How to: Hammocks

Make your own hammock with a cotton sheet.

When the weather is nice, it's a treat to stay outside and read a book, take a nap or gaze at the stars. The gentle sway of a hammock makes these activities even more relaxing. Unfortunately, sturdy, good quality hammocks can be high priced. With a little sewing and a strong piece of fabric, you can construct your own hammock.

Things You'll Need

• Twin size (39 by 75 inch) sturdy cotton sheet
• Straight pins
• Standard sewing needle
• Polyester thread
• Measuring tape
• Dime
• Heavy-duty thread
• Large sewing needle
• Scissors
• 165 foot clothesline
• 2 large tethering rings
• 2 heavy screw hooks

Instructions

1. Fold the short ends of your sheet over about 1 inch. If your sheet has a hemline, fold along the hemline. Secure the folds with straight pins.

2. Sew the ends of the folds in place with a sewing needle and polyester thread. Use a blanket stitch.

3. Use your measuring tape to locate the center point of one short end. Since the short ends are each 39 inches long, the center point will be 19 ½ inches in. Place a dime at the center point, over the folded end, and trace over it with a pencil. Measure and mark 6-inch intervals away from this dime on both sides, and mark these points with six more traced dimes. Repeat this process on the opposite side.

4. Thread your large needle with a doubled-over length of heavy-duty thread. Secure the free ends of the thread with a knot.

5. Stitch all the way around one of the drawn dime outlines to make a grommet. Stitch around a second time to make the grommet stronger. Secure the thread with a knot. Repeat this process for all of the dime outlines.

6. Cut a slit in the center of all of the grommets, making sure not to cut the thread.

7. Locate two trees or posts about 8 feet apart. Lay your hammock out flat between these posts, with the short ends facing the posts. Measure the distance between the trees and the ends of the hammock.

8. Cut 14 lengths of clothesline, one for each grommet. Make each clothesline length double the distance between the posts and the ends of the hammock.

9. Thread a clothesline length through each grommet on one side of the hammock. Double the clothesline over so that the open end is facing away from the hammock. Tie each clothesline end onto a tethering ring with a square knot. Repeat this process on the other end.

10. Measure and mark each post 5 feet up from the ground. Screw a hook into each tree at the marked point.

11. Loop a tethering ring over each hook to secure your hammock to the posts. Your hammock is now ready to use.

References

• "The Kids' Summer Handbook"; Jane Drake & Ann Love; 1994.