Lots of you little ones will have memories of Miss Krystal tying hammocks in our play sites. This week I wonder if you can find a place you can tie one in your backyard? You will need to find two sturdy trees at least your whole arms width apart or a little farther. Or if you have a big tree you can try tying your hammock into it’s branches like we did.
You will need:
- a grown-up (to reach branches and tie knots)
- two large trees or branches (at least an arms length apart)
- a piece of fabric as long as a child (a sheet, a tarp, table cloth. Lots of things will work)
- two lengths of para cord
Step 1: Tie a knot in one corner of the fabric. Step 2: Wrap the paracord around the fabric above the knot several times and tie off with a basic knot. Step 3: Pull tight.
I don’t use a fancy knot here because this knot is going to take A LOT of strain and I’d like to be able to undo it eventually.Repeat steps 1-3 on the kitty-corner.
The diagonally opposite corner as shown.
Note the kitty at the opposite corner ; )Step 5: Hang.
I generally loop the rope around the branch twice as I find it gets less movement that way and stays high longer.You will probably have to adjust the height a few times until it is perfect. Here I tie a Prusik knot with a quick release bite instead of pulling all the way through. Again this knot is going to take a TON of stress so if you want to undo it….take precautions. It should look something like this.
Corners flapping in the wind.
I may have put the cat in the hammock.Test and play!
I teach children how to get into a hammock bum first but if they don’t listen I am content to be mildly entertained while they fail. Falling out a few times seems to teach caution bestChildren love to wrap themselves with the flaps created by the corners. It’s a bit tricky to spread it out enough to get in by yourself so this is where it’s nice to have siblings.
To the grown up:
One of the most versatile things you can have in a toy box is a lightweight sheet of fabric. It can be a roof or a wall, a bed or a blanket, a cape or a creek; the possibilities are only limited by your imagination…..and knot tying abilities…. and maybe your willingness to wreck the fabric.
But seriously an old bed sheet, a ground tarp that’s lost it’s water proofing, a piece of fabric, an old shower curtain, any of these things is fort fodder and worth a spot in your toy collection.