Results of my first DIY hammock gear adventure

**poca** · 08-26-2014, 20:10

I just finished my first DIY mini marathon! I made a silnylon winter tarp, snake skins, stuff sack, bug net, and ridge line organizer. Thank you to everyone for all the awesome ideas I got from browsing the forums.

The tarp was based off of Sunkmail's skinny tarp design (found here). It's make with 1.1 oz. silnylon from Ripstopbytheroll. The corner reinforcements are an additional layer of bonded sil. The ridge line is a simple flat felled seam. Tie outs are sil rolled into 1/2" strips (ends up being 4 layers) and finished with Dutch's titanium D-rings. I'm also using Dutch's new wasp and a dutch hook for the ridge line and his door hooks for the tarp doors.

I'm thinking I would like to add panel pull outs and a pole mod to keep it more open inside when the wind is blowing hard on one side. Although I'm a little worried that might cause it to rip. I was surprised how strong of a sail it created! You can see it starting to push towards the inside in the second picture.

I also made a set of snake skins like this except I made them narrower and shorter (each one ended up 6'). The tarp, skins, ridge line, and tie outs all fit into a stuff sack a little larger than a Nalgene bottle. I think it could be packed a bit tighter, but that's the size bag I made as a guess and I'm happy with it.

My bug net was made from Fronkey's instructions, except that I made cinch able end channels so the net can be pulled over the whole hammock. I'm thinking of adding side pull outs to this as well by sandwiching the noseeum between two layers of grosgrain. Will this be sufficient to keep the netting from ripping?

Last of all, I made a noseeum ridge line organizer based on the Dream Hammock design. I got tired of dropping my kindle on the ground every time I got out of the hammock.

**Xtrm tj** · 08-26-2014, 21:42

Looks like a great job poca! Thanks for sharing the build and close up pics.

**2ply** · 08-26-2014, 21:55

Really nice work!! Wish I had those skills.

**poca** · 08-27-2014, 09:49

Thanks guys! It took me quite a while, but I had fun making everything. Xtrm tj, I see that you use a UCR for your suspension, I've been considering converting my whoopies to UCRs, and I'm wondering how you like them?

**kerryandjane** · 08-27-2014, 11:17

Brilliant!
You must have some super patience there. Total professional job. What type of sewing foot did you use?

I see you're using the tato door clips from the door to the corner tie out. Tried going corner to door? that way when you unlock the door you don't need to reach outside as far.... It works for me, might not for you but anyway. Great job. I like the colours you chose.

**meisjoe** · 08-27-2014, 12:28

Very cool!! I am diggin that pop of color!!

**Xtrm tj** · 08-27-2014, 12:31

Originally Posted by poca

Thanks guys! It took me quite a while, but I had fun making everything. Xtrm tj, I see that you use a UCR for your suspension, I've been considering converting my whoopies to UCRs, and I'm wondering how you like them?

I like them quite a bit. Never had a problem with them at all. Fairly easy to make and saves you on weight and amsteel.

I'd look up xtrekker on here he has a great tutorial video. And in general he has his stuff together and easy to learn from.

**Tendertoe** · 08-27-2014, 12:42

Originally Posted by poca

I'm thinking of adding side pull outs to this as well by sandwiching the noseeum between two layers of grosgrain. Will this be sufficient to keep the netting from ripping?

I only added grosgrain or webbing loops on the outside of the bugnetting without sandwiching an additional layer on the inside. Worked fine for me.

**poca** · 08-27-2014, 14:43

Originally Posted by kerryandjane

Brilliant!
You must have some super patience there. Total professional job. What type of sewing foot did you use?

I see you're using the tato door clips from the door to the corner tie out. Tried going corner to door? that way when you unlock the door you don't need to reach outside as far.... It works for me, might not for you but anyway. Great job. I like the colours you chose.

I swapped back and forth between a regular straight stitch foot and an adjustable zipper foot (easier to see where the edge is in some places).

I'm not sure I follow about the clips. Do you mean to do the reverse and have the clip on the corner instead of the door? Then clip the string that will be attacked to the door corner to the other tarp corner?

I had strung them up like that only because I haven't made the guy lines for the doors yet so I needed to use the corner tie outs for both purposes. I was planning to have separate guy lines and stakes for the doors, so they won't actually be attached to the other corners at all. But I'm certainly open to better ideas.

**poca** · 08-27-2014, 14:45

Originally Posted by Xtrm tj

I like them quite a bit. Never had a problem with them at all. Fairly easy to make and saves you on weight and amsteel.

I made a UCR for my structural ridge line (so the excess doesn't hang into the hammock), but I've noticed that it loosens really easily when you push on the opposite end. I know the prussic is supposed to help with this, but I still worry that it would slip too easily as the main suspension. Good to know they work well for you, I may make a set for when the trees are quite far apart.