Nova 132 Harmony Jungle Hammock

This is how I made the Nova Hammock, an 11’ integrated bugnet double-layer hammock derived from mathematical principles using the Golden Ratio.    

Round Bag Fundamentals + Calculator + Pattern + Tips

Click here to download my Round Bag Calculator (excel).
Note:  Fractions may not be view-able if using a mobile device.

Click here to download the Small Round Bag Pattern (pdf).
Print in portrait mode, and verify the 1" square on the printed copy is truly 1".

Tips for sewing round bottoms into bags:

• Mark your seam allowance on the circle with a pencil so that you can verify that you aren't deviating off course. 
• Mark the quarters of your bag and the side of your bag, and then check to make sure those marks line up when you are sewing.
• Use a magnetic seam guide, or mark the needle plate of your sewing machine with a piece of tape, to help see the seam allowance when you are sewing.
• When at the sewing machine, place the side of the bag on the bottom (against the feed dogs) with the right side facing up. Place the circle with right-side facing down. 
• When sewing, hold the with your right hand.  Use your left hand to ease the circle so that the edges of both pieces of fabric line up at the seam allowance. Hold the circle at least 1/2” in from the edge to prevent bias stretching.
• Stop sewing with your needle in the down position, lift your foot, and ease the fabric when needed to keep circle stitching smooth and to prevent puckering.   
• You could also use pins to hold the side of your bag to your circle on the quarters or eights.

Round Zipper Bag for Tree Straps

CLICK HERE to download the pattern.  Print in landscape mode, and verify that the 1" square is truly 1".

YOU WILL NEED

· 5 PIECES CUT FROM FABRIC

· PATTERN A: CUT 2 CIRCLES

· PATTERN B: CUT 2 SIDE OF ZIPPER

· PATTERN C: CUT 1 SIDE OF BAG

· 9” ZIPPER (WITH ZIPPER PULL)

· 4 to 6” GROSGRAIN RIBBON

· 2 D-RINGS (OPTIONAL)

INSTRUCTIONS

All SEAM ALLOWANCES ARE 1/2”

· With right sides facing and the edges of the zipper tape and fabric lined up, sew the zipper to both pieces of Pattern B; overcast stitch the raw edge of the fabric to the zipper tape; press open flat and topstitch the fabric to the zipper tape.

· Cut grosgrain into two pieces, fold each piece in half, and baste to ends of zipper so that the loops are facing inward.  (Add D-Rings to grosgrain before basting if desired).

· With right sides together, sew zipper assembly to the narrow edges of both sides of Pattern C; overcast stitch raw edges; then tack down.

· Sew the circle to the side of the bag on each side:: 

Put the loop of the zipper assembly (pattern pieces B and C) on the bottom (against the feed dogs) with the right side facing up.  Place the circle with right-side facing down. 

Tip:  Hold the bottom / straight piece of fabric straight with your right hand. 

Tip:  Use your left hand to ease the circle so that the edges of both pieces of fabric line up.  Hold the circle at least 1/2” in from the edge to prevent bias stretching. 

Tip:  Stop sewing with your needle in the down position, lift your foot, and ease the fabric when needed to keep circle stitching smooth and to prevent puckering.

Tip:  Mark your seam allowance on the circle with a pencil if needed.

· Trim and overcast stitch the raw edge of the circle.  Turn bag right-side out.

Happy sewing!

DIY Stuff Sack Drawstring Channels 4 Ways

Join me as I sew two double-sided stuff sacks, with a different method for finishing the drawstring channel on each side:

1.  Folded Corners
2.  Casings
3.  Knotched Seam
4.  Interrupted Seam

I am sure there are lots more ways to do it.  If you like something different, let me know and I'll check it out.

The fabric that I used was the 1 oz hyper D from Ripstop by the Roll in Spectra Yellow and Moroccan Blue.

Make an Underquilt Protector for Hammock Camping

I'm very thrilled with my underquilt protector, and its ability to keep me warm and cozy while blocking the wind.  Check out my video on how to make one, and join me in this quick and easy DIY project.

Make a winter tarp with me

Join me while I make a winter tarp, using the pattern from DIY Gear Supply.  This is a multi-part video series, and I'll cover the following topics in separate videos.

Part 1:  Cat curves and fabric cuts
I will show you how I made the patterns for the catenary curves and cut the fabric for the winter tarp.  In this video I use XTrekker's Catenary Curve Calculator.

Part 2:  Sewing the ridgeline
I sew the ridgeline using the flat felled / french seam hybrid method.

Part 3:  Tie-outs
I'm deviating from the sequence of the pattern a little and I'm attaching my tie-outs so that the webbing is on the inside of the reinforcement fabric.  It works out and I am happy with the product.

Part 4:  Rolled hem using the *rolled hem foot*
I hem the tarp, including the catenary curves, using my 1/8" rolled hem foot.

Part 5:  Side pull  outs
I attach side pull outs to the tarp, and like the tie-outs, I'm deviating from the instructions somewhat.

 Part 6:  Seam Sealing
I use Silnet to seal the seams on the ridgeline and the side pull-outs.

Download the Winter Tarp pattern from DIY Gear Supply:  http://diygearsupply.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/DIYGS-Winter-Tarp-lowres.jpg

XTrekker's Catenary Curve Calculator:  https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/85208-Catenary-Parabola-Curve-Calculator

How to sew outdoor fabrics with the rolled hem foot:
https://youtu.be/nWIp401KHKg?list=PLe_TkDAT6LQV8NAyKbCz1JgyN91nW1mNn

How to sew outdoor fabrics with a rolled hem foot, including lightweight and waterproof fabrics

The double-rolled hem is the preferred method for finishing single-layer fabric edges on outdoor fabrics.  I have heard some complaints on Hammock Forums that the rolled hem foot is problematic for these applications, leading to inconsistent results and big headaches.  Instead, DIYers are resorting to using hundreds of pins to secure the edges of hand-rolled hems.

In this video I troubleshoot the problems and show you how to sew outdoor fabrics using a rolled hem foot, including challenging fabrics, such as very lightweight (1 oz Hyper D ripstop nylon, 0.66 membrane taffeta) and waterproof (1.1 oz silpoly), using a rolled hem foot.

You can put a rolled hem on your tarps, underquilt protectors, and other outdoor fabric projects without needing a thousand pins. 

You can roll a hem on fabric cut with a catenary curve, or on the bias of the fabric.

The trick is to use a strip of tissue paper beneath the fabric to provide traction between the feed dogs and the fabric, and to pre-fold and guide the fabric into the foot while sewing.  If sewing a straight seam (not a zig-zag), the tissue paper will easily tear away when you are done sewing, and your rolled hem seam will be straight and true.

If you are new to the rolled hem foot, I suggest you practice your skills on scrap fabric first.

Good

DIY weave a clew suspension for an underquilt

I was intrigued to make a clew suspension for a box-style underquilt that I was already planning to sew after seeing Derek Hansen's post about it on his facebook page.

The clew design is the conception of Leiavoia, who provided a detailed description (along with some of the physics) on his blog and on hammockforums.  For more information about a clew suspension, see Derek Hansen's youtube video and his blog post.

The suspension is beautifully complex, but not difficult to execute.  Note that because I used a box-style underquilt, the suspension is not compressing the 6 oz climashield apex insulation.

The final weight is 2 1/8 ounces.

Testing of the suspension is proceeding, so stay tuned for updates.   We'll have to see if this is all Leiavoia has touted it to be.

Troubleshooting Update:  after a two nights of sleeping with the quilt, I have removed the "extender" from the foot end that you see in the video.  Without the extender, the quilt + suspension is 87.5% the total length of my hammock, and that is giving me a snug fit.   At a longer length, I was getting gaping at the foot end and along the sides (cold butt syndrome), but at 87.5%, it seems really nice and cozy.  To determine this underquilt length, multiply the length of your hammock (in inches or cm) by 0.875 for the length of your quilt plus suspension.  Adjust the length of your nettles accordingly.

Materials:

• Approximately 65 feet of 1/16" shock cord
• 2 aluminum descending rings
• Method to attach suspension to your underquilt (I used snaps).
• Jig for weaving a clew (I used a few campaign yard signs, a piece of brown paper, a funny-looking pin and 8 large headed short nails).
• Pencil (or two).
• Optional:  4 short pieces of shock cord and 4 mini cord-locks (for preventing the clew nettles from tangling in the stuff sack).

Refer to these links for more information:

• Leiavoia's blog post:  http://www.leiavoia.net/pages/hammock/levquilt.html
• Leiavoia's hammockforums post:  https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/132651-You-re-Doing-Underquilts-All-Wrong-Get-A-Clew-)?highlight=clew+underquilt
• Derek Hansen's blog post on the clew suspension:  http://theultimatehang.com/2013/01/world-war-ii-us-navy-hammock-and-clew-tutorial/
• Derek Hansen's youtube video on the clew suspension:  https://youtu.be/L5M-1M6WsvM
• Derek Hansen's facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/TheUltimateHang/

DIY hammock with stretchable footbox and knotty mod

I sewed my first hammock DIY project.  This 11' hammock is made from 1.0 oz Hyper D ripstop nylon.  It is double-sided, has a Hangnout's Stretchable Footbox and a Knotty Mod Stretch Side on the opposite side from the footbox.  I sewed some additional D-Rings in the edge channel to be used to attach a bug net and/or a pillow.  Detailed sewing instructions and my pattern can be found below.