A hammock made with your own hands will hardly leave anyone indifferent: both adults and children will enjoy spending time sitting or lying on it. Moreover, a beautiful product can decorate the site of a private house and a city apartment. In this article we tell you how to create a comfortable and stylish place to relax on your own.
Bonus: 6 Tips for Building and Attaching
There are several important points that will help you choose how to make a swing-hammock with your own hands.
- If you like fabric models, then special attention should be paid to the material. The strength and durability of the product depends on it. Canvas, calico, teak, camouflage and canvas are suitable for this.
- It is better not to use synthetic materials. Firstly, they are more difficult to work with. And secondly, synthetics are uncomfortable to use in the hot season. It does not allow air to pass through, so you will hardly want to spend a lot of time in such a hammock.
- As for macrame, you can use both synthetic laces with polystyrene and special natural ones produced for this weaving technique.
- You can secure the finished product in the classic way between two trees, on poles or on a system that you can design yourself.
- If you decide to attach to trees, the diameter of the poles must be at least 15 cm. To avoid damaging the bark, use tubes or place fabric under the rope.
- Instead of trees, you can use support pillars, then they should be deepened into the ground. Or make a support structure with v-bars, similar to a boat. It's mobile, so you don't have to dig holes in the yard.
Material selection
Fastenings and fabric need to be durable and able to last for more than one season.
Hanging fabric
Durable fabric is preferable, natural is better:
- mattress linen;
- cotton fabric;
- tarpaulin;
- sackcloth.
Along with durability, comfort is taken into account. In this regard, tarpaulin and burlap are significantly inferior to cotton fabrics. Rough fabric is not very comfortable for the body.
Mattress fabric and any other cotton fabric are pleasant to the touch and can withstand loads of up to 160 kilograms
Hanging mesh
The easiest to manufacture, lightweight, does not take up much space when transporting. The downside is that the maximum load threshold is 100 kilograms; it can’t handle two adults. Lying in it is not very comfortable - the mesh will dig into the body.
If you still choose this option, it is best to choose cotton threads for weaving.
If you know the technique of weaving macrame, tie a hammock yourself, it will be elegant and unusual.
Frame
Metal pipes or wooden slats are suitable for making the base. Prefabricated structures are usually made from metal. The wooden frame is monumental and low mobility.
The principle of choosing fabric is the same as for hanging models - reliability, comfort, durability.
There is a lot of room for imagination and ideas. When weaving using the macrame technique, you can use a child. It is useful for children to create homemade products together with their parents.
Weaving a hammock from linen thread (rope)
The clothesline has special strength and is not afraid of moisture and the scorching sun. That is, a hammock is great for a summer house; hung it and let it hang all season! This is a huge advantage of the material, namely, clothesline. But the thickness of such a rope is greater than that of a cord, and therefore it is not so convenient to weave. But it's economical! You will need less thick rope than thin yarn.
The simplest and most convenient way to weave clothesline is a net.
It's very easy to do.
- We tie a rope to the bar.
- Then we connect the ropes that are nearby. We tie them in a knot.
- We go lower and tie a knot in the ropes that are nearby, but were previously tied to neighboring ropes.
And so on to the very bottom. At the bottom we thread the rope through the holes of the plank and secure it with knots.
This hammock is made very quickly! But for complete comfort it should be equipped with pillows and bedspreads.
Historical reference
Europeans first learned about this subject from Indians living on the Caribbean islands. The natives used it for sleeping. The hanging device is called a “hammock”. Why did the Indians use it? The fact is that the islands were infested with all sorts of poisonous insects and other dangerous animals, and sleeping on the ground or any other object was mortally dangerous.
The recreational device came to Europe through the famous explorer Christopher Columbus. The hanging item was often used by sailors, allowing them to sleep in comfort instead of hard floors and bunks.
Peculiarities
The features of the hammock chair include:
safety and environmental friendliness (due to the use of natural and non-toxic materials);- original design;
- simplicity and ease of use;
- Possibility of use at any time of the year;
- ease of care;
- long service life.
A hammock chair is a soft version of a hanging structure . On soft pillows that sway from side to side, it is pleasant to spend summer evenings in the fresh air.
Advantages
The advantages of a hammock chair include::
- Wide selection of models. Such products differ in shapes, designs, colors, and materials of manufacture. Some chairs are something like a cocoon, others are a product with a soft fabric seat.
- Possibility of self-production. To do this, you will need to use minimal sewing skills and prepare supplies.
- A hammock chair can be framed or frameless. Both models do not have sharp corners or parts, which makes them popular among small users.
- The textile can be easily detached from the product and washed in an automatic machine.
Device
A hammock chair, as a rule, has a fairly simple design . It consists of:
Fabric seat. For these purposes, a tight cut is most often used.- Crossbars, which serve as a strapping element and distribute the load. The seat is tied to the crossbar.
- Sling. To do this, use a strong rope or braided cord.
- Suspension. For these purposes, chains for ceiling mounting or rings with a spring are used.
Advantages and disadvantages of handmade hammocks
Making hammocks yourself has its advantages:
- Low manufacturing cost.
- Possibility to choose the most suitable model.
- Taking into account individual tastes during production and installation.
- It is not accessible to rats or other animals.
However, you need to remember the disadvantages:
- You'll have to spend a lot of work.
- The workmanship will be lower than that of purchased structures.
- To do this job you need to have certain skills.
To make your life more comfortable, you need to take into account your tastes and capabilities when choosing the best option.
How to make a hammock for a summer house with your own hands
If you have the material, tools and minimal skills in working with a sewing machine, you can get a pretty attractive thing. Here is a master class on making several types.
Hanging hammock chair made of hoop
To work you will need:
- hoop;
- fabric, the cut should be 25-30 cm larger than the circumference of the hoop;
- marker or chalk for marking;
- rope.
Step by step steps:
- Place the hoop in the middle of the fabric.
- Using a marker, mark a diameter of 25 cm from the edge of the hoop.
- Cut the fabric according to the markings. You should end up with two identical parts.
- We sew a zipper into one piece. Its length should be equal to the diameter of the hoop.
- Place both pieces right sides inward and machine stitch them together.
Position of the zipper on the fabric - Turn the sewn fabric right side out and cut 4 holes in it so that the hammock can be hung.
- We process the edges of the holes with braid.
- We put the finished cover on the frame.
All that remains is to hang the hammock, and for this you will need 4 pieces of rope: two 20 cm each and two 2.8 m each.
We fold each one in half and thread it through the holes, tighten it on a hoop.
For a comfortable rest in a hammock, we recommend sewing pillows that are also suitable for garden swings made of wood and metal.
You can watch the video for more detailed step-by-step instructions.
Wicker hammock
You will need:
- Rope cord 8 mm in cross section.
- Wooden planks 1.5 meters long.
Drill 20 mm holes in each plank in increments of 4-5 centimeters.
The diameter of the cord is 1/3 of the diameter of the hole. The length depends on the chosen weaving pattern. Cut the rope into equal pieces and secure them in the first plank. After finishing the weaving, secure it in the second bar.
Watch the video: weaving instructions.
Fabric hammock on wooden slats
To make it you will need:
- Two wooden slats with drilled holes along the entire length, pitch 5 cm. The length depends on the planned width of the product.
- The fabric is 2-2.5 meters long, 1.5-1.8 meters wide.
- Metal rings for fastening. The quantity is equal to the number of holes drilled.
Sew two pieces of cloth, fasten the rings along the entire width, the distance between them is the same as on the bar.
For stability, you can sew a seam along the length of the panel, bending the fabric 2-3 cm. Insert a cord into the resulting gap.
Using a rope, you need to tie each metal ring to a hole in the bar, securing each knot securely
Braided device
Another option for making a hammock is weaving. To do this, you don’t need to have deep knowledge of weaving macrame with your own hands, you just need to learn how to make a simple knot. So, the necessary list of tools:
- two strong wooden planks 1000x30x20 cm;
- cotton cord - 200 m;
- rings with a diameter of 10 cm - 2 pcs.
Choosing rattan, what to look for
Rattan is a material that is used to make wicker furniture, including hammocks. It must be remembered that it can be either natural or artificial.
The advantage of real wood is its environmental friendliness, but artificial rattan can boast of strength (the hammock can easily withstand weight up to 150 kilograms) and durability without any maintenance, as well as a cheaper cost. In addition, you don’t have to be afraid to leave it outside, since poly rattan is not afraid of any climatic conditions.
When choosing a hammock, pay attention first of all to its storage location.
Attention! Natural wood can dry out in the wrong conditions, which will lead to its rapid breakage.
Also, another point that requires close attention is the price; natural wood is expensive; it’s not for nothing that only the rich could afford it half a century ago.
Frame manufacturing process
Most often, ash timber is used for production. The design of the simplest frame includes two braces that are attached to the base at an angle of 45 degrees. The base itself consists of a strapping of two beams. Also, the braces must be fixed with power blocks, which are also attached to the harness.
A simple, but very stable and reliable structure made of ash timber Source pointernety.ru
At a height of about 1.4 m, eye blocks are installed on the braces. They are needed for hanging a hammock. A stand for a wooden hammock should also include two beams that serve as horizontal support.
During manufacturing, first of all, the entire timber is cut to length and, after processing and polishing, is coated with antiseptics and fire retardants. Then they take one of the strapping strips, apply power supports and braces to it, pre-connected to each other. Next, another trim strip is installed on top and holes are drilled in the right places with a diameter equal to the diameter of the bolts. At least two bolted connections should be used for each joint. After this, the bolts are tightened until they stop.
The next step is to attach the eye blocks and paws. This is the process of making a stand. But after complete assembly, the entire surface of the timber can be painted and hidden with varnish for decorative purposes. This design for a hammock is inexpensive and is reliable and stable.
It’s not difficult to make a base stand for a hammock yourself Source qirarygo.ga
Pattern of a hammock for a child on a plane
Today there are a number of inventions that greatly simplify human life. This is especially important for young mothers who have a tiny baby in their arms. Traveling with an infant on an airplane is very difficult; you have to keep the child in your seat the entire flight. Today Ebay offers special baby seats and hammocks.
The child flies facing his parents, being in constant close contact with them. Mom's hands are free, so you can care for the baby or play with him. Using special fabric belts, the structure is attached to the aircraft table, and the other end is attached to the parent’s waist. The child is additionally secured with a five-point seat belt.
The main advantages of a hammock seat are:
- Compact: the product fits into a travel bag.
- Maximum safety: 3 or 5 point suspension system.
- Practicality: the device can be used outside the aircraft when traveling as a high chair that is attached to other regular seats.
It is not easy to sew such a design yourself, but it can be significantly simplified. To do this, take a regular muslin blanket. One end is tied to a large metal ring and thrown behind the back of the front seat, and the other end is hidden under its seat using a belt.
