Hammock fabric length?

I have seen a wide range of suggested fabric lengths for a hammock. Everything from 3 yards to 4 plus yards. Assuming a wipped end rather than the spear tie, does anybody have a suggestion as to which length to choose and why?

the longer the hammock, the easier it is to lie on the diagonal so you're flat in the hammock. I would get a nice long piece, whip it and leave the extra fabric dangling, test, lengthen, re-whip... and once you know what length is comfy for you, whip and cut off the excess. I think it depends on how tall you are where your comfort level is.

I've been reading up on this and have found that the longer is better... but I'm 5'5", so... I don't need a 10 ft hammock. I've read that height + 10"-16" for whipping + 24" (one foot extra on each end)= should be plenty. Lori's suggestion is good too, since you will be able to customize it for your body a little easier. Personally, there's no way I'm going to start with 4 yards of fabric. I just don't need that long of a hammock.

I'm 5'5" and I like find that 10 feet is great. I think I got 3.5 yards and whipped the ends. But then again I like a really flat lay to a hammock. My hennessy is shorter than 10 feet (measured around the bottom, not the ridgeline length) and is less comfortable. If you are comfortable with more of a curved shape while you sleep then feel free to go shorter.

Also I prefer using wide material (60") rather than narrow (48"). That also contributes to your ability to lay flat. But other people feel differently.

That's good insight!

Thanks for all the insights. I'm going to try to 'buy it long and shorten as needed' method.

Go with 4 yards. That will give you 2" hem margins at both ends for your rope to go through and enough fabric to allow you to lay diagonally.

So you are suggesting running the rope through a hemmed end rather than whipping the end or tying and slipping a larks head over it? Why do you like that configuration better?

I'm 6' and like my 10' hammock. I had a 9' and it just didn't seem quite big enough. I could definitely sleep in a shorter one, but I just don't get as comfortable.

I have to echo the suggestions you've already received to get the longer fabric length and work your way down to the "proper" length. You can use the left-over fabric to make some stuff-sacks or hanging pockets or something similar.

I did the knotted end at first. The hemmed ends allowed me to make a neater 'gather' and also to make the edges/sides of the hammock a tad shorter than the middle. This makes it easier to keep my head from slipping over the side. Hem the ends, and once the rope is passed through, sew a 3" seam on each side to force the rope toward the hem stitch on the edges of the hammock. Make sense?

So the 3" hem is placed in each corner between the tree and the main body of the hammock, making the hammock longer in the middle than the edges?

That sounds right. You want the sides a couple inches shorter than the middle, running length wise.
Sew/hem your hammock, hang it an get in. You'll notice the sides will allow your head to slip out when you lay diagonally.
Shortening the sides a bit stops this and the hem is the easiest place to do it.