To Make A Hammock
If you want to make your own hammock and you have not ever made one before, be prepared to make more than one. I have some very amusing memories as to how my first hammock manufacturing attempts went. If I remember correctly I think I even sold the second one. I hope they didn’t hurt themselves too badly.
Before you start the process you must make a decision as to which type of hammock you want to make. And a word of warning here. If you are going to do this project as a labor of love, then great carry on, but if you are doing this to save money – beware. You are unlikely to save money doing it yourself. I am not joking. Experience has taught me that about 75% of all first hammocks break tear or collapse in the first minutes of use. However if you are doing it to startup a hammock business, then you need that failure experience. It will stand you in good stead in the future.
The most popular type of hammock is the standard type of two point canvass or rope style. These are probably also the easiest to make. Most of these are so basic that all you really need is 2 meters of fabric and 2 poles. You need to consider the hammock chair type of hammocks, and the very popular hiking and camping types. Once you have a good idea as to which general direction you want to go in, you must break down the details even further.
You will need to decide on whether to go for lightweight or for heavier padded or canvass types. This would depend on how portable you need the hammock to be. If you are going to manufacture it on the spot it is going to hang, you have no restrictions at all. You could use steel cable and chains. Then couple that up with chunky wood and industrial strength canvass. My opinion is you would end up with a great looking avant-garde industrial hammock. Whether it will be comfortable or not is a good question.
Perhaps the best advice I could give you is to use the following items and to keep the whole process as simple as possible. So, get some ripstop nylon, also known as parachuting fabric, do not get the crackly type. It must feel soft and silky to the touch. Some of the “crackly” types have been treated or have had a backing attached and you might find it is weakened a bit. Then make sure that you do all the sewing with industrial cotton, and preferably on an industrial machine. Just one small tip here, take care it is important. Set your stitch length wide. If you have the stitches very tiny it creates the same effect as that “tear-along-the-dotted-line’ thing and you run the risk of tearing it easily.
If you feel confused at all, rather buy a hammock, hang it up and lie in it while you contemplate what to do next.
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