Good afternoon, today we will continue to talk about swings. We have already figured out what different (both simple and complex) swings you can make with your own hands for the dacha in our article “Swings for the dacha - 20 WAYS to make with your own hands . And today I decided that this topic is worth continuing, because I found 15 more WAYS to make a garden wooden swing. They are even more luxurious than the ones I already talked about... And now I will show them to you and explain what’s what.
We will start with the simplest versions of swings for the garden - and then little by little we will begin to make things cooler and cooler . You yourself will be stunned by the realization that “how is everything, damn it, simple and easy, I can do it too.”
If mothers are reading us, then don’t rush to run away - here there are options for garden swings that your delicate hands can handle...
Better yet, show this article to the father of the family - believe me, there will be something for him to LIT ... And in your yard - a GARDEN SWING will very quickly appear... with interesting architectural gadgets
But I won't get ahead of myself. Let's start from the beginning...
I'll start with a non-standard way...
MODEL ONE – garden swing
from a hoop and rope.
This method doesn’t even require men’s hands. Patient women will do...
What do you need:
- steel hoop for gymnastics...
- foam rubber for wrapping a hard hoop (which was more comfortable and softer) -
- and a rope (a clothesline from a hardware store will do).
What to do I described the entire process of creating a swing and drew everything step by step in the picture (so as not to explain it with fingers - but to make it clear).
Then, when the entire macrame web is made, you can additionally wrap the rim with rope - between the knots - so that the knots do not slide along the hoop and do not bunch up - and cover it with foam rubber on top - so that the hard rim does not dig into the body...
But in the photo below we see a weave of thinner ropes - and in the center of the rope ours are not randomly intertwined - but threaded into a small metal ring ...
You can also buy such garden swings... They are on sale... made using factory equipment. And you don't have to do anything with your own hands.
And then one photo gave me a wonderful thought ...
What if...we found a tub or basin - which would just fit inside our iron hoop - then we don’t need to weave anything from strings. Place a basin inside the hoop and enjoy yourself on the garden swing... And then, when the children grow up and lose interest in this fun, you can create a wonderful, lush garden flower bed in the basin...
What if you make it yourself?
We thought and imagined that everything you need for a home hammock can be assembled in a tool block, and your hands are dexterous. Whoever decides: we make the rocking chair ourselves.
And then we will tell you below what and how to make types of hanging chairs like cocoon-hammock-swing. And most importantly, how to strengthen it indoors, so as not to hastily drag a complex device into the office block or living room before the rain.
Curiosities, but to the point
Since we are talking about funny swings, let’s touch on some more of them, but they are quite suitable for their intended use. For example, hammock swings, on the left in the figure, although the hammock itself is already a recumbent swing. There is probably something about swaying with additional degrees of freedom that owners like. In any case, there will be no harm.
Children will probably like the device in the center, but it is impossible to name it without sinning against Russian grammar. A swing, not a swing. And the author posted a photo of the one on the right with a note: the easiest way to recycle an old car. The comment was in English, so it is quite possible - in many Western countries, delivering a car to a landfill or selling it for scrap costs a lot of trouble. And here the great inertia of the heavy rocking chair allows you to swing for a very long time, the canopy is created by itself, and the soft sofa will not reduce the comfort.
Making a seat using the macrame technique
For this type of hanging chair you will need:
- 7 strands of 6 m;
- 4 wires 5m each;
- 4 strands of 4.5 m each;
- 2 wires 4 m each;
- 2 metal circles with a diameter of 90 and 110 cm.
Having prepared the ropes of the required length, proceed to attach them to the frame.
- Starting from the center, tie 7 long strands in pairs at a distance of 6 cm from each other.
- Continue attaching threads to the sides of the warp. Accordingly, on one side there should be 2 wires of 5 m each, 2 wires of 4.5 m each and 1 wire 4 m long. Connect the long and short cables in pairs to the base
- Then start weaving the pattern from the center of the piece. Weaving the pattern should start from the center
- As a result of your work, you should get an openwork circle. Finished perforated circle: seat base using macrame technique
- Secure each garment with a flat knot to prevent the rope from slipping around.
- When knitting, always maintain tension by tying knots at 6cm intervals.
If it is necessary to create a fringe, the length of the strands should be increased by about one meter and, upon completion of the work, do not cut the remaining cord.
In addition, equip the resulting structure with reliable strapping and a soft pillow.
A rocking chair made using the macrame weaving technique must be additionally equipped with a pillow
For children
The design for a child can be quite simple and unique, since the age and size of a person will change over the years, there is no need to concrete such products.
Some parents decorate the yard with swings and balance beams made from scrap materials, such as car tires. Thanks to such solutions, your beloved child will practice coordination and have fun with friends.
DIY wicker hanging chair
Wickerwork is a classic that never goes out of style. For weaving, you can use natural wicker or artificial substitutes. Buy materials in specialized stores.
Housewives who know how to weave from natural wicker can make a hanging chair from rattan. For those who have never used wicker, it is easier to make a product using a variety of thread weaving techniques, creating unique openwork patterns. This will significantly reduce the cost of the final product, and beautiful knitting is in no way inferior in attractiveness to the beauty of rattan.
The most popular wicker model now is the cocoon chair. It is comfortable and beautiful, with its appearance it can decorate any recreation area. The peculiarity of the cocoon is that 2/3 of the space is hidden behind wicker walls, which guarantees complete privacy.
How to make a cocoon hanging chair in wicker style
To do this, you need PVC pipes, from which you should make a strong frame (a round circle), as well as pipes of a smaller diameter to create a round shape. The pipes are connected to each other with self-tapping screws. The finished frame is woven with openwork weave from strong threads or thin rope. Be sure to place soft pillows on the bottom.
The clasp for such a product can be a metal chain attached to the top of the PVC frame. Drawings of a hanging chair in the shape of a cocoon can be found on the Internet and modified based on your wishes and design ideas.
Seat attachment
It is quite common to use chains to suspend a structure, but for smooth and even movement, rigid supports are best. In both cases, special clamps are needed for fastening, including various bolts and eye nuts.
All contacts with wood and metal need to be thought through to the smallest detail; with constant friction against each other, small wear may occur; in order to extend the service life of such parts, all possible methods are used.
Scheme for making a hoop
A circle as a shape is often used to make a hanging shell chair frame using the macrame method, a fabric chair cover, a hammock chair, a cocoon, and a chair on a wooden base. You can make a circle from a metal or metal-plastic tube. A metal exercise machine of the same name, if available, is also suitable.
The finished design of a hanging chair can be upholstered with foam rubber, polyester padding, fabric, woven with screws or ropes. You can trim the edges with decorative ribbons or braid, and decorate with beads.
Tools and materials
A hanging wood frame is most often used for straighter shapes. Wooden pallets are often used as the base for these chairs. These can be single boards or ready-made structures that are simply sawn into the required blocks.
To make a slatted hammock structure you will need:
- hacksaw or jigsaw;
- drill;
- wood drills;
- sandpaper for surface treatment.
Metal-plastic will be an excellent material for making a chair frame. The diameter of the tube must be greater than 3.5 cm.
Metal-plastic is easy to saw; you don’t need to bend it using special equipment, since they are sold in the form of coils, which means they already have a round shape. To make the frame you will need: self-tapping screws, a screwdriver, a wooden or metal sleeve.
Metal tubes form the strongest structure for chairs of any shape, whether round or joined at the top and splayed down. Welding will help in this matter. The work will require an experienced person and a bending machine. But this frame will be the heaviest, which means it will require strong fastening. This option will take longer.
Manufacturing
Initially, the wood needs to be shaped, sanded, treated with insect repellent, and painted to protect against the elements. Attached to the joint with wood glue and, if necessary, supplemented with screws or bushings.
The metal-plastic base is easily fixed in the ring. Fastening occurs using a wooden or plastic sleeve of smaller diameter, secured with stainless steel screws on both sides of the joint, without extending beyond the sleeve.
The process of bending a metal pipe is quite prosaic if you have special equipment. Some experience with the machine is required. Pipe bending is available upon request.
Welding requires a specific location and skill level. It is not recommended to work with welding without special skills. The number of subscriptions depends on the required form. This could be a simple repeating circle or the shape of a chair.
The frame is ready, how to make a chair out of it?
Types of hanging chairs
The first hanging furnishings appeared in Denmark in the mid-twentieth century. At first they were used as garden hammocks, but then they gradually began to move under the roof and first took up places on terraces and balconies, then finally settled in rooms, becoming part of the home furnishings.
A floating place to relax can be made of natural materials (rattan, willow, solid wood) or artificial (plastic, metal). The structure is securely attached to the ceiling using a powerful hook, chain or cable. In addition, there are also floor products installed on a special bracket. Both seat options can rock and spin.
Amazing design, unusual shapes and different materials make it possible to adapt the product to any room. A properly made chair can withstand a weight of up to two hundred kilograms. Thanks to this, it can accommodate either two adults or an adult and a child.
All hanging models are divided into several types:
- braided type;
- textile;
- hard;
- soft.
All of them can swing or rotate, giving their owners unforgettable moments of relaxation.
During its existence, the hanging accessory has changed many times, and today there are a sufficient number of its varieties:
- rigid frame made from wicker, rattan, acrylic or plastic;
- a soft hammock chair that has compact dimensions and takes the shape of the body of the person sitting;
- the cocoon is remarkable in that its inner part is more than half hidden from those around it by openwork walls;
- The drop, which looks like a fairy-tale house, has taken root well in children's rooms.
Swing chairs are also divided according to the features of fastening (axle or rod), material and possible load. Before you make a chair with your own hands, you should decide where and how it will be used, and what load is planned on it.
Making a simple lying hammock
this is the easiest thing to do: you will need thick fabric measuring 1 m by 2.5 meters, rope and two round wooden or metal strips. It needs to be tucked around the edges. It is necessary to drill holes at the ends for attaching the rope, leaving a reserve for the strips. The fabric must be folded and sewn on a drawstring for the straps, the holes for the loops must be processed. Next, insert the strips into the lace and secure the cords.
If the hammock is fixed on two supports located at some distance from each other, then one is enough for the chair.
Advice. To make it more comfortable to lie down in the hammock along its long edges, you need to make a drawstring through which a tight rope is threaded.
Hammock chair: master class
To make such a suspension you need to take fabric measuring 1.5 x 1.5 meters. Make a drawstring on both sides and 8-12 loops to hang them across the entire width of the side. Thread the lace through the lace for rigidity. Next, thread the ropes through the holes, which are connected on each side with a hanging loop. Both rings can then be attached to the base.
For convenience, strips can be inserted into the transverse part of the seat from below and from above.
Master class on making a nest
You need to take two circles and connect them in one place, winding them 50 cm. Then pull the fabric or cords onto the loom. On the opposite side of the connection, connect the circles with long ropes from 40 cm to 10 cm, shorter ropes should converge at the point of continuous connection of the circles. Attach 4 ropes to the bottom frame, attach the second frame to the back ropes shaped like a backrest. Connect the cords with a hanging ring and attach to the hanging ring. The nest is ready.
This place is ideal for those who love privacy.
These simple chairs can be made at home in 1-2 hours. And you can enjoy them for several years.
Standard sizes of rocking pendants
Hammock chair. Has a soft frame. Unlike the hanging bed itself, which is installed on a pair of posts, here it will be held by a shelving unit.
Nest chair. The most famous hammock. It is essentially a ball, and its mounting frame is a frame consisting of a three-quarter diameter tube.
Thanks to its elegant shape, it can be installed in the living room during the cold season.
Throw away the chair. An elegant rocking chair that takes up minimal space. The kids love it. And more often it is called children's. The child plays with it just like at home: the device resembles it in shape. Having played enough, they fall asleep there.
In your home, it is removed from the frame outside and attached to a hook on the ceiling; if concrete, then on a strong anchor.
Rocking chair. The frame can be hard or soft. The swing will decorate your garden or country yard. Only the little ones in the room will adapt to his swing so as not to hit the wall with his back. These are the best chairs for the garden. It can be attached to a large tree branch.
Dacha grace
Outdoor and yard swings are placed wherever there is space. At the dacha, too, in general, there is not an abundance of it, but for yourself it’s worth figuring out how to collect dacha pleasures into one eden: you save space, and, if you really want to relax, then there are beds that make your hands callused, your eyes didn't cause calluses. Here, as usual, everyone is their own boss. However, there is a very good universal option: hang a garden swing in a pergola, see fig. If it is, of course, strong enough for this. Dig up and arrange a decorative pond nearby - and you’re ready to create a piece of paradise with your own hands on less than 1 acre.
Country swings in pergolas
Chair based on a soft frame
The entire chair is made of fabric sewn in the shape of a bag with a hole. Attach a product such as a hammock to the top.
The base is a durable fabric folded in half. Any shape can be created, but during use it takes on the shape of the body.
To do this, you need to draw a picture and choose a size. For a child, a diameter of the lower base of 50-70 centimeters is sufficient; for an adult, 70-100 centimeters is suitable.
Cut out a circle and several triangles in diameter. Treat the edges of all parts with decorative materials. Sew the pieces together, leaving one part open.
As you can see in the photo of a handmade hanging chair, the furnishings and materials can be absolutely anything. The engine of ideas is your imagination.
About designs
Like most outbuildings, swings are most often made of wood. The posts and crossbar are made from timber, logs, the seats are made from planks and even from parts of home furniture.
Rex liked this swing too
A little about the designs. There are three main types of hanging swings, or as they are also called - boat swing, sofa, bench, etc. The main difference is in the type of supporting structure: there is A-shaped and U-shaped. You can see an example with racks folded into a triangular structure above, and in the photo below an example with a U-shaped rack. This is more like a pergola with a hanging bench and it is built according to the same type, only taking into account swaying loads.
This swing design is more reliable
Swing on a U-shaped base
Very cozy Option with a roof It’s like attaching dovetails
There is a third type - this is a complex structure that requires certain skills - it is based on hinged joints and they swing from the feet resting on the floor. We will immediately provide photos and diagrams for those interested (you can expand them to full screen if you click on the arrows in the upper right corner of the picture).
Boat swing with articulated joints Option with roof
Working drawing with dimensions
The second part of the drawing with seat dimensions Partial explanations for assembly Explanations for building a swing step by step Continuation of the commentary
Read how to build a wooden gazebo with your own hands here.
Sizing and drawing
Before you start making a chair, you need to decide what size it will be. In a large one, if you surround yourself with more pillows, of course, it will be more comfortable, but sometimes a small one can feel more comfortable. Also, if you have to use the chair indoors, its size will depend on the size of the room. A large object in a small room will look bulky and awkward, and there will be no feeling of comfort.
A child's hanging chair can have a seat size from 50 to 90 cm, and an adult's from 80 to 120 cm. The height of the finished structure will depend on the installation method. In order for homemade hanging chairs to be safe, it is necessary to calculate their load-bearing capacity with a margin. A child must withstand the weight of a seated person of about 90-100 kg, and an adult - 130-150 kg.
Having decided on the size and purpose, you can draw a small drawing on which the model will be depicted to scale. This simplifies the calculation of the dimensions of parts used in assembly. All elements of the frame can be drawn separately on paper, and then transferred to the blanks, increasing the size.
When drawing a picture, you can take any ready-made version as a basis or draw your own. It is very important to design the environment in which the chair will subsequently be installed or suspended, as its size must be determined taking into account the dimensions of the rest of the furniture. But the material for the seat will need to be adjusted during the work process, when the frame is ready. It is unlikely that it will be possible to calculate the amount of fabric or rattan from the drawings.
Schematic determination of the dimensions of a chair on a stand. Diagram of a round chair without a stand.
Rules for safe operation
When using a children's swing, special attention should be paid to safe operation, since their main passengers are children. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the basic provisions on the requirements for the design and operation of a swing:
- The design is intended for riding by children over 5 years old. At this age, they have already developed coordination of movements and tenacity of hands. Growth at this age already allows children to independently reach the ground and push off.
- Children under 5 years old can ride under parental supervision and assistance. As an alternative, a swing with a spring is suitable for the youngest passengers - it is safer to use.
- Balance swings must be equipped with a place with firmly fixed supports not only for the arms, but also for the legs.
- To ensure that the legs of swingers are not pinched, the minimum normal distance between the crossbar and the ground should be 230 mm.
- Wood is considered the optimal material for making swings - it is the least hazardous to health.
Follow these simple rules and use the scale swing correctly, then the process will turn into a fun and interesting game.
Technology
The boards are new or used, the latter are well used. Drill holes in them from the top and bottom to the entire length after 5 cm.
Then lay the boards underneath and tightly add the next piece of wood, threading the cord through the holes diagonally, and fasten the boards together. Next, we thread the cord from the wrong side, we get crosses with which we tie the boards along the holes.
According to the previous principle, you need to thread the cable from the reverse side. The lacing is tight, but loose: the straps should have some freedom. Once you have gone all the way, tie a strong knot in your back.
Next, drill holes for hanging the rocking chair - on the top panel from the bottom and the second from the top, slightly stepping back from the edge on both sides, focusing on the center of the bar. Job is done. Lay down a blanket and a couple of pillows.
Advantages and disadvantages of hanging models
A hanging chair, like any piece of furniture, has its pros and cons. The undoubted advantages of a handmade product include originality and uniqueness. This copy is absolutely exclusive, there are no others. Its second advantage is comfort. A comfortable soft seat that rocks in space promotes relaxation and tranquility.
The disadvantage of the design is the difficulty of carrying it. Disassembly takes a long time, and after a huge snag, the ceiling will be damaged. The pedestal chair is also too massive and heavy to constantly move.
Metal swing
If you have welding skills, weld your own structure using 1.5-inch pipes. The drawings can easily be copied from the playground. The principle of construction and operation of metal balancers is similar to wooden structures. The only difference is the method of fixation into the ground. You do not bury the supports, but concrete them for stability. Seats with handles are made of plastic or wood.
Decorate the swing you made yourself with colored paints. Periodically lubricate friction points with grease to avoid annoying squeaking.
