How to Make Hammock Knots

Hammocks are comfortable and very relaxing once set up.

Hammocks provide an excellent way to relax and sleep and are even great for camping, given their portability and ease of setup. The knots required for a self-made hammock can be tricky, but one knot is easy to learn and provides plenty of security and strength.

Things You'll Need

• Bed sheet or comparable sheet of fabric
• 2 1/2-foot loop of sewn webbing
• 2 lengths of climbing rope, each long enough to span the hammock's tree bases

Instructions

1. Gather up a short end of the sheet into one hand. Start at one end, and bunch up the whole end of the sheet into one hand until you hold an entire end of the sheet in one hand. Leave about 3 inches of sheet beyond your hand.

2. Straighten the end of the hammock in your hand until it is even, then pull through your hand until there is about 12 inches beyond your hand. Form a loop with this 12-inch length by bringing the end around to meet your hand again, and hold it there.

3. Push the loop of webbing through the loop in the fabric. Form a sheet knot by bringing one end of the webbing completely around the sheet's loop, then underneath its own loop. Finish this knot by bringing the other end of the webbing -- the one you haven't touched yet) -- through the end of the webbing you tied around the sheet. The finished knot is called a "sheet bend," and this exposed end of the webbing is the knot with which you will secure your webbing.

4. Repeat steps one through three for the other end of the sheet.

5. Secure an end of the hammock to a rope by using another sheet bend knot. Repeat with the other rope for the other end of the hammock.

Tips & Warnings

• You may find it best to dress your knots before pulling them tight. Simply slide the knot towards its own axis before pulling it tight.

• Never use sub-standard sheet, rope or webbing when forming your hammock. Rip-stop sheet, climbing rope and sheet webbing are best to prevent your hammock from tearing and collapsing.

References

• Ray Diaz: Hammock Knot Instructions
• Seaside Hammocks: Important Hammock Knots

Resources

• Ray Diaz: References for Hammock Knots and Mountings