This tutorial will teach you how to make a bog-standard rectangular hammock. The size I use is quite large (I love a nice, full cage) so you definitely might want to experiment with smaller sizes. Squares are also nice and at the end of the tutorial I will give an "alternate hanging" method that works particularly well with square hammocks.
Mastering this design is the first step toward making every other hammock on my tutorial page! Once you are able to make this hammock you are just a bit of patience and practice away from making every other hammock I have listed.
What you will need to sew this hammock (all measurements given in inches):
- Standard sewing apparatus (sewing machine, scissors, thread, measuring device, etc)
- 15" x 17" piece of cotton
- 15" x 17" piece of fleece
- Four lengths of ribbon (I used 5" per) or four grommets
I'll start by saying that I actually prefer grommets, but I know that many people like ribbons for hanging so I am posting this tutorial using ribbons. If, however, you prefer grommets just ignore everything I say about the ribbons and add grommets as the very last step (you can find information on installing grommets in the Basic Sewing Tutorial).
If you haven't already read Basic Sewing Tutorial at this point then I highly suggest that you do so before continuing with the tutorial.
If you're all done with that, then lets get started! Place your piece of fleece down on your work surface, with the right side facing up. Fold one of your lengths of ribbon in half and place it down on one of the corners of the fleece. You want the loop of the ribbon to be facing inward and the "raw edge" outward (see the picture below for reference). Pin the ribbon in place. Do the same thing with the rest of your ribbon lengths until you have a ribbon pinned to each corner of the fabric. Now place your cotton down on top of the fleece / ribbons with the right side facing down. This means that the right sides of both fabrics are touching. Pin all the way around the edges.
Sew around the edges of the fabric, but be sure to leave a small area unsewn (2" - 3" should suffice). Once you've finished sewing, trim the edges of the fabric and be careful not to cut your stitches. When it comes time to trim the spot you have left unsewn, leave plenty of fabric to slip-stitch the area closed. You can see in the picture below that I have only trimmed the edges above where I have sewn. I left the unsewn area completely alone.
Now turn the fabric right side out (pull it through the hole) and use a chopstick or other long, thin object to push the corners out neatly. Fold the loose fabric (the part that you left unsewn) inside the hammock and slip stitch it closed (once again, refer to Basic Sewing Tutorial if you need help with this step). Alternately, you can use "steam a seam" or some other similar double-sided fusible web to seal this area shut. At this point you can press the entire hammock with a warm iron (this step is optional, although I feel it gives a crisper look) and hang!
The most common way to hang is to put a hook (a shower curtain ring, paper clip, S-hook, whatever you like really) through each ribbon and clip it to the top of your cage.
Alternately you can hang (and this is where a square hammock really shines) the hammock with only two hooks. To do this you'll want to pass a single hook through the left front ribbon and the right rear ribbon. Pass a second hook through the left rear ribbon and the right front ribbon. Hang both hooks from the same spot on your cage.