Hammocks have existed for centuries. Sailors used them as beds on long sea voyages, as the elevation factor meant they could sleep peacefully and avoid mice. For some people, the idea of lying in a hammock on a hot summer day, cool drink in hand, is their concept of bliss. Making your own hammock should only take an hour or two of your free time.
When making your hammock, consider the material that you are going to use. The most common material for a garden hammock is a light colored canvas. The light color will reflect the heat better than dark colors. Canvas is also breathable and will not become sticky in the heat.
Begin assembling your hammock by sewing the edges of the canvas. Roll in each of the longer sides by about 15 centimeters (6 inches) and sew them with a sewing machine. This will ensure that the edges do not look tatty or begin to fray. Make sure to leave enough room to pass the rope through. Next, repeat the procedure on the shorter edges.
Next comes the rope. You will need two short pieces of rope and two other pieces long enough to thread through the canvas with a generous amount left over. Thread the shorter pieces through each of the loops you have made at the end of the hammock canvas, then tie the ends of the shorter pieces of rope in a knot. You will not be untying these knots, so make them secure as possible.
Thread the longer pieces of rope through the canvas. The ends can be tied lightly, but they should be easy to untie. Next, choose the spot where the canvas is to be hung.
Safety is important when you choose your hammock spot. Make sure the trees that you choose are strong enough to handle your weight. Also, make sure that there are no heavy overhanging branches that could be dead and fall into the hammock.
Tie your ropes tightly around the trees or upright supports. If you are using a tree, make sure that you place wooden slats between the tree and the rope. If you tie the rope too tightly to the tree, you will cause a type of damage called ring barking, which is literally strangling the tree with the rope. All that is left is to swing into your hammock and enjoy a peaceful and comfortable sleep.
