TLDR: Hexon 1.6 is easy to work with. Nanoseeum mesh is tricky. Hexon 1.0 is slippery and a pain. Unless you already know what you’re doing. I did better after watching JellyFish’s videos.
After falling DEEP in the the rabbit hole that is this forum, I finally got up the courage to buy some fabric and make some hammocks. August in North Carolina is the inside season - its just too hot and humid to go outside, much less camp. So out came the sewing machine. These are a few thoughts based on making my first hammocks and bug nets.
I got the following from Dutchware - shipped and received within a week:
- Hexon 1.6 (4 yards): for my hammock - this seems like the lightest weight stuff that can handle my 6’4” tall, 260lb body
- Hexon 1.0 (4 yards): for my teenager, who is 5’6” and under 150lbs. I was eager to try to make a really light weight hammock, was wasn’t ready to risk anything lighter than 1.0.
- 0.67 Nano NoSeeUm mesh (12 yards): for 2 bottom entry bug nets and stuff sacks
- 1/8 in shock cord and a bunch of cord locks for the bug nets and stuff sacks
I was given some nice Guttermann MARA 70 thread last winter and had previously dusted off an old 1973 Kenmore sewing machine. I did have to purchase some double roll presser feet for the sewing machine. Prior to this, my only sewing was previous attempts to stitch a top quilt foot box for a pair of Costco Down Quilts following the design by bser272.
I started with 12 feet of Hexon 1.6. I used a blue thread that was a fairly close match to the blue fabric. I didn’t make any additional cuts to the fabric that came from Dutchware, just stitched a rolled hem all the way around and sewed the channels on the end. I ended up with an 11’4” hammock length. I spliced 8in continuous loops using 7/64 Amsteel on a Larks Head for the end channels. I spliced LashIt to make an adjustable ridge line. (The mesh in the images is a Dutchware Peak Shelf - I didn’t make that). Hexon 1.6 is easy fabric to work with, and the stitching went fast.
Hexon 1.6 hammock, 11'4"
Hexon 1.6 with Gutermann MARA 70 thread
Next the bottom entry bug net using black thread and 0.67 nano noseeum. Working with nano noseeum was tricky for me. I found it difficult getting the stitch tension right, and fabric wanted to bunch up. I found that I had to set the top tension to zero and then also stretch the fabric to keep some tension as the fabric fed into the machine feeder feet. I also found using a very small stitch length worked best. Even then, it wasn’t great and it bunched up some. But its good enough. I goofed a couple of times and had to cut threads and restart, especially making the channel for the bottom shock cord. Cutting the thread and not the mesh was a headache and wore out my patience.
0.67 NanoSeeUm bug net
After I took a week away from the thread injector to develop some patience, I came back to sew a hammock for my teenager using the Hexon 1.0 - dark green fabric and white thread. I had not developed enough patience. Hexon 1.0 is slippery and I couldn’t get the fabric to feed into the rolled hem foot for more than a few inches. I started, messed up, cut stitches, and restarted 10+ times before I gave up. And came back to this forum to search for wisdom - and I found it in JellyFish’s videos on YouTube that provided excellent guidance on stitching these slippery fabrics. The next weekend I had more success, and found I could feed the fabric into the rolled hem foot with the right hand placement and tension. I cannot recommend JellyFish and her videos enough. Spliced some continuous loops and a ridge line with LashIt and my teen had a really light weight hammock.
Hexon 1.0 hammock, 11'4"
Hexon 1.0 hammock w/ white thread
After working with Hexon 1.0, it seemed easy to go back and make a second bug net and a few stuff sacks with the left over mesh.
I took these to a Scout meeting last week to spread the gospel of DIY hammock gear. I think we may try to have a hammock-making event. If only we had a Gear Making merit badge….
I want to thank all the folks on this forum that have generously shared their passion, knowledge, designs, and techniques. In your honor, I have made Haiku.
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