¶A bit of rubber insulation stripped from an electric wire makes an excellent holder for a scarfpin.
How to Make Hammocks
By CHARLES M. MILLER
PART I—A Twine Hammock
Cord hammocks may be made in two or more different ways, the knots being formed by the simple overhand tie, [Fig. 1]; the flat reef knot, [Fig. 2]; the Solomon’s knot, [Fig. 3], or by the triple throw-over, [Fig. 4]; or they can be knotted by the process known as netting, [Fig. 5], in which a special needle, or shuttle, is used.
When Making a Hammock With the Simple Overhand, Flat Reef, or Solomon’s Knot, Loop All the Pairs of Cords at the Center about a Rod
In using any one of the first three methods of making the knots it is necessary to have cords arranged in pairs and long enough to reach from one end of the hammock to the other, allowing only sufficient length for the take-up in tying the knots and the spread of the meshes. The overhand knot is large, and the Solomon’s knot is a little unwieldy, but is considered more beautiful when tied. The flat reef knot is small, is easily tied and will not slip. The netting process has a good knot and has the advantage of a short single cord, as the meshes are made independently and the cord is carried on the netting needle.
It is a great advantage, when making a hammock with the simple overhand, the flat reef, or the Solomon’s knot, to loop all the pairs of cords at the center about a rod, [Fig. 6]—which may be any stick such as an old broom handle—knotting from the center toward each end, one side being tied, and then the other. When the first pairs are being tied, the opposite ends should be looped up together out of the way. Even half the length of a hammock makes a long cord to be drawn through each time a knot is tied, and each string can be wound about the fingers into a little bundle and secured with a half hitch, using the same cord, and left hanging, as shown in [Fig. 7], allowing sufficient cord free to throw large loops in the tying, and to make about 10 additional meshes. About 3 ft. would be a good length to be left free.
It will be necessary to have 24 pairs of cords—48 cords in all—each 18 ft. long to make a hammock by the first two methods of tying the knots. Seine twine of medium-hard twist and 24-ply can be obtained from a store carrying sporting goods, and is about the best material to use for this purpose. When these pairs of cords are looped on the center rod, and the rod has been anchored to a wall, as shown in [Fig. 8], begin by placing the mesh stick, or rather the mesh post, [Fig. 9], between the first pair of cords, A and B, at the left end of the center rod, as in Fig. 8 and [Fig. 6]. The simple device illustrated in Fig. 9 is very useful for tying any one of the three first-described knots. The device needs no explanation other than the illustration. It will be seen that there are two sizes on the top of the post; the smaller is for the first time across only. The mesh post should be of convenient height for a person when sitting on an ordinary chair. One foot rests on the base as the tying proceeds, but there is no pulling over, as the tie draws both ways on the post, this also doing away with the pull on the center rod.
| Fig. 1 | Fig. 2 |
| Fig. 4 | Fig. 3 |
| Fig. 5 | |