Making a hammock with your own hands: 4 master classes and 15 ideas

A garden plot should still be not only a place of work, but also a pleasant recreation area. At the very least, I really want each of us to have our own cozy place in the garden near the flower bed, or a corner of the veranda decorated the way we want. In this article I will share with you ideas on how to make a small, original and very comfortable hammock chair with your own hands.

One of the main advantages of this idea is the compact design; this hammock does not require a lot of free space; you do not need to look for ideally growing trees or install special poles. The chair is hanging - it will need to be attached to the ceiling or horizontal ceiling of your gazebo using a secure hook.

And then, in good sunny weather, or during a pleasant cloudy evening, you can allow yourself to relax a little in a chair made by yourself, with an interesting book or a cup of your favorite coffee. This hammock will fit perfectly on the porch of your private home.

If you install such a hammock in a winter garden or in a closed veranda, then cold evenings will be much more comfortable and warm. In this project, the design of the canvas is “handmade”, but if you have a ready-made fabric with a print or pattern, then feel free to create from it.

What if you make it yourself?

We thought and imagined that everything you need for a home hammock can be assembled in a tool block, and your hands are dexterous. Whoever decides: we make the rocking chair ourselves.

And then we will tell you below what and how to make types of hanging chairs like cocoon-hammock-swing. And most importantly, how to strengthen it indoors, so as not to hastily drag a complex device into the office block or living room before the rain.

Simple swing

If it seems that you will not be able to make a hanging rocking chair from the above options, then make an ordinary swing from wood.

Our tips will concern processing the boards and “stitching” them with cord. If you have an electric jigsaw or plane, you can make a picture out of it.

You need to prepare:

• boards, no shorter than 70 cm, width - up to 15 cm, and thickness - up to 15 mm. At least sixteen pieces;
• extra strong nylon cord ten meters long;
• varnishes, paint, drills 6 - 10 mm, abrasive on fabric or paper.

Making a seat using the macrame technique

For this type of hanging chair you will need:

• 7 strands of 6 m;
• 4 wires 5m each;
• 4 strands of 4.5 m each;
• 2 wires 4 m each;
• 2 metal circles with a diameter of 90 and 110 cm.

Having prepared the ropes of the required length, proceed to attach them to the frame.

1. Starting from the center, tie 7 long strands in pairs at a distance of 6 cm from each other.
2. Continue attaching threads to the sides of the warp. Accordingly, on one side there should be 2 wires of 5 m each, 2 wires of 4.5 m each and 1 wire 4 m long. Connect the long and short cables in pairs to the base
3. Then start weaving the pattern from the center of the piece. Weaving the pattern should start from the center
4. As a result of your work, you should get an openwork circle. Finished perforated circle: seat base using macrame technique
5. Secure each garment with a flat knot to prevent the rope from slipping around.
6. When knitting, always maintain tension by tying knots at 6cm intervals.

If it is necessary to create a fringe, the length of the strands should be increased by about one meter and, upon completion of the work, do not cut the remaining cord.

In addition, equip the resulting structure with reliable strapping and a soft pillow.

A rocking chair made using the macrame weaving technique must be additionally equipped with a pillow

DIY wicker hanging chair

Wickerwork is a classic that never goes out of style. For weaving, you can use natural wicker or artificial substitutes. Buy materials in specialized stores.

Housewives who know how to weave from natural wicker can make a hanging chair from rattan. For those who have never used wicker, it is easier to make a product using a variety of thread weaving techniques, creating unique openwork patterns. This will significantly reduce the cost of the final product, and beautiful knitting is in no way inferior in attractiveness to the beauty of rattan.

The most popular wicker model now is the cocoon chair. It is comfortable and beautiful, with its appearance it can decorate any recreation area. The peculiarity of the cocoon is that 2/3 of the space is hidden behind wicker walls, which guarantees complete privacy.

How to make a cocoon hanging chair in wicker style

To do this, you need PVC pipes, from which you should make a strong frame (a round circle), as well as pipes of a smaller diameter to create a round shape. The pipes are connected to each other with self-tapping screws. The finished frame is woven with openwork weave from strong threads or thin rope. Be sure to place soft pillows on the bottom.

The clasp for such a product can be a metal chain attached to the top of the PVC frame. Drawings of a hanging chair in the shape of a cocoon can be found on the Internet and modified based on your wishes and design ideas.

History of appearance

The hanging version of the chair was first introduced in 1957 by the famous Danish designer Nann Ditzel. The invention was shaped like an egg and was attached to the ceiling. This idea was later refined by the Finnish designer Eero Aarino: his “bubble” model was released in 1968. The chair looked like a transparent plastic ball and had the familiar ceiling mount.

Subsequently, a strong trend towards development and improvement in this direction was maintained. This led to the fact that hanging chairs not only gained a place in the market, but also turned into a separate line of home furniture. When purchasing such a structure, you have to take into account a number of factors, including the features of the ceiling, interior style, type of fastening, etc.

Scheme for making a hoop

A circle as a shape is often used to make a hanging shell chair frame using the macrame method, a fabric chair cover, a hammock chair, a cocoon, and a chair on a wooden base. You can make a circle from a metal or metal-plastic tube. A metal exercise machine of the same name, if available, is also suitable.

The finished design of a hanging chair can be upholstered with foam rubber, polyester padding, fabric, woven with screws or ropes. You can trim the edges with decorative ribbons or braid, and decorate with beads.

Tools and materials

A hanging wood frame is most often used for straighter shapes. Wooden pallets are often used as the base for these chairs. These can be single boards or ready-made structures that are simply sawn into the required blocks.

To make a slatted hammock structure you will need:

• hacksaw or jigsaw;
• drill;
• wood drills;
• sandpaper for surface treatment.

Metal-plastic will be an excellent material for making a chair frame. The diameter of the tube must be greater than 3.5 cm.

Metal-plastic is easy to saw; you don’t need to bend it using special equipment, since they are sold in the form of coils, which means they already have a round shape. To make the frame you will need: self-tapping screws, a screwdriver, a wooden or metal sleeve.

Metal tubes form the strongest structure for chairs of any shape, whether round or joined at the top and splayed down. Welding will help in this matter. The work will require an experienced person and a bending machine. But this frame will be the heaviest, which means it will require strong fastening. This option will take longer.

Manufacturing

Initially, the wood needs to be shaped, sanded, treated with insect repellent, and painted to protect against the elements. Attached to the joint with wood glue and, if necessary, supplemented with screws or bushings.

The metal-plastic base is easily fixed in the ring. Fastening occurs using a wooden or plastic sleeve of smaller diameter, secured with stainless steel screws on both sides of the joint, without extending beyond the sleeve.

The process of bending a metal pipe is quite prosaic if you have special equipment. Some experience with the machine is required. Pipe bending is available upon request.

Welding requires a specific location and skill level. It is not recommended to work with welding without special skills. The number of subscriptions depends on the required form. This could be a simple repeating circle or the shape of a chair.

The frame is ready, how to make a chair out of it?

Materials

A hammock chair can be made from different materials:

• rattan or wicker;
• with a base made of plastic or acrylic;
• made of thick textile without frame;
• non-standard models in the form of a drop.

Attention : when using the product outdoors, durable and wear-resistant materials are selected. They must cope with negative environmental factors and be resistant to rain, direct sunlight and ultraviolet rays and temperature changes.

As for the materials used to make the hammock chair, the type of construction and model are taken into account . The most common are:

• 
  Macrame. In this way, the products are decorated on a hoop, which is braided with a silk cord that is soft to the touch. Using this method, original products with fringe and various decorative elements are created.

• Tarpaulin.
  It is a fairly durable material and is perfect for outdoor use. The tarpaulin can withstand heavy loads up to 300 kg. It is not afraid of sudden changes in temperature, increased moisture, or direct sunlight. Its only drawback is the small selection of color palettes . This model will look harmonious on the veranda, in the garden or gazebo.
• Textile. For these purposes, dense fabric is selected that can withstand weight up to 150 kg. Also, the selected material should not stretch or deform during operation. To increase the strength of the material, it is recommended to fold it in two layers. You should avoid light and easily soiled colors . Especially when using the product outdoors.

Making a simple lying hammock

this is the easiest thing to do: you will need thick fabric measuring 1 m by 2.5 meters, rope and two round wooden or metal strips. It needs to be tucked around the edges. It is necessary to drill holes at the ends for attaching the rope, leaving a reserve for the strips. The fabric must be folded and sewn on a drawstring for the straps, the holes for the loops must be processed. Next, insert the strips into the lace and secure the cords.

If the hammock is fixed on two supports located at some distance from each other, then one is enough for the chair.

Advice. To make it more comfortable to lie down in the hammock along its long edges, you need to make a drawstring through which a tight rope is threaded.

Hammock chair: master class

To make such a suspension you need to take fabric measuring 1.5 x 1.5 meters. Make a drawstring on both sides and 8-12 loops to hang them across the entire width of the side. Thread the lace through the lace for rigidity. Next, thread the ropes through the holes, which are connected on each side with a hanging loop. Both rings can then be attached to the base.

For convenience, strips can be inserted into the transverse part of the seat from below and from above.

Master class on making a nest

You need to take two circles and connect them in one place, winding them 50 cm. Then pull the fabric or cords onto the loom. On the opposite side of the connection, connect the circles with long ropes from 40 cm to 10 cm, shorter ropes should converge at the point of continuous connection of the circles. Attach 4 ropes to the bottom frame, attach the second frame to the back ropes shaped like a backrest. Connect the cords with a hanging ring and attach to the hanging ring. The nest is ready.

This place is ideal for those who love privacy.

These simple chairs can be made at home in 1-2 hours. And you can enjoy them for several years.

Standard sizes of rocking pendants

Hammock chair. Has a soft frame. Unlike the hanging bed itself, which is installed on a pair of posts, here it will be held by a shelving unit.

Nest chair. The most famous hammock. It is essentially a ball, and its mounting frame is a frame consisting of a three-quarter diameter tube.

Thanks to its elegant shape, it can be installed in the living room during the cold season.

Throw away the chair. An elegant rocking chair that takes up minimal space. The kids love it. And more often it is called children's. The child plays with it just like at home: the device resembles it in shape. Having played enough, they fall asleep there.

In your home, it is removed from the frame outside and attached to a hook on the ceiling; if concrete, then on a strong anchor.

Rocking chair. The frame can be hard or soft. The swing will decorate your garden or country yard. Only the little ones in the room will adapt to his swing so as not to hit the wall with his back. These are the best chairs for the garden. It can be attached to a large tree branch.

Peculiarities

The features of the hammock chair include:

• 
  safety and environmental friendliness (due to the use of natural and non-toxic materials);

• original design;
• simplicity and ease of use;
• Possibility of use at any time of the year;
• ease of care;
• long service life.

A hammock chair is a soft version of a hanging structure . On soft pillows that sway from side to side, it is pleasant to spend summer evenings in the fresh air.

Advantages

The advantages of a hammock chair include::

• Wide selection of models. Such products differ in shapes, designs, colors, and materials of manufacture. Some chairs are something like a cocoon, others are a product with a soft fabric seat.
• Possibility of self-production. To do this, you will need to use minimal sewing skills and prepare supplies.
• A hammock chair can be framed or frameless. Both models do not have sharp corners or parts, which makes them popular among small users.
• The textile can be easily detached from the product and washed in an automatic machine.

Device

A hammock chair, as a rule, has a fairly simple design . It consists of:

• 
  Fabric seat. For these purposes, a tight cut is most often used.

• Crossbars, which serve as a strapping element and distribute the load. The seat is tied to the crossbar.
• Sling. To do this, use a strong rope or braided cord.
• Suspension. For these purposes, chains for ceiling mounting or rings with a spring are used.

Chair based on a soft frame

The entire chair is made of fabric sewn in the shape of a bag with a hole. Attach a product such as a hammock to the top.

The base is a durable fabric folded in half. Any shape can be created, but during use it takes on the shape of the body.

To do this, you need to draw a picture and choose a size. For a child, a diameter of the lower base of 50-70 centimeters is sufficient; for an adult, 70-100 centimeters is suitable.

Cut out a circle and several triangles in diameter. Treat the edges of all parts with decorative materials. Sew the pieces together, leaving one part open.

As you can see in the photo of a handmade hanging chair, the furnishings and materials can be absolutely anything. The engine of ideas is your imagination.

Mounting options for home

The type of fastening of a self-made product can be:

• 
  Ceiling. To do this, use a hook attached to the ceiling. A chain is attached to it, which will hold the product. With such a model it will be pleasant and comfortable to swing from side to side.

• Axial.
  This option is also attached to the ceiling. But additional slings are installed on the sides of the seat, attached to the walls or ceiling. It will not be possible to swing on such a product like on a swing; the seat will only rotate around its own axis .
• Shtangov. For this purpose, a special curved stand with a ring stop at the bottom is used. A suspension consisting of a ring and a spring with a chain is mounted at the top of the rod. This option is durable, reliable and stable.
• In the form of a platform with a double suspension. It is a strong and stable base equipped with sidewalls. This type of fastening is suitable for installing a spacious double chair.
• With a crossbar, at the ends of which rings with cords and a suspension are put on.

Sizing and drawing

Before you start making a chair, you need to decide what size it will be. In a large one, if you surround yourself with more pillows, of course, it will be more comfortable, but sometimes a small one can feel more comfortable. Also, if you have to use the chair indoors, its size will depend on the size of the room. A large object in a small room will look bulky and awkward, and there will be no feeling of comfort.

A child's hanging chair can have a seat size from 50 to 90 cm, and an adult's from 80 to 120 cm. The height of the finished structure will depend on the installation method. In order for homemade hanging chairs to be safe, it is necessary to calculate their load-bearing capacity with a margin. A child must withstand the weight of a seated person of about 90-100 kg, and an adult - 130-150 kg.

Having decided on the size and purpose, you can draw a small drawing on which the model will be depicted to scale. This simplifies the calculation of the dimensions of parts used in assembly. All elements of the frame can be drawn separately on paper, and then transferred to the blanks, increasing the size.

When drawing a picture, you can take any ready-made version as a basis or draw your own. It is very important to design the environment in which the chair will subsequently be installed or suspended, as its size must be determined taking into account the dimensions of the rest of the furniture. But the material for the seat will need to be adjusted during the work process, when the frame is ready. It is unlikely that it will be possible to calculate the amount of fabric or rattan from the drawings.

Schematic definition of the dimensions of a chair on a stand

Diagram of a round chair without a stand

Ceiling vs. pillar

In many photos and videos there are 2 main options for hanging chairs. This is the ceiling, or its own stand.

The chair is suspended from the ceiling with hooks, rings, chains or shock-absorbing springs. The idea is to find a solid area on the ceiling, drill a hole and install the fastener. Like a hanging bed. Just don’t confuse it with a floating bed, where the installation principle is completely different.

A freestanding rack is mostly made of metal. There are also wooden structures.

What to choose is a personal decision

But it is important to consider the material from which the chair is made. If it is rattan, then it is better not to use it outdoors

The material does not like ultraviolet radiation and humidity.

Synthetic materials will be relevant for the street.

I think this is where we can say goodbye

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Technology

The boards are new or used, the latter are well used. Drill holes in them from the top and bottom to the entire length after 5 cm.

Then lay the boards underneath and tightly add the next piece of wood, threading the cord through the holes diagonally, and fasten the boards together. Next, we thread the cord from the wrong side, we get crosses with which we tie the boards along the holes.

According to the previous principle, you need to thread the cable from the reverse side. The lacing is tight, but loose: the straps should have some freedom. Once you have gone all the way, tie a strong knot in your back.

Next, drill holes for hanging the rocking chair - on the top panel from the bottom and the second from the top, slightly stepping back from the edge on both sides, focusing on the center of the bar. Job is done. Lay down a blanket and a couple of pillows.

Advantages and disadvantages of hanging models

A hanging chair, like any piece of furniture, has its pros and cons. The undoubted advantages of a handmade product include originality and uniqueness. This copy is absolutely exclusive, there are no others. Its second advantage is comfort. A comfortable soft seat that rocks in space promotes relaxation and tranquility.

The disadvantage of the design is the difficulty of carrying it. Disassembly takes a long time, and after a huge snag, the ceiling will be damaged. The pedestal chair is also too massive and heavy to constantly move.

Interior matching

The appearance of the chair attached to the ceiling gives a clear impression of good taste on its owner. At the same time, it is important not to rush into buying the first model you like, since no interior will accept it harmoniously.

There are a number of recommendations to help you select a suitable hanging chair:

1. A strict classic interior basically excludes the possibility of using such structures. At the same time, efforts to adapt the hanging chair to this style continue. The result is simply a repetition of the design of classic furniture, equipped with a specific fastening. Such products must have a comfortable back and wooden armrests. It is clear that we are not talking about any wicker or plastic models here.
2. Despite the fact that Baroque, Rocaille or Rococo are also considered classical styles, they allow the presence of swings. In this case, it is advisable to do without plastic, cocoons and rattan models. Options made from natural wood, the lacquered back of which is decorated with beautiful carvings, are perfect: this favorably emphasizes the pomp of the overall design. In these styles, the use of artistic forging is encouraged: given the large weight of forged chairs, it is recommended to install them on frames.
3. In cases where the owner of a classic interior still wants to purchase a hanging chair, during its installation there is no need to hide power fasteners (chains, cable, etc.). On the contrary, these details are often highlighted with additional decor.
4. The Art Nouveau style is distinguished by its versatility, which makes it possible to use any type of suspended structures. It is important to remember that Art Nouveau is characterized by a riot of bright colors. This opens up wide possibilities for the use of bright wicker cocoons, transparent “Bubble” and fabric mini-hammocks. The main thing is that this furniture is bright and catchy.
5. Country and French Provence are perfectly complemented by wicker furniture. The design of the chairs here can be very diverse: the main condition is that they must be wicker. When using fabric models, they try to give preference to rounded shapes. Provence allows the possibility of using forged pendants installed on separate frames.
6. It is not advisable to complement the increasingly popular ecological and ethnic interiors with plastic furniture. The ban does not apply to other materials here. It can be an imposing hammock, a wicker cocoon, a fabric or wooden drop.
7. Most often in high-tech style they use transparent “Bubble”. It is important to remember that despite the assurances of emancipation and freedom of action, this style has a fairly extensive list of restrictions (almost the same as the strict classics). They try to give preference to furniture made of plastic and nickel-plated metal. Bizarre configurations are encouraged.
8. The modern loft is also distinguished by its originality. Considering the fact that the loft is classified as an attic style, knitted and fabric hammocks fit most harmoniously into it. A cloth drop would also be appropriate here. Transparent “Bubble” will come in very handy in the loft style, which cannot be said about wicker lashes.