How to make a swing-nest with your own hands - with mesh

Landscaping a summer cottage is what the owners of private houses do. Indeed, in such a case, it is important not only to decorate the area with trees or flowers, but also to create a beautiful and cozy recreation area. Gazebos, beautiful benches, tables, and hammocks are suitable for its arrangement. You can’t do without a stylish swing, especially if you have small children at home. There is no point in spending a lot of money and buying expensive swing options, because you can make them yourself using old sports hoops. In this article we will tell you all the secrets of creating such a decorative element.

Description of design

A swing-nest is designed for sitting, you can also lie in it.
The design is a seat made using a special technology, for which a round or oval frame is used. Inside the ring, a rope mesh is intertwined in a special way to make it comfortable to sit on. Sometimes the interior is a fabric base attached to the frame. The ropes hold the saddle and are movably fixed to the upper beam of the supporting frame. Racks are made of metal or wood.

Models differ:

• weave pattern;
• seat frame material;
• type of hanging elements;
• number of lines;
• support material.

The structure swings smoothly and evenly, thanks to the balanced selection of individual structural parts. You can sit or lie down on the saddle.

An unusual swing option

For relaxation and active pastime at the dacha, you can make unusual versions of a home attraction - a cocoon swing. Initially, the design was conceived for use as an alternative to a rocking chair, but later the children were successfully able to make their own version of a swing out of it. If there is no swing nest at your dacha, you can make a cocoon in which it is equally comfortable to swing and relax.

Building a cocoon, unlike a nest, will require significantly more effort and money. It is necessary to bend a dozen arcs on a pipe bending machine, with a profile resembling a drop or a cocoon.

The most difficult thing is to weld the arcs in the form of half a cocoon. After assembly, you will need to correctly determine the line of the center of gravity and attach a suspension, preferably a cable or chain one. After painting and equipping with cushions, the swing chair can be fixed to the frame. Unlike a lightweight nest, the weight of a cocoon is several tens of kilograms, so the suspension must be done on a very strong floor.

Features of nest swings

The design received its name for the unusual shape of the saddle, reminiscent of a bird's nest. For children, a plastic or steel hula hoop is used, since the child’s weight is small. Adults ride on a swing made from a hoop and rope, which is much more powerful. For the seat, choose a durable steel wheel or car tire.

The wicker base is made according to the chosen pattern so that the person does not fall into the hole in the middle. A structure with one pair of slings is rarely done, because when standing up, you can roll over and fall to the ground. The supporting frame for fixing the ropes is made in the shape of the letter P or A. When rocking, a pulling load develops, so the racks are securely fixed in the ground or a wide support is made at the base.

Why are they attractive?

The best recreation for children is playing outdoors. In good weather, you can have fun on the swing, swinging in different directions, jumping and spinning. Thanks to the light weight and soft upholstery of the seat, even an impact does not cause severe bruises. There are significantly fewer injuries from the Nest than when riding on a regular metal or wooden swing.

If the size of the seat allows, you can play with two, three, etc. The main thing is that the structures are durable and can withstand the pressure of everyone. Thanks to their compactness, they can be easily stored. For the winter, the swing is removed, folded and put away in any convenient place - on the balcony, in the pantry, in the closet.

Inexpensive materials at hand are suitable for the manufacture of the seat and frame - gymnastic hoops, car tires, wood, metal. And if you involve children in joint creativity, they will suggest the most unexpected ideas.

Like any moving object, swings can be dangerous. They do not provide a backrest or any other kind of insurance. It is advisable to protect a child under 5 years from this idea or at least reduce the seat height to a minimum. The supporting frame or beam must be as strong as possible. Under dynamic influences, the load increases several times, which must be taken into account during design and manufacturing.

Advantages and disadvantages

Swings can be round or oval.
Round hanging swings with mesh at first glance do not differ from similar outdoor structures, but they have several significant advantages.

Positive aspects of the swing nest:

• you can swing the round saddle lengthwise and crosswise, it is permissible to twist it all the way and then rotate it in the opposite direction;
• with a significant diameter of the circle, several children participate in skating;
• the oval frame is transformed into a hammock or a place for a small child to sleep during the day;
• You can not only ride on polypropylene hangers, but also bounce.

The disadvantages are that the design does not have a backrest for support; the child must be taught to correctly distribute the load.

Reviews of swing nests

Natalya, 35 years old, Lipetsk We visited our village playground, where there is a swing-nest. My twin children were very enthusiastic about this new activity and seemed to really enjoy it. My husband and I made a swing on our property ourselves, and now it is our favorite place in the yard.

Elvira, 42 years old, Smolensk I have 5 children of different ages from 2 to 13 years. When these wonderful swings appeared in the yard, all children, without exception, became interested in them. I am calm because my children can ride all at once, do not argue over “their turn” and, most importantly, are safe.

Ivan, 32 years old, Sergiev Posad I bought a swing-nest last year. I was thinking of making some nice entertainment for the kids for the summer. But they rode them in winter, jumping like from a springboard into the snow. There was no end to the children's joy.

Design Features

Children's models can withstand a force of 70 - 150 kg, depending on the diameter and type of holders. For adults there is a swing with a load capacity of up to 250 kg, where two people can sit at the same time. The load takes into account the force when swinging.

The mesh web does not collect snow in winter or rainwater, the base does not fade in the sun and always has an attractive appearance. Small children lean on the seat frame, thanks to the slight sagging, so they can rock comfortably.

A hanging round swing nest in a country house or in the courtyard of a house is built on steel channels as supports, or lumber racks are used. Rounded logs and bars are used.

Finishing and decorating the swing nest

In the classic version, such attractions are made like a swing nest with a net. Mesh weaving provides a comfortable fit on the seat, allows children to grab the ropes with their hands, does not collect water in the rain, and is almost impossible to slip off the nest mesh.

Weaving a seat can be done in several ways. The most popular option is “Web”, which is at the same time the simplest, strongest and most reliable.

Initially, you will need to pull two loops of rope tightly. For weaving, it is best to use jute ropes, since polypropylene has a lot of stretch. Each loop must be aligned so that the intersection is in the center of the socket and secured to the hoop. To prevent the ropes from weakening, the knot on the hoop can be impregnated with an emulsion of PVA glue and water. After all the loops of the nest are tensioned, you can make a braid of the web from a softer material, for example, a rope covered with soft fabric.

If desired, you can make other weaving options; on a swing they will work no worse than a spider’s web.

Before finally hanging the nest on the swing, the hoop is covered with a two-layer protection. Initially, foam rubber is glued to the metal, then polypropylene foam thermal insulation for pipes, after which the hoop is wrapped with rope, as in the photo.

The outer edge of the socket should be soft to prevent bruising and injury, and at the same time resistant to abrasion. Most of the load when children ride on a swing falls on the frame of the nest, so you can additionally make several replaceable covers from polyester fabric.

Making a seat

Seat weaving
The saddle is filled in one of the following ways:

• Macrame. In this case, a woven web of knots is used; ropes are used for work.
• Patchwork. The seat is sewn from dense fabrics that match the texture. The patchwork fabric is additionally fixed on durable burlap or tarpaulin.
• Knitting. Strong cords are used to weave an original fabric with an ornament.
• Tatting. The technique allows you to perform openwork weaving.

You need to choose a technique taking into account the planned load on the swing. The spaces between the cords should not be large in size, into which a child could fall or get stuck.

What materials will you need?

Polypropylene cords are used for sitting.
To work, you need a metal hoop, which is used by gymnasts. Its diameter should be in the range of 0.9 - 1.0 m.

Other materials for a seat for a child weighing up to 60 kg:

• polypropylene cord for the saddle 0.5 - 0.8 cm thick, 25 m needed;
• clamp holders or steel rings;
• snap carabiners (4 pcs.);
• waterproof fabric for wrapping the frame, strips of foam rubber;
• strong ropes or steel chains for making hangers.

Instead of a cord, you can use vine twigs about one centimeter thick. Complex material must be soaked in antiseptics, and the bark must first be removed.

Step-by-step guide to making a seat

Sometimes, for strength, several hoops are installed at once; they are connected with clamps, wire, and fixed with electrical tape or tape.

Step-by-step instructions:

• the circle is divided into 8 sections, dots are placed with a marker;
• prepare a cord measuring 2 diameters, give an allowance of 5 cm for sagging and stretching;
• At a point, the rope is fixed with a loop, on the opposite side a knot is tied with tension;
• the remaining cords are fastened in the same way, intertwining them in a checkerboard pattern in the center of the circle.

A nylon thread is threaded into the needle and the knots and loops are stitched through. The frame is wrapped with foam rubber, and a waterproof raincoat is placed on top. Suspension ropes are attached to the frame using carabiners. The slings are fixed on the top crossbar of the swing frame.

Knitted hoop swing

If desired, you can use the macrame technique to make an original swing. You can hang such a place of relaxation not only on the street, but also on a loggia or veranda. The design will be based on a frame made of woven fabric; you can choose the pattern yourself.

To create such a design you will need:

• 2 steel hoops of unequal diameter (for a seat a diameter of 80 centimeters is enough, and for a back – 1.1-1.15 meters);

• rope – up to 800 meters, it will be used for weaving;

• slings – 12 meters;

• cords to hold the hoops together;

• wooden stays;

• rubber or cotton gloves for work;

• scissors;

• tape measure.

The most convenient hoops for such work are those that have a diameter of at least 35 mm. This parameter will ensure the required strength of the future structure.

Swing sizes

Correct dimensions are needed to avoid injury during operation. There are many ready-made drawings of a nest swing, which indicate the length of the slings, the width of the seat and other parameters.

Recommended sizes:

• the minimum rise above the ground, taking into account sagging, should not be less than 40 cm and more than 60 cm;
• to allow lateral swinging, leave a distance to the sides of the frame of 0.9 - 1.0 m;
• the supporting beam is placed at a height of 2.0 - 2.5 m from the ground surface to ensure a sling length of 1.6 - 2.1 m.

Raising the chains to a higher height leads to an increase in the swing amplitude, which increases the risk of falling.

Wicker product

To make a wicker hanging chair with your own hands, any of the materials that have sufficient flexibility are suitable - willow, grape, willow, bird cherry, rattan, bast. But, since in the middle latitudes it is easiest to find thickets of willow or broom, willow twigs are the most popular raw material.

For a hanging chair you will need:

• about 400 pcs. young willow twigs with a diameter of 10–20 mm;
• The easiest way to use a ready-made metal or metal-plastic hoop as a frame. If necessary, you can make it yourself from a hollow tube of the required diameter;
• a knife, ruler, awl and pliers will be needed when weaving;
• twine and glue are required for tying the frame;
• synthetic cord with a diameter of 4 mm, close in color to the vine - for the back of the product. With sufficient skill, you can weave it from vines;
• slings (ropes) for hanging - the length depends on the height of the ceiling.

The appearance of the product is determined by the weaving technique. With minimal skill, it is recommended to work with simple single weaving. If you have experience, you can weave a more complex pattern.

In the simplest version, a hanging chair is made in this way.

1. A cross is made - 3-4 thick rods are tied into a cross using twine coated with glue. The length of the rods is equal to the diameter of the future seat.
2. They wrap a thin rod around the crosspiece so that it alternates between the bottom and the top of the crosspiece rods. In difficult cases, use pliers.
3. Using the next rod, tie a circle of larger diameter in the same way. The operation is repeated until the seat of the desired size is obtained - usually 70–80 cm.
4. The last circle of weaving is tied with twine coated with glue. An awl is used for this.
5. The back of the chair is woven with macrame in a checkerboard pattern. To do this, a synthetic cord is tied to the hoop that makes up the frame of the product so that one end of the rope remains short, and the other, the working end, has the maximum length. The cord is tied at a flat angle and tightened.
6. The same is done with 5 more cords. There should be a total of 12 ends at the start of weaving: 6 short and 6 long. The ropes are divided into 3 groups of 4 cords each. Consistently knit 3 square knots in the first row, and leave the first and last 2 cords unknitted in the second. The operation is repeated until the back and side panels of the required height are woven.
7. The woven seat and the hoop with the back are fastened with twine coated with glue. The back can be reinforced with two thick rods.
8. Slings are tied to the hoop in 4 places. The latter are connected with a carabiner and secured to a hook, rod or chain.

Photo of a DIY wicker hanging chair

Suspensions and structural supports

The size of the seat determines exactly how the structure will be used.
Polypropylene ropes and steel chains in a fabric frame are most often used as slings.

Mounting options available:

• one suspension is installed only for extreme entertainment, not used in everyday practice;
• two slings are suitable for hard seats without sagging or spring effect;
• three ropes also require advanced riding skills;
• four support ropes are securely suitable for the nest structure; they are most often installed.

The diameter of the rope or cord for suspension should not be less than 1 cm. Steel models can be used. Chains are used with welded links that do not bend under force.

How to attach a swing

The supports for the swing-nest can be made from timber.
To secure the saddle to the cables, carabiners in the form of a bracket with a spring latch are used. Such a self-insuring block will provide strength and prevent the seat from breaking.

In the second option, strong suspension rope knots are used. They are knitted so that the frame of the hoop is inside. The ends of the rope are fixed with special metal clips. The twisted suspension is also used to make mounting loops into which the saddle hoop is inserted.

Calculation of supports

The load-bearing frame of the swing experiences complex loads; it compresses, pulls and bends. Calculation of finished models is done by design specialists who take into account all types of forces and apply special coefficients and formulas.

At home, the section of the racks is chosen with a margin of safety, which is justified by safety requirements. For a swing with a weight of 200 kg, supports and purlins are made of wood with a cross-section of at least 150 x 200 mm, and from a metal square pipe - 60 x 80 mm. With a weight of up to 100 kg, the cross-section can be reduced.

Decoration

Children will also ride on simple rings with ropes, but the positivity will be greater if such models are made with decorative design. The most popular weaving of the saddle is like a spider web. A strong ring is placed inside the circle, from which cords are pulled to the frame. Circles of different diameters are tied around the beams.

The sagging of the ropes and the stretching of knots will be less if each knot is impregnated with PVA glue.

There are other macrame patterns that will surprise you with their originality.

How to calculate the cross-section of supports

A swing is a system where not only static, but also more destructive dynamic loads act. When oscillating, the impulse constantly changes in direction and value, which creates the preconditions for loosening structures and chafing of fasteners. Therefore, all components of the swing must have a margin of strength and wear resistance.

It is not necessary to accurately calculate the value of the current forces. With general recommendations taking into account possible overloads, the cross-section of the horizontal beam and racks when calculating a weight of 200 kg should be no less than:

• 50x70-100x100 mm - from wooden beams;
• 60x80 - from a metal profile pipe.

The posts are concreted to a depth of 50-80 cm. Horizontal anchors can be welded to them to counteract the pull-out force.

In children's swings, the cross section can be slightly reduced. But as you know, children are more active and inventive. Therefore, a multiple safety margin is your confidence that nothing will break and the child will not fall from a height.

Operational safety

It is not recommended to swing strongly, otherwise a person may fall out without a backrest.
It is not recommended to overload the structure beyond the design standard.

Other safety recommendations:

• you can swing so that the line of the lines does not become horizontal, otherwise you will fall without a backrest;
• you need to hold the slings with both hands;
• you cannot swing while standing at full height;
• It is forbidden to brake sharply, clinging to the racks, or jumping from the swing during the flight.

Each seat has a separate frame on suspensions to avoid collisions. Under the swing there is a soft covering of sand, bark, or soft soil.

How to choose ready-made swings

Factory swings are reliable and meet the requirements and regulatory parameters. But quality products must have information about the manufacturer. Indicate the company name, address, GOST manufacturing or nomenclature of technical conditions (TU), article number.

The technical information contains the standard load capacity, instructions for installing and assembling the elements, and the warranty period for repairs. It is not recommended to purchase a swing without this information.

What you need to make a swing with a net yourself

All models of swing-nests have a similar design, however, the materials used to manufacture a particular type of attraction may be different. To make your own swing nest, you may need the following materials:

1. Steel pipe, aluminum or plastic gymnastic hoop, metal-plastic pipe, old tire.
2. Polyamide fabric, tent fabric, tarpaulin, foam sheet, felt.
3. Polyamide or polypropylene rope, climbing cord, repik, nylon or jute rope, synthetic mesh, chain.
4. Metal locks, carbines, rings, clamps.

Each type of swing requires its own set of materials. To make the device, you will need a tape measure, scissors, a mechanic's knife, wire cutters, rubberized work gloves, electrical tape, and PVA glue.

How to make a swing safe and secure

You can weave a backrest for the seat to make it safer to swing.
The supporting structure must be resistant to various loads, so attention is paid to the installation of racks. They are buried into the ground no less than 0.5 m. For strength, reinforcement is welded crosswise to the metal pillars below. This addition is concreted together with the stand to prevent loosening from dynamic forces.

The hole around the support is compacted with crushed stone and concreted with regular bayoneting with a piece of metal rod. The bottom of the pillar is wrapped in roofing material or lubricated with molten resin or bitumen. This insulation applies to wood and metal studs. Wood begins to rot from moisture, and iron begins to rust if they are not protected from groundwater.

Preparing the necessary materials

Before you start making a swing-nest, you will need to decide on several important points:

• swing shape (round or oblong);
• location (house or garden);
• type of fastening and support;
• expected load;
• finishing.

Only after this can you start preparing the necessary materials. For the classic model you will need:

• Hoops or steel pipe at least 3.5 m long. The greater the expected load, the greater the number of hoops. One ring made of aluminum can withstand a load of 50 kg.
• Thin felt or any soft cushioning material.
• Waterproof synthetic fabric, preferably in bright colors.
• A propylene cord with a length of at least 25 m and a thickness of 5 mm.
• Sewing supplies - threads, needles, scissors.
• Crayons, pencils or markers for marking.
• Slings 2 pcs. 25 m each and at least 3 cm wide.
• Carabiners with locks or safety steel locks.
• Insulating tape.
• Support. If it is assumed that the swing will be in the garden, but there are no suitable places to mount it, then you can make a simple structure from wood or metal pipes.