VIDEO: How Greg Builds a Hammock

**GregB** · 12-28-2013, 16:31

I found myself wanting to build an even longer hammock which is 12 1/2 feet long with a 116" ridge line. So I decided to try to film the entire process.

I hope you find it useful.

Due to camera issues I couldn't add in the sections on how to build the locked brummel loop at the end of the amsteel ridge line so search youtube for "Locked Brummel Amsteel" and you'll find some great instructions on how to do that.

I had similar camera problems when I made my whoopie slings. So search youtube for "Whoopie Sling" and you'll find some great videos on how to do that.

If I subtract out the time to set up the camera, refill the bobbin, and answer phone calls that I got during filming then the entire sewing, ridge line, and end gathering process took just about an hour. The materials from DIY Gear were about $35 because the 1.9 ripstop nylon was on sale. With some other materials I bought to make some stuff sacks plus shipping the total cost came to exactly $50.

I hope this inspires you to try making a hammock yourself.

**YeahIdIDThat** · 12-28-2013, 17:24

Sweet video.. Thanks for sharing!

**SemperFiGuy** · 12-28-2013, 17:58

Hey Greg,

Nice job on the vid. It looks like you had fun with the project and you ended up with a really great hammock for all of your work and fun.

All the best !
Gil

**bigfanboy** · 12-28-2013, 20:44

Locked Brummel and figure 8 I got, but could do a quick vid on the rest of the knot, how did you lock it down?

Great video!

**GregB** · 12-28-2013, 20:49

Originally Posted by bigfanboy

Locked Brummel and figure 8 I got, but could do a quick vid on the rest of the knot, how did you lock it down?

Great video!

If you make a figure 8 on a bight then you have a loop at the end. Since it's on a bight it's technically a slip knot. However, if you then pull the locked brummel through that loop it's no longer a slip knot.

Easy.

**bigfanboy** · 12-28-2013, 20:54

Originally Posted by GregB

If you make a figure 8 on a bight then you have a loop at the end. Since it's on a bight it's technically a slip knot. However, if you then pull the locked brummel through that loop it's no longer a slip knot.

Easy.

Ok if I have this right, make the locked brummel taking your desired knot location into consideration. Then bend the LB into a bite, then fig 8 on that bite, then flip the LB through the bite. Dress it up to make sure the knot is where it needs to be for length.

**hangNyak** · 12-28-2013, 21:58

Very nicely done, Greg! You're making me want a 12 ft. hammock now. Scott at DIY Gear Supply supply will love you. I'm already waiting for my top quilt materials to arrive and now I'm gonna have to buy more stuff!

**Fish<><** · 12-29-2013, 07:09

Well done video Greg. Thanks for sharing.

**Redoleary** · 12-29-2013, 08:00

Nicely done. The big knot on the RL that makes the knob and suspension attach point is really neat. Thanks for sharing.

**GregB** · 12-29-2013, 12:29

The hammock worked great last night. I was able to sleep with no ridge under my leg at all. If I was centered in the hammock it was very comfortable.

However, the trees I have here at the Weimar Test Facility (WTF) are so close that even with a continuous loop at one end to shorten the gap between trees the other end still has to go on a tree kind of uphill to the right. That makes me hang over that big iron pipe. It's a fine line between hanging high enough to clear that pipe and low enough to still be able to get in and out of the hammock.

Because of this my foot end wasn't high enough and I kept sliding towards that end. If I had set up the hammock such that the foot end was about 6 to 8 inches higher than my head then I would have slept really well. But the longer hammock, the closeness of the trees I have available, and that iron pipe didn't allow my to set up my hammock properly. If I raised the foot any more I'd have to jump up into the hammock to get in.

So the hammock worked great, the testing site was lacking in perfection.