In this section you're going to measure and cut the nylon liner and shell using the pattern below. Cut one, then use it as a template for the other. I started this project after I'd cut out the nylon, so I don't have pictures of the process right now. I'll post them after I make the next quilt.
Approximate time: 2 hours
There are a lot of ways to manage measuring and making long cuts. You can use the lines in your kitchen tiles, masking tape, marking chalk, etc. What works best for me is an 8' x 4' composite board called Masonite. Cost for the whole piece was about 8 bucks from Home Depot. I highly recommend buying one or using something similar.
You'll really appreciate the big, slick surface when dealing with the insulation. It's not quite as wide as I need, but I can make do by folding stuff in half. I have it marked for the perimter of the quilt and have other useful patterns on it, like the drawcord channels and stuff sack. I do all of my cutting, pinning, and folding on it.
To cut long seams, I lay the material down, then lay another board on top of it along the length I need cut. I kneel on that top board and press the razor to it for the straight cut. I always make sure the board is on the side of the cut that is finished material. That way if I slip with the razor, I'm just cutting material that's going to be removed anyway.
This is the pattern for the liner (against the hammock bottom), shell (facing out), and insulation. The cuts in the side will be sewn together to help the underquilt cup the bottom of the hammock. You'll note that the foot end is slightly narrower than the head.
There is a right and wrong side for each piece of nylon. We'll call the side that faces out to the world the "right" side and the side that faces in to the insulation the "wrong" side. The shiny side of your fabric should be the wrong side.
Looking at the pattern you can see that the long sides are at the top left and bottom right. Imagining laying your nylon on top of this. The liner will be laid right side up and the shell will be laid wrong side up. Be sure you are very clear on this because once you cut, you can't correct it. When the liner is lying on the pattern, the side facing up will be the right side. When the shell is lying on the pattern, the side facing up will be the wrong side. If there's any doubt about this, take your hammock out to help you picture it. When you're sure you have things oriented correctly, cut out the liner and shell.
When you lay the cut liner on top of the shell material, push it to one side or the other. That leaves a thick piece of shell material that you'll cut off on one side. Cut that off lengthwise so that you'll have long lengths to work with when it's time to cut the shockcord housing.
When you're done with both, cut an inch off the foot end of the liner. We're going to hem the foot of the shell at the very end and this will make them even.
Cut the liner from the pattern, then use it on top of the shell. Clip it on top and use it as a template so that each piece comes out exactly the same.
Masking tape a big X to the foot-end right side of each piece so that you can easily keep track of their orientation throughout the project.
Next, cut the strips for the shockcord housing. I always make them from the shell, not the lining because it looks nicer. I've thought about making them from a third color but haven't yet tried it.
Each strip is 3 inches wide and there are six of them. Each long side is 55 inches, the short sides are 32 inches, the foot end is 24 inches, and the head is 29 inches. If you're making a custom size, just measure them with your cut liner nylon. Leave two to three inches on each end and allow for 3/4" seams on each end.
Next, heat seal all of your nylon edges, including the shockcord housing. To do so, just run a flame along each edge. Hold the fabric so that the edge is sticking up and run a flame along it with the bottom of the flame touching the fabric. You're doing it right if it looks about the same but feels slightly crunchy when you run it between your fingers. Don't do it so much that you're shrinking the edge.
Don't overdo the heat. It's very easy to go back later if you find parts that need resealing. It's not easy to fix setting your whole project on fire.
Okay, now put your shell nylon aside. The majority of the work we're going to do is going to be on the liner. Hang on to your scraps, we're going to use them later.