DIY Network

A Relaxing Project: Machine-Knit Hammock Imagine relaxing in a hammock that you machine-knitted! From "Knitty Gritty" episode DKNG-504

Guest Tricia Shafer reveals the secrets of a mid-gauge knitting machine to fashion a fun and functional hammock.

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	Kick back and relax on this project—a machine-knitted hammock from designer Tricia Shafer.
	Figure A

Hammock Bed
Finished Measurements: 42" X 80" (relaxed)

Materials:
yarn (figure A - Straw cones not pictured):
  Trenzi by Tamm - 2 cones Orange (#T3541), 1 cone Aqua (#T3560)
  3-Ply by Tamm - 1 cone Medium Blue (#T1262)
  CanCun by Tamm - 2 cones Straw (#T4503), 1 cone Sky Blue (#T4566)
Silver Reed LK150 mid-gauge knitting machine
1-prong transfer tool
latch tool
cast-on comb
tapestry needle for finishing

Hammock Hanging Materials
2, 2" dowel rods, 4 ft each
4, 3/8" eye bolts, 4" length
4, 3/8" washers
8, 1/4" quick links
2, 445-lb chain, length 6 ft
drill and 3/8" drill bit
hammock stand for spread bar hammocks

Machine Knitting Abbreviations
E-wrap CO - wind on cast on
BO - bind off
K - knit
ND - needle
R - right
RC - row count(er)

Gauge
5.5 sts and 8 rows = 1" or 22 sts and 32 rows = 4" (10cm) in stockinette stitch. Sample was made at tension 4 on stitch dial. It's important to knit at a tight tension for support.

Designer's Notes
The hammock bed is made in panels. There are two types—plated and knit weaving panels. The panels are joined together with a zigzag I-cord join. An end panel is made to wrap around the dowel rods on each end for hanging. The purl side is the right side.

Plating Notes
This hammock was made with the plating technique. Refer to your machine's manual to see where the yarns go into the carriage for plating. For the Silver Reed LK150 machine, the back feeder is for the purl side color (Orange), and the front feeder is for the knit side color (Straw). If your machine does not plate, the hammock panels can be made in a solid color. Use 2 strands of CanCun for the best results. This yarn has nylon for support. Even if the hammock is not plated, knit weaving can be used to create the blue squares.

	Figure B
	Figure C

Plated Panels (make 5)
E-wrap CO 22 nd in 1 strand of orange (figure B) and straw. Orange will be plated on the purl (2) side and straw on the knit (1) (figure C).

K 632 R. BO.

End Panels (make 2)
E-wrap CO 36 nd in 1 strand of orange and straw. Orange will be plated on the purl (2) side and straw on the knit (1).

K 28 R. Make an eyelet on 3rd nd from each side. To make an eyelet, transfer the stitch to the adjacent nd. Keep the empty nd in working position so that it knits.

K to RC316. Make an eyelet on the 3rd nd from each side.

K to RC344. BO.

Knit Weaving Panels (make 2)
E-wrap CO nd 33-0-34 (67 total) in 1 strand of orange and straw. Orange will be plated on the purl side and straw on the knit.

Figure D Click to enlarge

RC000. K 16 R. Begin knit weaving design following the knit weaving graph (figure D).

Figure E

Knit Weaving Design
The three blue yarns will be the knit weaving yarns. Hold all three yarns as if they were one yarn (figure E). It's best to place the yarns on the floor by your feet. The knit weaving design uses the manual knit weaving technique.

Where there is a blue square on the graph, the weaving yarn will go over the nd. Pull the nd out placing the yarn over of the nd. Where there is an orange square on the graph, the weaving yarn will go under the nd. Pull the nd out placing the yarn under the nd.

	Figure F
	Figure G

Weave the blue yarns over and under the specified nd before knitting the row (figure F). Once the weaving is complete, knit the row (figure G). Cut the knit weaving yarns after the knit weaving is complete. Don't carry the yarns from square to square.

** After the knit weaving design is complete, K 16 R. Repeat the knit weaving design. ** Repeat from ** to ** to RC632.

These are the rows where the knit weaving design will begin: RC016, RC104, RC192, RC280, RC368, RC456, RC544

K to RC632. BO.

Figure H

Zigzag I-Cord Join
As the I-cord is knitted, 2 panels will be hung on the I-cord nd to join the panels. The bars on the side of the knit, or the long stitches, will be hung on the nd. The panels will be joined from the bottom up. Hold the panels with the knit side (straw) facing you when hanging them on the nd (figure H).

Figure I Click to enlarge

Join all panels with this technique as shown in this diagram (figure I). Note that the side panels are the plating panels folded in half lengthwise. This will keep the sides of the hammock flat. On these side panels, hang 1 bar from each edge on the same nd.

E-wrap CO 3 nd in 1 strand of aqua and sky blue. Aqua will be plated on the purl side and sky blue on the knit.

Set carriage to slip on the right side. On the LK150 machine, bring the back lever forward. This makes the nd knit going right to left, but not going left to right.

Figure J

Hang the 1st bar from 2 panels on the end nd (figure J). The panel that will be attached to the left of the I-cord goes on the left end nd. The panel that will be attached to the right of the I-cord goes on the right end nd.

Make 4 passes of the carriage.

Hang the next bar from the left panel on the left end nd.

*** Make 8 passes of the carriage. On the right panel, skip 1 bar, and hang the next bar on the right end nd.

Make 8 passes of the carriage. On the left panel, skip 1 bar, and hang the next bar on the left end nd. ***

Repeat from *** to *** until both panels have been joined. BO.

Finishing
Using double strand of the straw yarn, whip stitch or single crochet the end panels to the top and bottom of the hammock bed. Fold the end panels in half lengthwise. This will create a casing for the dowel rods. Make the stitches tight for extra support.

Weave in all yarn ends.

Hammock Hanging
Drill 1 hole 3/8" diameter 6" from each end of each dowel row. The holes must be in the same direction.

Sand and paint dowel rod if desired. Finials can also be added to the ends.

Place dowel rods in the end panels. Match the eyelets to the drilled holes. Screw in an eye bolt into each eyelet and hole. The eye bolts should have the eye on the top side of the hammock bed. Place the washer on the end of the eyebolt and secure with the nut for the eye bolt.

Use the quick links to attach each end of the chain to the eyebolts. Place another quick link at the half way point for the chains. This one will be used for hanging on the hammock stand. There will be extra chain when hanging. Reposition the quick link as needed. The last quick links should be about 21" from each end of the chain.

Knit Bit Click to enlarge

RESOURCES :
Tamm Yarns
The Knit Knack Shop, Inc.
3378 West 550 North
Peru, IN 46970
Phone: 765-985-3164
E-mail: kks@knitknackshop.com
Web site: www.knitknackshop.com

GUESTS :
Tricia Shafer
Knitters Edge
Web site: www.knittersedge.com