Homemade Camping Hammocks

Cimmarron

For those who love to sleep out in the open air, it's hard to beat camping with a hammock. But purchasing a good hammock from an outdoor store or camping store can leave your pocketbook hurting. Consider making your own hammock. It's relatively cheap and simple to do.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

10-foot sheet or blanket Two ropes
10-foot sheet or blanket
Two ropes

Step 1

Lay your sheet or blanket on the ground, spread out completely.

Step 2

Stand between the two corners at the head of the sheet on one side and bunch those two corners--and everything in between--together. Tie the end into a knot. Repeat on the other side of the sheet. You should now have two knots--one made up of one end of your sheet, including both corners, and the other made up of the other end of your sheet, including both corners, with 7 or 8 feet of free sheet in between.

Step 3

Tie a rope around one end of your sheet so that the rope's knot is secured below the sheet's knot on the inside of the sheet. Use a square knot to ensure the rope's hold. Repeat on the other side of the sheet. You should now have a sheet tied in knots at both ends, with a rope on both sides tied under the sheet's knots--on the inside of the sheet, not on the outside.

Step 4

Tie the free ends of the two ropes onto firm, secure branches. A square knot, which tightens and becomes more secure as it is pulled, is recommended. For increased comfort, make sure the sheet is pulled taut but not tight.

Article Written By William Jackson

William Jackson has written, reported and edited professionally for more than 10 years. His work has been published in newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals, high-level government reports, books and online. He holds a master's degree in humanities from Pennsylvania State University.

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