Is your child’s room overflowing with stuffed animals? A handmade crocheted hammock is a cute way to corral the plushies and keep them off the floor.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Crochet a long rectangle using single or double crochet stitches, weave a dowel through the top holes to hang, and fill with stuffed animals.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn the exact step-by-step process for crocheting a stuffed animal hammock. We’ll cover everything from choosing the right yarn and hooks to measuring for size to assembling it all together.
Choosing Yarn and Hooks
Yarn weight and fiber
When choosing yarn for a stuffed animal hammock project, opt for a lightweight, smooth yarn that won’t snag on the stuffed animals’ fur or features. A great option is a 4-ply weight yarn made from a soft material like acrylic, cotton, or bamboo.
These fibers will create a gentle surface for the toys to rest on. Bulky yarns can result in an overly thick, heavy hammock.
For the best drape and flexibility, stay away from 100% wool yarns as they have less give. An ideal blend is 80% acrylic, 20% wool. This maintains softness with a bit more structure. And don’t stress too much about fancy specialty yarns—basic and affordable is best!
Recommended hooks
Aim for a hook 1 to 2 sizes smaller than normally suggested for your chosen yarn weight. The smaller hook will produce tighter stitches with less spacing between them, creating a firmer fabric that will stand up well to repeated stress from play. A 5 mm hook is ideal for 4-ply yarn.
Bamboo and aluminum hooks offer smooth glide and consistent gauge. Since you may be crocheting toys for little hands, be sure to choose a round handle shape without sharp edges. No one wants injuries during snuggly playtime!
Taking Measurements
Hammock width
When deciding on the width of your stuffed animal hammock, first take into account the size of the stuffed animals that will be using it. A good rule of thumb is to make the hammock at least 1.5 times wider than your largest stuffed animal so they have plenty of room to stretch out and roll around.
For reference, here are some average stuffed animal sizes to help estimate how wide your hammock should be:
- Small stuffed animals (like Beanie Babies): 5-7 inches
- Medium stuffed animals: 10-12 inches
- Large stuffed animals: 15 inches or more
So for example, if your biggest stuffed pal is 12 inches wide, your hammock width should be around 18 inches minimum. This will give them space to fully extend their arms and legs!
Hammock length
The length of your crocheted stuffed animal hammock will depend on both how many occupants you expect it to hold and how much they enjoy scrunching up or fully extending. Plan for at least 12 inches per smaller stuffed animal, while bigger plushes may need 18 inches or more of stretch out space.
Here is a handy guide based on stuffed animal size:
| Stuffed Animal Size | Recommended Length |
|---|---|
| Small (Beanie Babies) | 12 inches |
| Medium | 18 inches |
| Large | 24 inches or more |
For multi-occupant hammocks, simply add up the recommended length per owner. So for a medium and large stuffed animal you’d plan for around 42 inches (18 + 24) of hanging space.
Room to stretch
When deciding on hammock dimensions, do keep in mind most stuffed animals love having room to fully stretch out! So consider adding even more length than the recommended per-owner guidelines above. That way your plush pals can truly lounge in style 😊.
An extra 6 inches can make a big coziness difference.
You can also add side pockets or pouches to store stuffed animals’ accessories like little outfits, brushes, books or even snack packs! Check out this handy crocheted pocket tutorial for inspiration.
With a few simple measurements for width and length, you’ll be all set to crochet an incredible snuggly hang-out space for your floppy friends. Just be prepared for some excited squeals and maybe even a dance party once it’s complete! 👯♀️👍
Crocheting the Base
Foundation Chain
The key first step in crocheting any project is creating the foundation chain. This base chain sets up the underlying structure to build upon. When making a stuffed animal hammock, you’ll want a foundation chain length that matches the width you want for your hammock.
A good rule of thumb is to make the chain about 1.5-2 times the width of the stuffed animal that will use the hammock the most. For a medium-sized stuffed animal of 12 inches wide, a foundation chain length of 18-24 chains should work great.
Make sure to chain loosely. Overly tight chains will cause the hammock to curl at the edges. Getting gauge correct here is important for later steps. If needed, use a larger crochet hook size to achieve a nicely drapey foundation chain.
First Row Setup
The most exciting part of any new crochet project is completing that very first row! This sets up the sides of the hammock to build upward from. On the first row, you’ll be working stitches into the bumps on the back side of the foundation chain rather than into the chains themselves.
This makes your project lay flat rather than curling up on the sides.
For stuffed animal hammocks, good stitch options for the first row include half double crochet stitches or double crochet stitches. Feel free to experiment with the height by choosing taller or shorter stitches. Just be sure to maintain loose gauge here as well so the sides don’t pull in.
Continuing with Rows
As you continue adding rows, maintain that nice loose gauge established in earlier steps. Take care not to accidently increase or decrease stitches, which would cause sides to angle rather than remaining straight.
Aim for a rectangular shape as you add rows. The number of rows will depend on the size of the stuffed animals. For medium 12-inch stuffed animals, crocheting up to 16-20 rows high creates a good fit. For larger stuffed animals, additional rows will likely be needed.
And for tiny bean bag animals, fewer rows may suffice.
Feel free to get creative with stitch patterns beyond basic crochet stitches too! You could alternate between stitch heights, create a chevron shape with increases/decreases, or even try planned pool crochet techniques for a fun ombre rainbow effect!
No matter what stitches are chosen, just be sure to maintain that all important loose gauge. This ensures a stretchy fabric that creates a comfortable hammock rather than stiff sides. Periodically check that sides remain straight and width is consistent from bottom to top as well.
Once desired height is achieved, you can then choose to add a top border or do any additional edging. Then simply weave in all ends neatly with a yarn needle and admire the cute crochet stuffed animal hammock ready for playtime snuggles!
Adding Support Dowels
Dowel Sizing
When selecting dowels for a crocheted hammock, it’s important to choose an appropriate thickness to support the weight of the stuffed animals without sagging or breaking. According to craft guides, 5mm-10mm wooden dowels work well for small-to-medium stuffed animals.
For extra-large or heavy plushies, opt for 12mm dowels or thicker.
Take into account the type of yarn used in the hammock too. Thicker yarn can support more weight than thinner threads, so adjust dowel thickness accordingly. A good rule of thumb is choosing dowels approximately 2 times the thickness of the yarn. So for worsted weight yarn, 9mm dowels areideal.
For bulky yarn, try 14mm or 16mm.
Weaving Through Stitches
After cutting the dowels to the desired hammock length, securing them inside the crocheted casing is key. The simplest method is weaving the dowels directly through the crochet stitches as you work across the piece rather than trying to thread them in later.
Plan where openings will be left in the crochet pattern ahead of time on both ends. Then, use a tapestry needle to maneuver the dowel through the holes from one side to the other, wiggling it into place. Take care not to stretch or distort stitches in the process. Work slowly and adjust as needed.
Some recommend leaving an extra 10-20 cm of yarn tails during assembly to allow for tweaks.
Hanging and Filling the Hammock
Installing mounting hardware
Mounting hardware is essential for securely hanging your crochet stuffed animal hammock. Here are some tips for choosing and installing the right hardware:
- For walls, look for heavy-duty wall anchors that can support the weight of the hammock and stuffed animals. Molly bolts or toggle bolts work well.
- On the ceiling, eye screws or cup hooks can securely hold the hammock. Make sure they are rated for at least 50 pounds if the hammock will be heavily loaded.
- Use a stud finder to locate studs if possible and install screws directly into the studs for maximum strength.
- Follow manufacturer’s instructions carefully for installing any wall anchors or hardware.
- Pre-drill holes for screws to prevent cracking drywall or plaster.
Once the hardware is installed, attach two sturdy chains, ropes, or cables to the hardware split rings to hang the hammock. Keep the lines tight for stability but allow a little slack so the weight can settle.
Placing and arranging stuffed animals
The fun part is decorating your new crochet hammock with all your favorite plush pals! Here are some tips:
- Place your largest stuffed animals near the bottom and sides to maintain the hammock’s shape.
- Work up to smaller plushes in the middle and top so they don’t stretch out the stitches.
- Feel free to pile them high but be careful not to overload the structural integrity.
- Mix textures, colors, animal types – go wild! The random arrangement can have the best visual effect.
- For stability, putting a firmly stuffed animal on all four corners can keep the edges anchored down.
- Leave some openings instead of cramming in every inch. This allows you to trade out stuffed animals if desired.
Have fun styling your cozy new crochet hammock! Change up the arrangement whenever the mood strikes. Your plushie pals will thank you for giving them such a warm and snuggly hangout space to chill. 😊 Just take care not to overload the structural capacity to prevent wear and tear over time.
Check out this handy guide for more crochet hammock tips from The Spruce Crafts. Their advice can apply to plushie hammocks too!
Conclusion
A crocheted stuffed animal hammock makes an adorable and functional addition to a child’s bedroom. By following the steps above and planning the size appropriately, you can create a custom hammock perfectly suited to your needs.
The texture of the crochet stitches gives the hammock a cozy, handmade feel while keeping beloved plushies conveniently corralled. Happy crocheting!
