My Take On DIY Hennessy Hammock. A Tutorial.

**thereisnospoon** · 07-03-2007, 22:52

Hello all! I am new to the forum (truely I have been lurking here for a while and finally registered the other day). I have been sewing and making gear for a long time, but just recently got into making hammocks for some of my friends who are camping with their boy scout sons and can't stand the hard ground...(read old and fat like me).

I have been making a Hammock for a friend and decided to go with the homemade HH as HC4U described in the beginning of this thread. The friends only request was that it have 4 tie outs instead of two. I put the tie outs at 40" along each side

Here's my problem: I used 120 inches of material for length and hemmed about 1.5" on each end. I know that's a big hem, but I wanted ot to be finished clean. Anyways, that gets me down to about 116 give or take in length. I also seamed the ends as HC4U did, flipping the material inside out them stitching along the "long ends" before whipping. The bug netting is attached to one side but free on the other, as per my friends request. I designed and built my own tree huggers (nothing fancy really) and they work great.

I also put the little "loop thigny" HC4U used to attach his ridge line.

Everything works great (it's dark now or I would take pictures to illustrate my issue) except the length of the Hammock seems to have shrunk to nothing.

Did I hang it wrong, do I need to reduce the sag or do I just need to use more material and start with say 140" to accomodate a 6' 220 guy?

BTW, right no the Hammock looks like this <_> if you could complete the picture with a line across the top when set up with the 4 tie outs...

**Coffee** · 07-03-2007, 23:03

I am 6'4" and 10' feels about prefect for me. Try adding more length to the ridgeline taking away some sag and see how it works.

**Just Jeff** · 07-04-2007, 07:19

Try staking only two tie-outs and see if that changes anything. It'll change how the hammock lays, but maybe not enough for you to notice when it's weighted. Simplest thing is worth a shot first, though.

**slowhike** · 07-04-2007, 11:18

i'll have to let the others answer your questions, but welcome to HF. ...tim

**thereisnospoon** · 07-04-2007, 15:56

I was able to get it worked out, thanksd for your help. It was a combo of 4 stakes and the ridge line.

I like it so much, I built one for me as well. I'll try and get some pics up later today.

Finishing a tent as we speak.

Thanks for the warm welcome!
Spoon

**headchange4u** · 07-04-2007, 16:46

Congrats on the new hammock. Can wait to see pics.

**thereisnospoon** · 07-05-2007, 19:29

Pics as promised. WARNING: I sew better than I photograph!

Next Project: Cat cut tarp ; - )

**headchange4u** · 07-05-2007, 19:47

Wow. Looks great thereisnospoon. Impressive work. I bet neo will love the camo.

**thereisnospoon** · 07-05-2007, 21:54

Actually a big thank you to you for the thread and the pattern-or at least the instruction. I really believe the folding makes this such a comfy Hammock.

Thanks!

PS: I think NEO prefers all black.