In between the bizillion other things I normally do, I managed to sneak in some diy gear time. It's taken me several months, but eventually, small bits of time add up to... GEAR!
I figured it was my turn to post a diy "Show and Tell"
First, I want to thank all the members that have shared their creations and ideas, which helped give me mucho inspiration and ideas (you know who you are... MANY of you!)
I started with a 9x11 silnylon tarp. I wanted something larger than what I had been using for the extra coverage. Sure, it's heavier, but when the weather turns wretched, the extra weight won't matter so much! The extra length also gives me the option of pitching the tarp a bit higher in bad weather, for great air circulation and head space. For the ridgeline attachment lines, I rigged them up with linelocs and mini biners. Fast and easy setup! Very easy to center the tarp over the hammock too. Having the side wall guyouts helps to prevent the side walls from sagging in and keeps the pitch taut.
After making a quick polyester digital camo hammock, my confidence increased, and I went ahead and decided to do a "trial run" on a double layer asym hammock with netting and a zip entry. Well, it ended up being a lot more comfortable than I expected and much to my great surprise, it turned out well enough that it's now my favorite hammock!
I used Wally fabric and a zipper I already had from another project. I had to borrow a zipper pull from something else, so now I can tell which one is which, lol.I added a 'triangle' at the corner pullout area, like what was shown in the "Clone" thread.
I wasn't sure if I wanted skins, or a blackbishop type sack, or what. While I was thinking about it, I remembered my old Travel Hammock had a sack attached to the side. I thought if I added one near the head end, I could use the sack for handy access to my water bottle and other items, rather than having to grab it from off the ground.
After adding a structural ridgeline, I gathered the ends via the hem/channel/casing with mason's line, then attached a cinch buckle suspension system using Spyderline, Larkspured onto the ends of the hammock.
For me, adding the netting was the hardest part. I tried doing the pattern thing, but somehow it wasn't the best way for me (especially with all the wind we were having when I wanted to work on it RIGHT THEN!).I had to do it the hard way, lol. I ended up just draping the netting over the hammock and safety pinning it, then cutting to the shape I needed. I marked with silver sharpie where I wanted to make sure things lined up (afterall, this was intended for a trial run hammock, so what's a few silver dots?)
Recently, I added Dutch Clips to the suspension. Love 'em!
Now, here's one of the best parts... My neice was here when I had the finished hammock hung out back, and she got in and tried it out, and fell in love! This coming weekend, I'm taking her camping for her very first time, and she wants to hammock! Woo Hoo!!
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Looks Good, I think I prefer a bit larger tarp than "normal" myself, and the panel pulls really help.
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