A Heavenly Hammock

Image Gallery There's nothing better than lounging outdoors in a comfy hammock. MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF

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There are few experiences more restful than relaxing on a summer's afternoon — while the sun bakes well-being into your soul — in the cradling arms of a good hammock. Of course, the swinging lounges can be very expensive ... but if you can scrounge some 10 to 20 hours of work time and about $20 for materials, you might well be able to tie a netted slumber nest of your own. Here's how.

Preliminaries

To make a one-person hammock, you'll need about two pounds (three, if you want a two-person sling) of seine twine, No. 40 to No. 46; two metal rings 2 to 3 inches in diameter (use welded steel or brass); two hardwood support bars measuring 1 1/2-by-1 1/2-by-33 inches each (make them 48 inches long for the double hammock); a smooth gauge stick that's about 3/4-by-1 1/2-by-12 inches; and a netting shuttle.

Now, check the accompanying sketches (Fig. 1) in the Image Gallery to be sure you know how to tie a square knot, a weaver's knot, a half hitch, a lark's head knot, and a plain overhand knot. Then find yourself a comfortable spot with a handy hook, nail or knob to hang your work on, and begin.

Casting On

You'll first want to cut a 3-foot length of twine, and square-knot its ends together. This is called the starter loop. Hang it from that handy nail or knob, then wind the netting shuttle full of twine (as depicted in Figs. 2-5 in the Image Gallery), and tie the free end of the shuttle cord to the starter loop, using an overhand knot.

Next, take the gauge stick in your left hand (unless you're a southpaw, in which case, simply reverse all the directions given here), and place it behind the shuttle cord, right up against the starter loop. Draw the shuttle up in back of the stick, pass it through the starter loop (Fig. 6, see Image Gallery), then bring it back down in front of the stick. Pull the twine taut, and pinch it against the stick with your left thumb to hold it in place (Fig. 7, see Image Gallery).

Raise the shuttle again — still in front of the stick — and make a half hitch around both strands of the starter loop (Fig. 8, see Image Gallery). Now, pull the twine down in front of the gauge stick, letting go with your left thumb and tightening the half hitch as you do so. Congratulations, you've just completed your first cast-on "stitch"!

Go on to repeat the same process by bringing the shuttle around and up in back of the stick, passing it through the starter loop, etc. (Fig. 9, see Image Gallery). Continue this procedure until you've made 20 snug and even loops around the gauge stick (you'll need 30 for the two-person hammock). Incidentally, be sure you make your half hitches in the same direction each time (that is, so that the "over" strand is always taken from the same side) so your work will lie smooth (Fig. 10, see Image Gallery).

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