Fabric types

**Ramblinrev** · 09-04-2010, 09:32

Originally Posted by Big Jim Mac

Any idea what ENO hammocks are made from? The label says "nylon". I like the feel of it but I'm guessing it's there are lighter options.

Unless I am mistaken the ENO hammocks are nylon taffeta. Taffeta is a weave pattern and as such is not required to be on content labels. If you can not see a square pattern woven into the fabric taffeta is most likely what you are looking at. Taffeta comes in several weights as described above. Places like Joann;s will not know the weight of the fabric they carry as this is a gear making specific stat. The clothing/quilting folks couldn't care less.

Taffeta can also be given proprietary trade names by different manufacturers so it would pay to be generally familiar with the weave patterrns. I can't help with that on line. That takes browsing i fabric stores. From Joanns, the "top weight" (shirt/blouse) polyester taffeta is likely to be as light, if not lighter, than the ripstop (square pattern woven in) they carry. It may also be somewhat cheaper. I personally like polyester taffeta rather than nylon taffeta for hammocks. But HOYH.

As a general rule the fabric shop gals are fascinated by men who "sew" and are more than willing to give a tour of the general stuff available. But don't expect gear making knowledge. We do tend to provide a welcome distraction to the same-old same-old of the clothing/quilting ladies that form the bulk of their clientele.

**lizzie** · 09-04-2010, 22:03

I have a related question - I came across this fabric at Kite Studio. Are folks making tarps out of PU Ripstop? I will go back and search the threads, but wondering if y'all have any immediate feeback.

http://www.kitebuilder.com/catalog/p...15ede7eed42eb2

**lizzie** · 09-04-2010, 22:17

OK. I went back and red through some threads... Hmmmmm.

I am looking to upgrade from my old poncho (which while ripstop is old and heavy - it's 22 ounces!) to an asym diamond DIY tarp in Navy to match my hammock.

Based on what I read, it looks like the material from the kite store may work for a lightweight tarp, though 42 grams per meter sounds awfully light, and I don't know if that is the fabric weight before treatment...

**Big Jim Mac** · 09-05-2010, 07:35

Originally Posted by WV

Oops. Which ones did I forget to mark?

You should have 1.9 oz. ripstop, 1.oz ripstop, noseeum mesh and silnylon all marked. They're the ones you want to start with. If I marked Pertex Microlight, forget it - you'll have trouble finding it. As I recall the other samples were some straps, wind-stopping fleece, and pack cloth. Those first four are the ones you're likely to use, so test your sewing machine on them.

Congratulations on the whoopie slings and fixed eyes. It gets easier with practice. (Hints: Whoopie is easier than fixed eye. Always taper the ends. If necessary try a different splicing tool.)

Just a couple pieces WV, one was a nice black, kind of heavy, that I just used to make a ridgeline organizer. The other was a fluorescent orange, trying to use my imagination on where this extra visibility would be nice!

I am in the market for a real fid tool, my yarn needle works ok but the problem was certainly the extra thickness where I attached it. Also, the directions I followed said to leave the pieces you cut off for the taper 1/2 inch long. Those loose ends also caused me fits so I cut them pretty close for the buried eye. Is that a bad plan? Think I'm going to attach the whoopie to a couple of anvils and see how long it will hold them up

**jeepcachr** · 09-07-2010, 09:35

I have not had any luck with the "real" fid tools. I use a piece of coat hanger in a vise and it works amazingly well.

**adam81** · 09-07-2010, 21:36

I know your pain
try this place http://thru-hiker.com/materials this is where i started.
it gives you some definitions on what the fabric is used for.
I got most of the material to make my down sleeping quilt from here.
best of luck

**Segiy** · 09-08-2010, 22:46

I assume there may be different weights of taffeta? I went searching local for something to make a hammock body out of (local in regional australia is very limited...) and there was taffeta, but my mum use to be a taylor and said it would be no where near strong enough. So is she just underestimating the load on a hammock or am I getting the short end of the stick being in... well the sticks again?

If weight isn't so much an issue what about a poly cotton blend for a hammock body? in theory good for wicking and durable

**JohnSawyer** · 09-09-2010, 00:03

You'd be surprised at how strong even thin material is...

My current hammock is a single layer 1.1oz ripstop (30d) thin stuff! ... and I'm 220lbs/100kg...

**gargoyle** · 09-09-2010, 03:13

Originally Posted by Segiy

If weight isn't so much an issue what about a poly cotton blend for a hammock body? in theory good for wicking and durable

As long as your chosen material is not stretchy, it should work.
Ripstop is recommended just for the security of the grid work slowing catastrophic failure.
I've made a few hammocks from a cotton blend, comfortable.