How to tnak^ a ♦ 



. SLEEPING— (f^ 

 HAMMOCIC 



By H. S. Tallman \ 



THE ordinary hammock is no good 

 to sleep in. A special fitting 

 called a spreader improves it, but 

 not enough for real rest. To sleep in 

 absolute comfort, the hammock must 

 support the sleeper without sag. The 

 hammock described does this. 



of 



by 



23-2 ms. 



Make a frame 

 hardwood bars. It should be at least 

 5 ft. 6 ins. long and 2 ft. 6 ins. wide over 

 the side bars. The end bars are placed 

 on top of the side bars, all of them being 

 laid flat. Bore each junction for a ^^-in. 

 carriage bolt, and make a fit, but don't 

 put together yet. Cut two braces as 

 shown in cross-section and fit these with 

 5^ in. carriage bolts. Bore '2 in. holes 

 as shown in the side bars, and chamfer 

 both sides of the holes, otherwise they 

 might cut the lashings. These holes 

 should be I in. from the outer edge of 

 the side bars. 



Cut two hanger strips of awning duck, 

 30 ins. wide and 3 ft. long. Sew these 

 at one end so as to form a pocket into 

 which a 2K-in- I'Y /S >'i- spreader bar, 

 30 ins. long can be slipped. See Fig 3. 

 Hem the vertical edges if necessary. It 

 is preferable to have no hems on these 

 edges. Tack the other end to the end 

 bar as shown in detail, Fig. 3, and take 

 a full wrap so that the strained portion 

 of the hanger covers the tacks. Nick 

 the duck at the bolt holes with a pocket- 

 knife, put in place on the side bars, and 

 bolt together securely. 



Four y-2 in. holes are l)ored in the 

 spreader bar as shown in Fig. 3. The 

 canvas or duck must be cut out opposite 

 these holes, and buttonhole stitched, 

 to permit threading the 5/16-in. hanger 

 cord. Make a strong knot on one end 

 of the cord, and thread it through the 



end hole, then through the ring, then 

 the next hole, etc., finishing up with 

 another knot at the last hole. Work 

 the cords and ring until the cords are 

 strained evenly, and lash them firmly 

 together just under the ring. 



Pockets of the duck can be sewed to 

 the hanger at one end, for handkerchief, 

 fan, flashlight, etc., if desired. The 

 back curtain is 5 ft. 6 ins. long, and has 

 a heading to pass over a 2-in. by ^ in. 

 strip which supports it. Holes in the 

 end of this strip permit tying it to eyelets 

 in the back edge of the hanger. The 

 curtain itself is tied with tape to the 

 hangers and side bar as shown in Fig. 3. 

 This prevents to a great measure, direct 

 draft across the sleeper. 



The hammock frame can now be 

 hung by stout ropes or chains from 

 screw-eyes properly placed in the fram- 

 ing of the porch ceiling. They must be 

 so placed that the end hangers are ver- 

 tical or nearly so. 



The stretcher is made of heavy 

 canvas. For a person of average weight, 

 the aw-ning duck might be made to 

 serve, but a heavier grade is preferable. 

 It should be 30 ins. w-ide, and have a 

 2-in. hem stitched down with at least 

 two rows of stitching, all the way 

 around. In this doubled material the 

 eyes for lashing are cut and luittonholed 

 with strong cotton twine. They should 

 be located as shown in Fig. I. 



A lashing is then taken with the 

 5/16-in. cotton cord at each hole in the 

 side bar, five in each bar, and pulled 

 tight, tying the knot so as to be under- 

 neath the side bar. The end lashings 



303 



