I'm sure there are many DIY'ers out there making the Ariel hammock. I just finished my second one after watching the "Engineering of the Grizz Bridge Ariel" and the "Trickin Out the Ariel" videos over and over again. A few thing I did a little differently were: Extending the 7 in edging pieces 6 inches past the body piece so there was 2 inches of scrap on each end. I also excluded the 1 1/2 inch edge taper from the foot end of the body. The suspension triangles are 32 inches. I made the end caps in the shape of a trapezoid. The bottom of the head and foot ends are 10" and 14" respectively. The top edges are both 27 1/2" These measurements are without 1/2 seam allowance which was added. For the edging I made the button holes 2" long centered 68" apart. Grizz, I estimated this width from your thumbs (not implying you have fat thumbs). After sewing on the edging I found I should have move the button holes 1 inch further apart probably due to inadvertently stretching the body as I pinned on the edging or other operator error. On my 1st Ariel I sewed the edging on to within 3 or 4 inches of where I though the button holes should go and then I marked their position before adding them. By the way, ironing the edge fabric and adding the bias tape worked so much better than when I sewed my first Ariel. I love this hammock. It is so comfortable.
Grizz, Thanks for your excellent instructional videos. I enjoy watching them and making and using bridge hammocks.
Here are a few pictures of the completed body.
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I then took a stab at added the detachable bug net. For this I most have watched the "Trickin out the Ariel" video 20 times. I started with 2 yards of left over 54" netting and attaching it to the ridge line and hammock body with binder clips to get rough measurements. I used left over Argon 90 for the edging. I cut this 9 inches wide and folded like this. The center valley is 1/2" deep.
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Found the magnets at Hobby Lobby and used their 40% off coupons. Grizz you'll have to share your secret for sewing the magnet pockets and sewing the pockets to the bug net edging. It was a real pain with them sticking to the sewing machine presser foot, base plate and each other. I think my netting is longer than shown in the video. It comes down past my knees. I was lazy and did not finish the bug net edge past the last side magnet.
I'm still deciding on the suspension. I've attached Spyder line loops to the suspension triangles and will probably use mule tape from there to a my 1inch tree straps.
Here is the finished product. Sorry for all of the sideway pictures.
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