Nylon Hammock

• Using ripstop nylon, you can make a Speer-type hammock. You will need a piece of 1.9-ounce ripstop nylon roughly 10 feet long by 5 feet wide. Finish the edges of the nylon with a rolled hem to prevent fraying. Gather the narrow end of the fabric together and fasten it together using a bight, then repeat with the other narrow end. The bight should be as tight as possible.
  
  

Hammock Suspension

• Choose a strong material with little stretch to support your hammock. A variety of low-stretch cord and polypropylene webbing materials are available. You will need two pieces of cord, each about 9 feet in length. Tie an overhand knot at one end of the cord, then create a larkshead. Slip the larkshead over the bight, holding the narrow end of the nylon fabric together, and tighten. The larkshead knot should be toward the inside of the hammock body. If you use a cord, you will need to attach the cord to a tree hugger before attaching it to a tree, otherwise the weight on the cord will damage the tree. If you use webbing instead of cord, choose a longer length and you can use the webbing to attach the hammock to the tree. Make sure the trees or supports you are attaching your hammock to are of sufficient strength to support the weight of your hammock once you crawl in.
  
  

Netted Hammock

• To make a netted hammock, you will need a giant netting shuttle, a gauge stick, and two 2- to 3-inch diameter rings. For a one-person hammock, you will need 2 pounds of hammock cord, and two hardwood bars that are 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches by 33 inches. For a two-person hammock, you will need 3 pounds of hammock cord, and two hardwood bars that are 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches by 48 inches. To begin weaving, cut a 3-foot piece of twine, tie the ends together with a square knot forming a circle, and suspend the loop using a nail. Load a length of hammock cord onto your shuttle. Using your gauge stick to keep your loops even, you will make half-hitch knots around the twine; make 20 for a one-person hammock, 30 for a two-person hammock. Continue weaving and knotting subsequent rows until the hammock is the desired length, adding more cord to your shuttle as needed. Drill holes in the hardwood bars: begin at the center and space holes 1.5 inches apart, with the last hole 2.25 inches from the end. Thread 50-inch lengths of cord through the hardwood bars, knotting them to the netting of the hammock and the hardwood bars. Gather the ends together and fasten them using the rings. Prepare a braid of cord for each side of the hammock so the side will remain higher than the middle. Attach cords or webbing to suspend the hammock.