Rag rug hammock—check out our easy instructions!

With just a couple of spare rag rugs, you can easily make hammocks for your summer yard. These hammocks are sturdy and safe because the ropes aren’t dependent solely on the rug’s weft—they also loop around the dowel at every fastening point. You can cut a sturdy round dowel in half to create rods for the rug. You can paint them with outdoor furniture paint or treat them with tinted wood oil.

You can get ropes and dowels at hardware stores, and you’ll find O-rings and carabiners at marine supply shops. Thanks to the carabiners, the rug is easy to take down and set up again in your favorite spot. If you want to use the rugs on the floor later, simply remove the ropes, undo the channel seams, and place the rugs on the floor.

Rag rug hammock—materials

Rag rug hammock—instructions

1. Use a sturdy darning needle and fishing line to sew wide channels at both ends of the rag rug so the rods can pass through easily. Use loose stitches, and reinforce them two or three times at each end.

2. Mark where you’ll thread the rope at regular intervals. Place small pieces of tape at each mark to keep the rope spacing even.

3. Thread the thinner rope through the rug using a chunky crochet hook, making sure it also loops around the dowel at each opening. The rug’s weft has to be loose enough for the hook to pass through.

4. For secure support, ensure the rope loops around the dowel at each opening.

5. After each pass through the rug, slip the rope through the O-ring. When done, tie the rope ends together. Repeat on the other end of the rug.

6. Slip the carabiners onto the thicker ropes, wrap the rope around a tree a few times, and tie the ends securely. Then clip the carabiner to the O-ring.