Rattributes

In this tutorial I will show you how to make this beautiful and cozy tunnel hammock (that being a standard hammock with a pocket of sorts on top that rats can snuggle under, it is open on both sides).

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 fabric

• 15" x 17" piece of fleece

• 10" x 18" piece of a different cotton fabric (you can use the same, if you prefer, but I love using two different fabrics)

• 10" x 18" piece of fleece

To start with, cut and pin your 10" x 18" fabrics (one layer of cotton, one layer of fleece). Remember, right sides together! Sew around the outside of the fabric and leave a small hole (2 - 3 inches should be sufficient) unsewn. Trim the edges around the seams and then turn the fabric right side out. Slip stitch your hole closed (time saving tip: if you make the hole along one of the short edges you can get away without slip-stitching it!).

Now cut out your 15" x 17" fabrics. Lay your fleece down on the table with the right side facing up. Place the pocket you've already sewn down on top of the fleece, fleece side down (so that your fleeces are touching each other). You want the long side of the pocket (18") to lie across the shorter length (15") of the fleece. Basically, you want it to hang over the edges! And make sure you center it, like in this picture.

Now place the 15" x 17" cotton piece, right side down, on top of the fleece and pocket. This means that the right sides of the cotton are touching each other, just as the right sides of the fleece are touching each other! Pin around the entire thing and sew it exactly as you would a normal hammock, making sure to leave an opening to turn it right side out!

Making sure to trim the edges is especially important when making something like this. You will have a lot of excess fabric from where the pocket overlaps and you can see in this photo that I am trimming it all off (just be careful not to cut the seams)!

Now you can turn the hammock right side out and slip stitch it closed. Don't be alarmed if it looks like the pocket is on the wrong side! Just flip it around to the other, I promise it will all work out fine ^_^

Once you have slip-stitched your hammock closed all that is left to do is add grommets and hang! Hopefully your ratties will enjoy snuggling into the pocket of this hammock as much as my son's little stuffed cat does!