The Farmer's Hammock

Would you like a hammock to relax in after a long day? Here's how!

Materials:

• 450-500 m of red plastic baler twine (also comes in blue or green) or other high-tensile material about worsted or aran weight. Note that there will be a lot extra, but you could make another one for a friend or just keep the extra around, it makes great string for any task.

• two stout green sticks about 3-4 cm in diameter

• rope to hang the hammock

• 4 fencing staples

• hammer

• staple gun

• 5 mm crochet hook (not wood or a fancy type, to avoid damage to the hook)

• metal tapestry needle

Abbreviations:

dc2tog double crochet two together (yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, pull up a loop, 3 loops on hook, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, insert in next st, pull up a loop, 4 loops on hook, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, 3 loops on hook, yarn over, pull through all loops on hook)

dc double crochet

sc single crochet

ch chain

trc triple crochet

Notes:

• Double crochet two together counts as one stitch.

• Turning chains do not count as a stitch. (this applies to the stitch counts at the end of the row)

• Time to make: 5-10 hours.

Construction:

Netting worked head to foot, then edging added at short edges.

Crocheting The Hammock:

Row 1: Ch 108. Trc in 13th ch from hook. *Ch 4, skip 4 chs, trc in next st. Repeat from * to end of ch. Turn work. (20 open spaces, 20 trc)

Rows 2-45: Ch 9, trc in trc from last row. *Ch 4, trc in next trc from last row. Repeat from * to end of row. Trc in the 5th ch from previous row's ch 9 at end. Turn work. (20 open spaces, 20 trc)

Do not cut twine.

Edging:

This edging gives strength and a place to hang the hammock from.

Row 1: Ch 4. Trc 4 in each ch 4 space and once in each trc from previous row across. Trc in the 5th ch from previous row's ch 9 at end. Turn work. (100 trc)

Row 2: Ch 3. *Dc2tog, dc 1. Repeat from * to last st. Dc 1. Turn work. (67 dc)

Rows 3-5: Ch 3. Dc across. Turn work. (67 dc)

Row 6: Repeat row 2. Turn work. (45 dc)

Rows 7-9: Ch 3. Dc across. Turn work. (45 dc)

Row 10: Ch 3. *Dc2tog, dc 1. Repeat from * to end of row. Turn work. (30 dc)

Rows 11-13: Ch 3. Dc across. Turn work. (30 dc)

Row 14: Repeat row 10. Turn work. (20 dc)

Row 15: Ch 3. Dc across. Turn work. (20 dc)

Row 16: Ch 3. 2 dc, ch 3, skip 4 sts. 7 dc, ch 3, skip 4 sts. 3 dc. Turn work. (2 ch 2 spaces, 12 dc)

Row 17: Ch 1, sc in each dc and 3 times in each ch 3 space across. Turn work. (18 sc)

Row 18: Ch 1. Sc 1. Ch 10, sc 15. Ch 10, sc 2. Turn work. (18 sc, 2 ch 10 spaces)

Row 19: Ch 1. Sc in each sc and 10 in each ch 10 space. Turn work. (38 sc)

Finish off. Join twine to other side and repeat edging instructions. Weave in all ends.

You are ready to hang your hammock!

How to Hang Your Hammock:

Start by weaving the rope through the hanging loops as shown below. This is the front, the part that will face out from the tree.

Then hang the hammock on the tree about 4-5 feet off of the ground. This is from where it is tied on the tree. Don't worry, it'll stretch! The trees should be about 7-8 feet apart. If there are no branches, then wrap several times for strength.

Note: If you hang your hammock 5 feet off the ground, put it on trees 7 feet apart. If you hang it 4 feet, use an 8 foot distance.

Then stretch the little ears or loops on the edges of the hammock. Using a fencing staple, stretch them out and staple the loops to the tree. Note that this will harm the tree, so if you can attach them to the rope itself securely if you so desire, in any way you can think of.

You will now need a stout stick. A green stick (I used a poplar about 3-4 cm in diameter on the thicker end) is best, as it has a little bit of give to it. A dead stick is more likely to snap. The size requirement is that it has to be able to be woven through the mesh of the hammock. Then weave it through the mesh closest to the solid part and staple the hammock to the stick as shown below. Use the staple gun for this. As you will see, I stapled a whole bunch to hold it securely.

Climb in and relax! The first climb might be a little tricky, but the hammock will soon stretch.

Enjoy!

This has held up to 325 lbs in my testing. I have not tested above that. I hope no one falls, but I do not want to be held responsible for anything that happens that is due to the specified directions and materials not being used. If you follow exactly my directions and use the same materials, this should hold the same things mine did. I hope you had fun!

Please note that this usually holds, on our farm, a 100-200 pound weight. It is, however, often below that. I would reccomend not swinging in this. The polypropylene against the nylon rope can melt through it, so please be careful. Check your hammock before, after, or even both times, you lay in it, and check that it is stout and strong.

I am not responsible for any falls that may occur. If mine wears through eventually and falls, I will let you know how long it lasted. This hammock will go through a cold Canadian winter and through the hot summer days, so it needs to be strong.

Enjoy!