, weighs about 2 lbs., 11 oz., and I estimate the fabric as about 5.5 oz. single-fill canvas. It's a lovely shade of green to help blend in. The total cost of the hammock was about $22, plus $20 for the Hammock Bliss straps.

I'm 6' 1" tall and 160 lbs., and it holds me very well, although I think I might like more length in my next hammock. It's even more comfortable than my bed! In fact, I'm hanging in it right now as I type this on my Kindle Fire from my front yard. I'm really looking forward to sharing information with others about hammocks and hammock camping. I'd post pictures and such, but as this is my first post, I'm not sure if it will be considered spam, but I'll post them in the future, if it's OK. I love my new hammock, and I'm never going back to sleeping on the ground (I don't go camping when it's cold out, or, at least I *haven't*)!

**Loki** · 07-25-2012, 15:47

Originally Posted by gcvsa

Hello, everyone! My name is Gemma, and I found this site linked in the Kindle Edition of Derek Hansen's book, "The Ultimate Hang". I've been a camper and backpacker since I was about 10 years old, but the last few years, my camping has been limited to car camping. At the same time, I have been dreaming of hammocks for a long time, but it wasn't until I came across Just Jeff's Hammock Camping site last year that I understood that making my own hammock could be so easy, cheap, and viable.

So, after mulling over a few ideas, I ended up making myself a 60" x 120" DIY hammock out of a cotton tablecloth I picked up off the clearance rack at a local discount store. It has ends whipped with a pair of Kiwi waxed cotton shoelaces, and I used some leftover 5/16" or so utility cord that I had hanging around for the suspension. It's from a climbing shop, so I know it's good stuff. The suspension is attached to the hammock body with a (double? triple?) strangle knot, and the ends are formed into a loop with a triple fisherman's bend. I used two 5/16" stainless shackles from Home Depot to connect the suspension to Hammock Bliss treehugger straps. The whole rig, minus the treehuggers, weighs about 2 lbs., 11 oz., and I estimate the fabric as about 5.5 oz. single-fill canvas. It's a lovely shade of green to help blend in. The total cost of the hammock was about $22, plus $20 for the Hammock Bliss straps.

I'm 6' 1" tall and 160 lbs., and it holds me very well, although I think I might like more length in my next hammock. It's even more comfortable than my bed! In fact, I'm hanging in it right now as I type this on my Kindle Fire from my front yard. I'm really looking forward to sharing information with others about hammocks and hammock camping. I'd post pictures and such, but as this is my first post, I'm not sure if it will be considered spam, but I'll post them in the future, if it's OK. I love my new hammock, and I'm never going back to sleeping on the ground (I don't go camping when it's cold out, or, at least I *haven't*)!

Welcome to HF from NC!

Yes, Yes pictures please

**raiffnuke** · 07-25-2012, 16:03

Welcome to HF from Mass.

**dragon360** · 07-25-2012, 16:09

Hello and Welcome from Canada!

**gcvsa** · 07-25-2012, 16:35

OK, here's the pics:

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=56508

**ohiohiker** · 07-25-2012, 16:54

Welcome from Ohio!

**Caveman** · 07-25-2012, 17:19

Uh Oh....another victim of the hammock bug.

Welcome! Enjoy!

**Cannibal** · 07-25-2012, 17:26

Originally Posted by gcvsa

(I don't go camping when it's cold out, or, at least I *haven't*)!

You know, that's almost a 'dare' for us to get you into the chill and we do like a challenge around here.

Welcome to the Forums!

**MAD777** · 07-25-2012, 19:44

Sounds like a great hammock you made! I think that is a very special hammock because it's made from whatever you had available and I do believe that it is held together as much by your enthusiasm as it is the knots!

Welcome to Hammock Forums from Florida!