Introduction: Super Simple Suspended Swing

About: All things creative. With a small bias toward all things spooky, creepy and Halloweeny. 🎃💀

Hello All!

This is my second Instructable. I hope that a few people might find it helpful or inspiring. This project took about 1 hour, from start to swing (after a quick trip to the hardware store to pick up a couple of things.)

This is a very basic hammock-style swing. I would love to see the different variations and takes that others can build off of this idea.

Step 1: Gather Materials

For this, the materials that I used were: an old sleeping bag, 4 sturdy eye bolts, approximately 24ft. of braided cord and 2 2X4's (1-app. 4ft. & 1-app. 5ft.)

As for tools, I used a drill with a 1" bit and scissors.

Step 2: Measure

Measure in the same distance from each end of both 2X4's. (I measured mine in about 4 inches.)

Step 3: Drill Holes

Drill holes large enough to feed your cord through where you marked on the ends of the 2X4's.

Step 4: Cut

Make 4 cuts in your sleeping bag (see illustration for locations to cut,) large enough for your 2X4's to be fed through.

Step 5: Thread Cord Through 2X4's

Cut the cord in half so you have two even lengths. Mine were about 12 feet each. Then thread the cord through the 2X4's as shown in the illustration.

Step 6: Insert 2X4's

Insert 2X4's with the cord threaded through it, into the sleeping bag where you cut earlier. See illustration. (Red outline is where 2X4 should ideally be inside the sleeping bag.)

Step 7: Pull Cord Through

Leaving the 2X4's inside the sleeping bag, pull one end of the cord through the opposite end than you put it in, through the opposite cut you made in the sleeping bag.

Step 8: Place Eye Bolts

Position and install the 4 eye bolts evenly in a square in a ceiling or possibly four tall posts. If you're suspending your swing from a ceiling, be sure to anchor your eye bolts into strong studs or beams.

Step 9: Hang Your Swing

Take each rope end from the 4 corners of the sleeping bag and thread each one, individually, through an eye bolt.

Step 10: Make Adjustments

Make adjustments in regards to the height you want your swing to be at and adjust the cord accordingly.

Step 11: Secure Cords

Once you are satisfied with the position that your swing is in, secure each hanging cord to each eye bolt with your preferred knot. (I tied a simple pull-knot and then ran the extra cord through the loop & pulled it tight. I'm sure there is a name for this particular kind of knot, but I honestly have no idea what it is. Lol*)

*As far as I'm able to tell, this seems to be a sufficiently strong knot with (so far) a maximum of 285lbs. suspended (and swinging) with no obvious strain to the cords.

Step 12: Relax!

Once you have all of the cord at your preferred length and your knots tied and secure, hop in your new swing and kick back for awhile!

...Super simple and not a very time-consuming project, but will DEFINITELY be worth the effort once you have a seat... Or a nice relaxing -swing- rather. :)