During the summer period of holidays and trips to the country house, many vacationers are attracted by the idea of creating a hammock on a personal plot.
In fact, lightweight construction, easy to manufacture, can give a relaxing outdoor recreation in the shade of a tree.
Here you will learn how to make a hammock for a summer residence, with a description of each step.
You will need a small amount of material, tools, and of course a desire to spend time.
Preparation for work
How to make a hammock with your own hands? First you need to choose the right place where our structure will be installed. It should be in the shade, and not interfere with the passage through the summer cottage. The hammock can be suspended between two specially installed support poles, which for this must be dug into the ground by at least 1 meter. You can also hang a hammock between two trees growing side by side. In this case, the tree crowns provide a natural shelter from the sun. Pay attention to the thickness of the trunks, which should be at least 20 cm, and the distance between them - from 2.7 to 3 meters. If it is not possible to change the distance between the supports, the length of the hammock is adjusted using a stronger deflection or by the height of the suspension.
You should also choose the right material used to make the hammock. Synthetic materials are durable, but uncomfortable in everyday use, the natural ventilation of the body in such a hammock will be practically absent. Therefore, preference is given to canvas or camouflage fabric, mattress teak or canvas. Similarly with reinforcing a hammock, cotton ropes are perfect, which are easier to work with when tying knots and hanging the hammock.
An important point is the safety of using a hammock, because its design experiences significant loads, as well as the influence of atmospheric conditions (rain, damp, etc.). Of course, the intensity of use for all users will be different. But, regardless of the quality of the materials used, the hammock lasts no more than two years, after which it is recommended to change it to avoid falling and related injuries.
The hammock is usually suspended at a comfortable height of 1.5-1.6 m. If trees are chosen for this, then in the place where the hammock is hung, special bars are fixed to them that do not allow the hammock to slide down the trunk. Also in the place where the rope will be in contact with the tree, it may undergo accelerated grinding. To avoid this, put a nylon tube on it. Before you determine the height of the hammock, think about who will use it. If elderly people or children will rest in a hammock, hang it lower. So you make it easier to use, and you can avoid injuries.
There is also a more complicated option, how to make a hammock with your own hands, using a portable hanging structure, wooden or metal. Such a suspension can be freely moved around the site, achieving the most comfortable location.
Making a hammock, step by step
Despite the fact that there are several different options for making a hammock with your own hands, they all use the same basic principle, which differs only in minor details. We will proceed with the assembly of such a basic design resembling a fabric cocoon.
You will need a reliable cord, about 20 meters long, capable of withstanding a load of about 150 kg, for hanging and securing a hammock, and two pieces of durable material, with dimensions of 1.5 by 3 m.
The pieces of fabric are superimposed, and, on the narrow side, are sewn along two parallel edges, towards each other, so that peculiar pipes with non-stitched edges are formed. Inside the product should be laid a soft mat made of synthetic winterizer, which will make the hammock more comfortable. After that, two wide edges are also sutured.
A cord is inserted into the pipes formed from the narrow edges of the hammock, after which the hammock will then be hung. The cord crosses and binds so that the fabric is collected. The same cord connects the place where the fabric gathered. Now it remains only to hang the hammock in the prepared place. To get into such a hammock requires a certain dexterity of the body. At the same time, you can’t fall out of the hammock of the cocoon, thanks to the features of its design, and rest in it perfectly relaxes the muscles.
In the next version, a do-it-yourself hammock is made, additionally using two wooden planks, reinforced from the narrow sides of the fabric base. They do not allow the hammock to curl, forming a "cocoon". He is deprived of the lack of a "cocoon", requiring in some way acrobatic exercises to get into it. A hammock with straps around the edges is easier to operate, and therefore perfect for children and the elderly.
How to make a hammock with your own hands using the weaving technique
A slightly more difficult to manufacture version of the hammock. For it you will need: two wooden (or metal) planks, in which every 5 cm. Holes are drilled with a diameter larger than the thickness of the cord, and a cord for linen (cotton rope), at least 8 mm thick. The length of the cord is calculated as follows: multiply the length of the hammock by 3, and multiply by the number of holes in the slats. To the resulting number should be added about 20 meters for mounting.
When drilling holes in the strips, you should smooth their edges. Due to this, the rope used to fasten the hammock and its suspension will be less fray, which will provide greater durability of the hammock.
The rope is cut into pieces 6 meters long. In this case, 20 meters of rope should remain for use as fasteners.
Fasten every 6 meter rope on the bar with knots and loops.
A mesh is created with cells about 5-8 cm in size. Such cells will prevent entanglement and / or sinking into them. When the hammock net is ready, the tails of its cords should be attached to the slats. Fasteners are also attached to the slats with the help of which the hammock will be hung on the supports. After that, it remains only to hang a hammock on pre-prepared poles or trees.
