| people know that a hammock is a comfortable place | | | | up, down the front and up the back, then through the |
| to relax, read a book or sleep. Sure, you could simply | | | | first loop and around the loop with a 1/2 hitch. Repeat |
| go to a hammock store and buy one, but would it be | | | | through each loop, keeping it even. |
| great to know how to make your own rope | | | | Before long, your shuttle will be almost gone. Reload it |
| hammock? | | | | by adding as much cord as the shuttle will hold. Knot |
| Making your own rope hammock can be a fun how-to | | | | the free end to the end of the old cord using a secure |
| project to work on with your children, or just as a nice | | | | square knot. |
| project to work on by yourself. | | | | The next step is to turn it around so you can work |
| Learning to build a hammock isn’t as difficult as | | | | with the shuttle cord on the left. All you have to do |
| you probably think, and by following the directions we | | | | now is to repeat what you did for the first row and |
| have here for you, you’ll be resting on your | | | | repeat all the same steps until it's completed. Fifty-five |
| new hammock in no time. These directions are for | | | | rows should come out to about six or seven feet. |
| making a one person hammock. | | | | After you are finished with the second row, you can |
| Here are the materials you’ll need to have: | | | | now cut the starting cord and pull it free from the first |
| - About 740 feet of hammock cord | | | | row of loops. While adding rows, you will need to |
| - 2 rings that are between 2"-3" in diameter | | | | support it and keep it even. |
| - An electric drill and the following bits: 1/4", 5/16", rose | | | | Next, drill twenty holes through each of the hardwood |
| bit | | | | bars. Starting from the center of the bars, the holes |
| - Giant netting shuttle 8" x 1 1/8" X 3/16" thick | | | | need to be about 1 1/2" apart and should stop about 2 |
| - Gauge stick, Cut a piece of wood 2" wide, 6" long | | | | 1/4" from the ends. Then, you will need 40 50" long |
| and 1/8 thick. | | | | cords. Loop the first through one of your rings, thread |
| - Hardwood bars (2) 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" and 33" long | | | | each end through the left hand hold in the bar. Knot |
| To start out, you need to cut a three foot piece of | | | | through the top left hand loop in the hammock net. |
| twine and put square knots in the end. Using a nail or | | | | Secure each cord through the bar to the loops in the |
| hook, hang the loop. Next, load the shuttle with | | | | net. Repeat for other end. |
| hammock cord. You do not want the first row to be | | | | Because the hammock needs to sag in the middle in |
| too full. Then, tie the free end to the loop. | | | | order to support your body comfortably, you will need |
| While holding the gauge stick in your left hand, simply | | | | to add side braids. It's not difficult to do. First we need |
| wrap the cord only one time around the stick. First go | | | | to make two 3-cord braids from the cord. Thread one |
| down the front of the stick and then up in the back. | | | | end through the outermost hole in the support bar and |
| Pull the shuttle through the starting loop. Hold the shuttle | | | | tie an overhand knot to secure. Continue by weaving in |
| cord loop tight around the gauge stick and half hitch | | | | and out of the outside mesh. Thread through the bar |
| around the starting cord on both sides. Repeat this | | | | at each end using the outside hole and an overhand |
| process until you have made 20 loops around the | | | | knot. |
| stick. Be sure to keep it tight, but not too tight, and | | | | Like all hammocks, your's will most likely stretch over |
| even. | | | | time and you will need to adjust the length of the |
| Next, remove the gauge stick by pulling it out. Rotate it, | | | | cords to make up for the stretching. |
| so the shuttle is on the left side. Hold the gauge stick, | | | | That's really all there is to making your very own |
| just under the work. Bring the shuttle cord down and | | | | hammock. |