How to Make Rope Knots for a Chair Hammock

Perfect your tying prowess before you attempt to hang the chair hammock. Practice tying a bowline knot several times with a small piece of twine or cording until you get the hang of the pattern.

Cut your rope long enough so that the free end is twelve times the rope's circumference. After tying the knot, the free end should dangle to provide additional security if the knot begins to slip.

Thread the rope through the hardware or around the tree branch to which you're securing the chair. With one end, make a 1- to 2-inch loop, feeding the end of the rope through the loop as you would when tying a simple knot.

Wrap the rope end around the long, straight portion of the rope and back through your initial 1- to 2-inch loop. Pull tightly to secure the bowline knot.

Check the integrity of your knots regularly. While the bowline knot is exceptionally strong when weighed down, it can begin to slip under intermittent load weights, such as those that occur with getting in and out of the chair regularly.

Ensure your rope looks right by viewing a visual of a bowline knot being tied. The Animated Knots by Grog website has a helpful animation of how to complete the process correctly (see Resources below).