All projects evolve during the journey from concept to completion. Some transform so completely that the initial sketches are of something completely different from what (if anything) gets built. Sometimes things change in arbitrary ways. This isn’t one of those projects: this project changed in a few simple ways that reflect the constraints of time and budget.
The original idea was to to use grommets in the blanket and u-bolts in the frame. We also planned to make the zigzag rope go around all four sides of the suspended blanket.
But the needs of the event, budget, and lead time conspired to bring about the following changes:
- Site plans changed such that the frames would need to be hung from hooks at the top instead of having legs and being a freestanding piece. A straightforward change.
- Because the fabric would not arrive until quite late in the production period, the grommets were replaced with a row of loops and matching dowels. I expected this method to work more reliably given the unknown qualities of the material I would end up with. The loop-and-dowel plan would spread the load enough to keep the fabric panel straight even if were too thin or stretchy to take grommets properly. It also meant the loops along the sides could be omitted, saving hardware budget and simplifying construction.
- No supplier could deliver the number of U-bolts within the available lead time, so with options and time dwindling I substituted screw-in eyelets.
Laminating the pieces that will become the sides of the frames. Each is made of three ½” by 1 ½” pine furring strips. 
The eyelets and binding wire were weathered with self-etching primer and a cocktail of spray paint decanted into a disposable cup and applied with a brush. 
