How Hammocks Are Made

Choosing the Rope

• The choice of rope to create a hammock varies by country. The rope you choose also dictates the style of hammock you will create. For example, a hammock made in the traditional, closely-knit South American style uses thin cotton or nylon string. Conversely, a net hammock made from countries farther north uses seine twine. This type of nylon cord is thick to provide the hammock bed with sturdy support. Seine twine also has common uses in creating fishing nets and anchor lines, according to Rope, Inc.

Hand-Weaving Tools

• Making a hammock by hand requires the use of at least two weaving shuttles. These wooden or metal tools hold the rope or cord in one place and allow you to release the cord slowly while weaving. You will also need a gauge stick: a solid wooden rod used to weave multiple rope strands together while preserving the integrity of the hammock. Other tools include two hardwood bars to provide structural support for either end of the hammock and a pair of 2- to 3-inch rings to allow you to hang the hammock once it's completed.

Hammock-Weaving Technique

• The weaving process for a hammock begins with a starter loop -- a circle made from 3 feet of cord tied together with a square knot. This loop provides the anchor point for the 20 different rope strands that you must stitch together to create the hammock. The gauge stick holds these many strands at one end while the weaving shuttle holds the remainder of the rope or cord. According to Twin Oaks Hammocks, the main stitching technique used to create a hammock is a knit stitch and not a weave.

Mounting the Hammock

• The finished knitted hammock should have 20 remaining strands on either side. You must feed these strands of rope through drilled holes in both hardwood bars. This provides some shape for your hammock and keeps it from simply becoming a net. Once fed through the hardwood bars, the rope strands join together at either end on each metal ring. This allows you to hang the hammock easily without having to lash the entire bed to a nearby tree with yet more yards of rope.