Speer Hammocks, Inc

 

Make Your Own Hammock Kit

 

Sewing Tips From Clarissa

 

 

 

These tips include helpful hints and sewing suggestions from our Chief Seamstress Clarissa Speer. The tips are in addition to the sewing instructions in the book Hammock Camping, The Complete Guide to Greater Comfort, Convenience and Freedom, which is also included with each make-your-own kit. The tips included here are based on Clarissa's lifetime of sewing experience including many hours of sewing the specific items and fabrics in the kits themselves. Referring to both the Hammock Camping book and Clarissa's tips, anyone should be able to easily make their own hammock using one of these kits. The individual steps below should be followed consecutively in the order presented.

 

Thanks for trying one of our hammock kits--you may never sleep on the ground again! Best of luck with your project and happy hammocking.

 

General Information and Equipment Needed

 

·  You will need a Make Your Own Hammock Kit from Speer Hammocks, Inc

·  You will need a household sewing machine

·  Stitches used:  1) Straight stitch (see p. 110 of Hammock Camping book)

2) Bar tack--a satin stitch or very tight zigzag stitch (see your        sewing manual)

·  Useful sewing tips can be found in your machine's manual as well as the following web sites:

·  http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com

·  http://www.pages.prodigy.net/shereemckee/fashion.htm

 

 

 

Contents of Each Kit

 

Hammock Camping book by Ed Speer

Sewing Tips From Clarissa (this manuscript)

Thread, 100% polyester (be sure to use for both top & bottom threads)

Hammock Items

·    Fabric, one piece cut to proper size

·    Velcro loop fasteners, 2, cut to proper length

·    Webbing straps, 2 @ 12' ea, ends heat sealed

·    D rings, 2

·    D ring attachments, 2 @ 2" length of 1" webbing ea, ends heat sealed

Bug Net Items

·    No-see-um netting, cut to proper length and width

·    Velcro hook & loop fasteners for bug net ends:

·    2 hook fasteners @ 11" ea

·    2 loop fasteners @ 11" ea

·    Velcro fasteners for long edges of bug net

·    2 hook fasteners cut to proper length

·    2 loop fasteners @ 5" ea

·    Support Line (Pulse Line, shock cord, & snap hook)

·    Spectra Pulse line cut to proper length, ends heat sealed, orange

·    24" length of 3/32" shock cord, ends heat sealed, attached to Pulse Line

·    Snap hook, attached to shock cord

·    Support line reinforcements, 2 @ 2" of 1" grosgrain ribbon ea, ends heat sealed

Rain Canopy Items

·    Fabric (1.1 oz/yd2 silnylon), 2 panels cut to proper size

·    Pull tabs: (ends heat sealed)

·    Ridge line tabs: 2 @ 5" ea (1" grosgrain ribbon), w/ grommets pre-installed

·    Corner & Edge tabs: 8 @ 2" ea (1" grosgrain ribbon)

·    Ridge line pull tab reinforcements, 2 @ 2"X5" ea (silnylon fabric)

·    Guidelines, 6 @ 10' ea, Spectra Pulse Line, ends heat sealed, orange

Carry Sack

·    Fabric, cut to proper size

·    Draw cord, cut to proper length

·    Toggle

 

 

Hammock

 

1. Choose Fabric Sides.

Some fabric has a shinny finish on one side, while some fabric is the same on both sides.  If your fabric has different finishes, decide which you want on the inside and which you want on the outside of your Hammock.  Either works fine, but shinny side to the inside generally looks nicer. Do not loose tract of your inside/outside choices while following these instructions.

 

2. Sew Hems

·  Hem both long sides with folded hem to the outside of the Hammock

·  Referring to Fig A, first fold hem 1/2"

·  Fold again 1/2" to secure raw edges

·  Sew hem with straight stitch

 

Fig A   Hem Hammock Fabric--hem all four edges

 

 

·  Hem ends as above (or serge if machine w/ 100% polyester thread is available); this prevents unraveling later

 

3. Attach Velcro (Loop strips will be attached to each long edge of Hammock--Hook strips are avoided here since they catch user's clothing)

 

Fig B   Fold Hammock Fabric end to end; mark

             center points on each long edge

 

 

·  Attach Velcro Loop strips to the outside of the long edges; if you hemmed the edges as recommended in Number 2 above, the Velcro strips will now overlie and protect the hem

·  Determine center of each long side by folding end to end and mark center point with chalk or pin (Fig B).

·  Determine the center of the two long Velcro loop strips by folding end to end and mark

·  For layout see Fig C

 

 

Fig C   Attaching Loop Velcro Strips to Hammock  

            Match centers of hammock and Velcro strips

            Place Velcro strips 1/2" from edge (to create finger tab)

 

·        Create finger tabs between Velcro and edge of Hammock to help separate the Hammock from the Bug Net--this makes entry and exit from the Hammock easier.  Placing Velcro along the inside edge of hem should give the recommended 1/2" finger tab.

·        Sew both sides and ends of Velcro loop strips with straight stitch

 

4. Tie End Knots following instructions in the book (see p. 122-125 of Hammock Camping book) This is an important step that is well covered in the book

 

5. Attach Hanging Straps (Polypropylene or Polyester webbing; see p. 125-127 and picture sequence on p. 126 of Hammock Camping book)

·  On each webbing strap, make attachment loop by folding 6" as shown in Fig D

 

Fig D   Secure 6" loop in end of Webbing strap with a bar tack

 A bar tack is a satin stitch or very tight zigzag stitch

 

 

·  Insert Hammock end knot thru Webbing Loop and secure webbing with temporary hand stitch as close to Hammock fabric as possible without stitching to Hammock fabric (Fig E).  Helpful tip: tightly twist Hammock just below end knot to make it as small as possible (four hands make this easier than two hands)

 

 

 

Fig E   Place Hammock End Knot thru Webbing Loop and

            Secure with hand stitch

 

 

·  Next secure Webbing Loop using zipper foot (the narrow pressure foot) as close as possible to Hammock.  Straight stitch back and forth 6 or 7 times, then sew a bar tack stitch.  Finish with two more bar tacks evenly spaced (Fig F)

 

 

        Fig F   Completed Webbing Strap w/ D Ring

 

 

 

6. Install Bug Net Support Line Attachments (Two D rings & 2" webbing strips)

·  See p. 130-134 of Hammock Camping book

·  Referring to Fig F above, position D ring attachment 12" from Hammock end knot

·  Sew one end of 2" piece of webbing w/ zigzag bar tack, slip on D ring and sew other end

·  Repeat for second D ring on other strap

 

7. Your Hammock Is Finished! 

·  Test Hammock following procedures on p. 128 of Hammock Camping book

·  Note that the unoccupied Hammock should have noticeable sag for proper set up; stretching the Hammock too tightly between the supports causes uncomfortable 'shoulder squeeze'. Proper set up is often a problem with a new Hammock since the polypropylene webbing straps stretch considerably the first few hours the Hammock is used--you may find your butt touching the ground even with the Hammock strung tight! However, the straps will soon be stretched out and then set up will become easier.

·  Time to take a nap! You've earned it!

 

 

Bug Net

 

1.  Sew Hems

·  Hem all four edges 3/4" folding once

·  Make all hems on same side of material--this becomes the inside of the finished Bug Net

·  It may be helpful to hem the long sides first and then hem the ends

·  For a neat finished product, DO NOT stretch the Bug Net fabric while stitching

 

2. Attach Support Line Reinforcements (Two 2" pieces of grosgrain ribbon)

·  Grosgrain ribbon reinforcements go on hemmed side of Bug Net

·  Find center of Bug Net by folding end to end (Fig G); mark w/ chalk or pin

·  Find center of grosgrain ribbon, mark (Fig G)

·  Position grosgrain ribbon on Bug Net by matching center markings as shown in Fig G

·  Stitch all four sides of grosgrain ribbon

·  Repeat for other end

 

Fig G   Attaching Support Line Reinforcements on Bug Net

 

a   Fold Bug Net end to end and mark center on long edge

b   Fold 2" Grosgrain Ribbon end to end; mark center

c   Position Grosgrain Ribbon at center of Bug Net end

 

 

3. Attach End Velcro (11" hook and 11" loop strips on each end of bug net)

·  Refer to Fig H.  All Velcro goes on hemmed side of Bug Net

·  Position 11" piece of hook Velcro on one side of grosgrain ribbon and 11" piece of loop Velcro on the other side; overlapping grosgrain ribbon 1/2" on each end.  There should be approximately 1" of grosgrain ribbon showing (trim Velcro if necessary)

·  Stitch all four edges of each piece of Velcro

·  Repeat on other end of Bug Net

 

 

Fig H   Position Velcro & Grosgrain Ribbon on end of Bug Net

 

 

4. Attach 5" Velcro Loop Strips (these allow complete closure of the bug net beyond each hammock end knot)

·  Referring to Fig I, position 5" Velcro loop strips on opposite sides and opposite ends of the Bug Net

·  All Velcro goes on hemmed side of Bug Net (trim Velcro if necessary)

·  Sew all four sides of 5" Velcro loop strips

 

Fig I   Velcro layout for Bug Net

            Note the 2" pieces of Grosgrain Ribbon on center line for  

            Support Line Reinforcements

 

 

5. Attach Long Velcro Hook Strips (Two hook strips are used here since they catch badly on clothing if they are used on the hammock edges)

·  Referring to Fig I, position long Velcro hook strips along sides of Bug Net

·  All Velcro goes on hemmed side of Bug Net (trim Velcro if necessary)

·  Sew all four sides of both long Velcro hook strips

·  Secure all Velcro joins with tight zigzag or satin stitch, finishing with straight stitch over top and middle of zigzag (as shown in Fig I)

 

6. Install Bug Net Support Line (Note new improved support line)

·  A 24" length of shock cord now comes attached to one end of the support line (this prevents over-tightening of the support line during use)

·  Note that one end of the shock cord comes attached to a snap hook for easy set up and removal

·  Otherwise, install following directions on p. 130-134 of Hammock Camping book

           

 

Rain Canopy

 

·  Follow the extensive instructions in the book, p. 134-143 of Hammock Camping book

·  Silnylon is very slippery; extensive pinning may be helpful (pin holes are self-sealing and generally do not pose a leaking problem)

·  Note that the stitched seam is NOT the ridgeline; instead this seam is perpendicular to the ridgeline.  The Rain Canopy should be set up over the Hammock with the stitched seam perpendicular to the Hammock

·  Reinforcing the Rain Canopy fabric by doubling it at each pull tab is recommended--double corners over 1" or so and sew on the small pieces of silnylon material at the ridgeline pull tabs

·  Avoid excessively preforating the silnylon with heavy bar tacks on the pull tabs; instead, sew several evenly spaced straight stitches and/or use a "box with X" pattern for extra security

·  The two 4" ridgeline pull tabs come with 1/4" grommets installed (they accept hiking pole tips for easy set up as 'A-frame' tarp when needed on the ground)

·  Attach the six 10-foot guidelines as shown on p. 140-142 of Hammock Camping book. Attach guidelines to the two ridgeline pull tabs; attach guidelines to the four corner pull tabs

·  The two ridge guidelines will be excessively long for set up over Hammock between trees.  However, this length is needed when the Rain Canopy is set up as 'A-frame' on the ground

·  Four extra pull tabs are included (two centered on each side of the Rain Canopy).  However no guidelines are included for these since they are seldom needed.  When strong winds are anticipated, any light limp cord will work for these guidelines

 

 

Carry Sack

 

·  Follow instructions on p. 143-144 of Hammock Camping book

 

 

You're Finished!

 

Congratulations, you've just made your own highly functional wilderness shelter!  You have every reason to be proud of what you've done since your Hammock will give you many years of extremely comfortable outdoor use.  Take it on your next backcountry trip and be the envy of all the ground campers!

 

 

Questions?

 

If you have any questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you.  Contact Clarissa or Ed at:

            Speer Hammocks, Inc

            34 Clear Creek Road  

            Marion, NC  28752-6407

            (828) 724-4444

            info@speerhammocks.com

            http://www.speerhammocks.com

 

 

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Happy Hammocking!
Ed "Not To Worry" Speer  


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