How to make a swing-nest with your own hands: a weaving master class + photo

Nest swings can become a favorite home entertainment for kids (step-by-step instructions for making a do-it-yourself nest swing are offered below). The restless temperament of the little ones requires unforgettable adventures and various rides where you can crawl, lie down, swing, climb and rocket down.

The nest swing is a favorite attraction in the playground.

Pros and cons of a round hanging nest swing

The ideal playground for children includes a complex of several types of objects – traditional and chain hanging swings, nest swings, trampolines, balance beams, spring mechanisms, labyrinths, stairs, slides. Recently, nest swings have become especially popular.

What’s this

Nest swings are a semi-rigid structure with a rim and binding inside in the form of a grid. This device is suspended from a strong metal crossbar or beam on thick ropes using powerful carabiners.

Under the swing-nest, you can allocate a separate place on the adjacent plot by mounting a special support frame for them

In order for the swing to be as safe as possible, the rim seat is sheathed with a climbing rope or tow rope. The middle of the central part of the seat is made of ropes intertwined in the form of a web, which are fastened with a rim along the entire radius.

Due to the features of the ride seat, these swings have other names:

• swing “Basket”;
• swing “Web”;
• swing “Swing”;
• swing “Oval”;
• swing “Stork’s Nest”.

Of course, the kids will agree to ride on a simple swing or even on a tire hanging from a tree, but a device in the form of a nest will bring them much more joy and positive emotions.

Features of swing nests

A feature of the nest swing is not only the unusual rounded shape of the seat and its size. “Nest” has a number of advantages over traditional carousels and has additional features for children’s entertainment:

1. “Basket” is designed for children and even adults.
2. The children’s swing-nest attraction can accommodate several children at the same time from any side.
3. The device can swing in any direction, you can sit, lie down, stand and jump on it.
4. With the design of the basket-seat in the form of an oval, the swing can be adapted for children’s daytime sleep as a hammock.

The swing-nest can be made more mobile if powerful and strong carabiners are used as suspensions.

Advantages and disadvantages

Swing nests have their pros and cons, like any similar structure made with ropes.

Advantages:

1. The device is designed for heavy weight (up to 250 kg) and can be used by a whole group of children and adults.
2. The design does not have pointed corners, sheathed with durable fabric, high-strength stranded rope or cable.
3. The swing can be used outdoors or at home.
4. The device is adapted to any weather conditions, does not deteriorate or rust.
5. Easy to store, clean.
6. The swing is quick to mount, they are mobile and do not take up much space (you can take it on a hike, on vacation or on a visit).
7. Easily attaches to a sturdy railing, an accessible pole, or to a tree.
8. Swing nests are multifunctional – you can sit, lie down, stand or bounce. Do-it-yourself hoop swings are used as a hammock.

There are practically no drawbacks to swing nests. The only exception can be the increased property of the polypropylene rope to abrasion in places of the greatest load and contact with the metal surface. This fact has been taken into account in the new models of factory nest swings and now the device is equipped with special bushings that resist abrasion.

The swing can freely accommodate multiple children

Types of hanging nest swings

For active recreation of children in urban areas, in parks, kindergartens and household plots, you can find different types of swing nests. All of them have the same device and differ only in the type of material, the method of weaving baskets and some changes in the design.

A photo selection of different types of hanging nest swings:

Ordinary nest swings are a construction of a round hoop with a braid and a mesh seat

The swing basket is round, rectangular or square. For the manufacture of the seat, a dense polyamide fabric or tarpaulin is used.

Using two rims in the design, you can make a comfortable swing with a back

If you dream up a little, you can design a nest swing from improvised means or upgrade the usual ones.

The swing seat can be woven in the form of a “checkerboard” – this is easy to do, and the elasticity of the seat will be as comfortable as possible

The basket of hanging nest swings can be in the form of a curved rectangle; on such devices, children can not only ride, but also relax in the fresh air during the day

The budget version of the swing can be assembled from a thick-walled plastic pipe and polyamide fabric

A nest swing can be made with a back using straps and rings – it’s even easier to build a basket by sheathing the rim and middle with a dense synthetic fabric

Another type of hanging rides is a cocoon swing, the manufacture of such a model will require more professionalism and much more effort.

If you try hard, then from the idea of ​​uXNUMXbuXNUMXb”swing-nest” a wonderful cradle for the baby will come out

Swing nests can be made as a full-fledged rocking bed with a headrest, a soft lounger and pillows

How to choose a nest swing

The children’s attraction “Swing-nest” for giving can be made by hand, or you can buy it ready-made. When choosing factory swing designs, you should pay attention to the description of important characteristics:

1. The maximum allowable load (carrying capacity).
2. Dimensions, shape of the basket.
3. Type of finish (materials of manufacture).
4. The quality of the materials and fasteners used.
5. Support frame available.
6. Manufacturing firm.
7. Certificate of conformity.
8. Operating guarantee.

A set of these important indicators can ensure the safe, most convenient use of swing nests for one or several children at once. In particular, the maximum permissible load of the device for the operation of the swing by adults should be taken into account.

What you need to make a swing with a net with your own hands

All models of nest swings have a similar design, however, the materials used to manufacture one or another type of attraction may be different. For self-manufacturing of nest swings, the following materials may be needed:

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, rep, nylon or jute rope, synthetic mesh, chain.
4. Metal locks, carabiners, rings, collars.

Each type of swing requires its own set of materials. As improvised means for the manufacture of the device, you will need a tape measure, scissors, a bench knife, wire cutters, rubberized work gloves, electrical tape, PVA glue.

Nest swing schemes

Drawings for the phased creation of a nest swing with a round basket and their suspension:

1. The initial stage of building a swing is the creation of a round basket base structure.

   

2. The intermediate stage is the attachment of the swing basket to the holding hangers.

   

3. The final stage is hanging the basket with hangers to the support frame.

   

   

Nest swing sizes

The shape of the basket and the maximum carrying capacity of the swing directly affects their size. For example, small models of “Nests” with a round basket are designed for a weight of 70 kg, medium-sized devices can withstand 150 kg, and large outdoor swings for adults – 250 kg.

Ready-made factory swing nests have standard sizes and are designed for a certain weight:

1. Round nest swings are produced with a basket diameter of 60-120 cm. Such devices have a load capacity of 70-140 kg.
2. Swing nests with an oval basket shape are made with dimensions of 100×110 or 120×130 cm. Their maximum load capacity is 150-200 kg.
3. Swings with a rectangular basket are of medium size, but, as time has shown, they are inconvenient to use, since the swing seat tends to turn over.

When making nest swings on your own, it is imperative to take into account the number of children or adults who can use them at the same time. This fact affects the maximum load of the swing structure and, ultimately, its size.

How to weave a nest swing with your own hands

Weaving the seat of a nest swing with your own hands is a creative process that does not require compliance with strict rules. For this purpose, you can use proven weaving methods, or you can create your own pattern using the available material. A do-it-yourself swing weaving workshop of various types is offered below. But before weaving, you should install the base of the basket – the rim.

How to make a round nest swing with your own hands

The nest swing device consists of 3 main parts:

1. Support (frame, beam or tree branch).
2. Flexible suspension system (rings, carabiners and suspension slings).
3. Directly the basket itself with a wicker seat.

Scheme of mounting the swing-nesting basket using carabiners

For the swing rim you can use:

• steel hoops;
• metal-plastic pipes;
• PVC pipes;
• bicycle wheels;
• old tires.

The most reliable and durable can be considered a rim made of steel material. For this purpose, you need a piece of pipe with a diameter of 13-15 mm and a length of 1-1,5 m (depending on the size of the future basket). You can bend the pipe on a special machine, then weld both ends together and grind the seam. Next, 4 (minimum) rings should be welded to the pipe for attaching the suspension system. The finished basket rim should be painted with primer-enamel for metal surfaces to prevent rust formation. This completes the work on preparing the base of the basket.

After the main element of the basket has been successfully mounted, you can proceed to the most pleasant work – the external decoration and decoration of the basket, weaving.

How to weave a swing-nest from a polyamide rope

Most often, a polyamide rope is used to weave a basket of nest swings. It looks great, is not afraid of moisture and temperature changes, has a smooth surface and perfectly holds tight knots.

To weave a basket of polyamide rope, you need to prepare the following:

• base for a basket with loops for suspensions (metal or plastic rim);
• polyamide cord – approximately 50 m (depending on the diameter of the basket);
• construction tape measure;
• scissors;
• work gloves.

To weave a swing nest basket with your own hands, you can use a completely different pattern, but most often they make the “Web” pattern, since it is not difficult to perform and perfectly fulfills its task.

The scheme of weaving a basket with a pattern “Spider web”

Step-by-step instructions on how to weave a nest swing:

1. Pull 2 ​​loops on the rim from below and from above and fix them so that the place of their twisting is exactly in the center of the circle.
2. Further, the same action on the circle must be performed on the right and left.
3. Then the loops twisted in the center should be evenly distributed over the entire diameter of the base of the basket.
4. From a thinner rope, braid the stretched loops with one thread, starting from the middle of the circle along an increasing diameter.
5. Paste the rim of the basket with a layer of thin foam rubber, cover it with a thermally insulating material and make a braid with a thick polyamide rope around the entire circle.

The finished basket should be fixed to the hangers with carabiners. The length should be no more than 2 m. This nest swing model can be hung on a support frame or on a strong tree branch.

Nest swing basket with weaving pattern “Spider web”

How to make a swing from a net

A mesh nest swing is the easiest way to make a children’s attraction. With a strong desire, such a design can be created and hung in a few hours.

To do this, you will need:

• rim (steel or metal-plastic, aluminum or plastic hoops) – 1-2 pcs.;
• mesh of synthetic fibers – 100×100 cm;
• thick polyamide cord for suspensions (diameter from 4 mm) – 10-15 m;
• work gloves;
• scissors and construction tape measure.

The seat for the nest swing can be woven from a rope or cable, or you can use a ready-made nylon mesh

How to make a nest swing from a net, step by step instructions:

1. Braid the rim with a cord or sheathe it with polyamide fabric.
2. Then put a piece of synthetic mesh on the rim, wrap it around and bend the ends to the middle, fix them.
3. On the finished basket, mark the place where the hangers are attached. Having made a loop from the cord, go around the rim with it and pass the free end of the suspension through it. Do this with all 4 suspensions.
4. Fasten the upper ends of the suspension cord with the fixing rings (or carabiners) of the support frame.

Such a structure can be hung on a tree branch, on a specially prepared support or on a vertical beam of a building, for example, on a terrace or in a gazebo. If you provide the upper ends of the suspensions with carabiners, the nest swing can be made mobile.

How to weave a swing from a hoop and a rope

Weaving a swing should be carried out in 3 stages – creating a seat mesh, assembling the structure and braiding hoops, weaving hanging lines.

To create this design, you need the following:

• aluminum or plastic hoop – 2 pcs.;
• rope made of synthetic fibers with a diameter of 3 mm or more – 60-80 m (approximately, depends on the diameter of the hoop);
• scissors;
• work gloves;
• construction tape.

Weaving a basket of a swing nest from a rope according to the “macramé” type

The first step in creating a swing-nest basket is weaving the mesh of the seat. The most commonly used technique is “macrame”. The exact patterns of patterns for weaving can be selected on the Internet. On each hoop, you should separately create your own drawing of the future seat with sufficient tension on the rope.

At the second stage, the swing basket is assembled. To do this, both hoops need to be folded together and wrapped around the rim with a single braid. Braid to produce with force every subsequent 12 turns. Approximately 1 m of rope is consumed per 40 m of the rim.

The third stage is the weaving of hanging slings. They need to be woven using the macrame technique with twisting (preferably) or straight knots. The length of the hangers depends on the height of the suspension frame, but not more than 2 m. Weave the upper end of the slings into the fixing rings and fasten.

How to attach a nest swing

Swing nests are installed on support frames, suspension beams or on trees.

Attaching the nest swing to curved suspension beams

Attachment of nest swings to a curved metal profile pipe

Attaching the nest swing to a wooden support frame

It is best and most reliable to mount the nest swing on a standard frame made of wooden beams (10×10 cm).

Progress:

1. To begin with, you need to make 2 support posts in the form of the letter “A” from a bar (see the diagram below).
2. Then the crossbar should be fixed to the support posts. It can be from the same wooden beam or from a steel pipe. The length of the crossbar is equal to the height of the swing suspensions.
3. With the help of special suspensions, it is necessary to fix the swing lines to the installed crossbar, and, in turn, connect them to the basket with large rings or carbines.

Scheme of mounting a support post made of wooden beams

After all the main work is completed, the nest swing must be tested for the maximum allowable weight. To do this, you need to load the basket by 100 or 200 kg (depending on the carrying capacity of the model) and swing it a little. During such a test, it is possible to determine the actual distance from the basket to the ground under load, to check the strength of the hangers and the stability of the frame support.

Installation of a swing and a horizontal bar on a support frame made of timber

Useful Tips

Some useful tips for those who want to build a do-it-yourself children’s amusement ride “Nest Swing”:

1. Before you start installing the swing, you should make sure that the chosen place is safe and accessible for kids.
2. It is better to install nest swings on unsteady ground (for example, on sand), a rubber track or on grass.
3. If the swing is planned to be hung on a tree, you need to make sure that the branch can withstand the weight of the structure itself and 3-4 kids in total (with a margin).
4. The main part of the design – the basket, must have a high level of strength, with the expectation of the weight of several kids and an adult. The basket must not be deformed, jump off the hinges of the device and be traumatic.
5. The optimal height of the basket from the ground is no more than 0,5 m.

With all the safety of this device, children’s games on the nest swings must be supervised by an adult.

Conclusion

The step-by-step instructions for making a do-it-yourself nest swing, given in this article, will help parents competently build entertainment for their children and protect them from possible mistakes and miscalculations in the design. It is not necessary to follow the exact rules for finishing. Having shown imagination and craftsmanship talents, you can design beautiful, comfortable and safe rides for children on your own site or in the city yard.

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How to make a do-it-yourself nest swing, video: