How to Sew a Corner Cat Hammock - My Easy Pattern and Tutorial
Corner Cat Hammock
Anyone can make one of these very inexpensive super simple-to-sew cat hammocks. I encourage you to spread a little joy and sunshine to a feline near you! My greatest wish is for everyone to PLEASE share this pattern with all animal lovers.
A little background info: I began sewing these corner cat hammocks at the request of the animal behaviorist at the Hawaiian Humane Society in 2012. I continue to sew and donate to this shelter and many more throughout the mainland U.S. as my time allows. For some time now, I've made my original PDF pattern available for purchase for $2 on Etsy under my user name there, HIPam, and used the monies from the sale of the pattern to help more animals in need.
I have kept the price of this pattern low in the hopes more people would be enticed to make hammocks for their own pets and of course, to donate to their local non-profit animal shelter or animal rescue. Now I've also decided to provide my tutorial to make these cat hammocks FREE here on this page.
The more people sewing for the animals, perhaps more and more animals will find their forever homes just a little bit quicker. Studies show a happier, more relaxed animal DOES have a better chance at a quicker adoption. So, folks, please start up those sewing machines!
As a THANK YOU and for even more ways of helping the animals.......
Photo credit: Andrew Mathias at the Hawaiian Humane Society
Time required: One Hour
Difficulty: easy
Cost: Approx $8 or Less Each
Materials:
- One 30 x 54 terry cotton bath towel (makes two corner cat hammocks)
- One half yard muslin to make pattern
- One half yard batting (recycled quilted mattress pad from thrift shop is what I use)
- Five feet length of 1-inch wide Polypro webbing (lightweight, but strong; easy to sew)
- Thread Dual Duty (Polyester covered Polyester)
- Four size 6mm carabiners (these will be labeled NOT FOR CLIMBING)
Tools:
- Gridded transparent ruler (makes marking pattern lines that much easier)
- Pencil or pen
- Size 90/14 Med weight sewing machine needle
- Sewing Scissors and pins
- Cardboard Cutting Grid (I never sew without mine)
Instructions:
1. Make a Muslin Pattern
Fold the ½ yard of muslin in half and press fold crisply with an iron.
As shown in picture, lay folded muslin piece on top of work surface (I’m using a cardboard cutting grid). Using transparent ruler and a pencil begin drawing the pattern.
Draw the cutting line borders in the following order.
Draw a line from point A to point B at 14 ½” long
Draw a line from point A to point C at 3” long
Draw a line from point B to point F at 15" long
Draw a line from point B to point D at 2 ¼” long
Draw a line from point D to point E at 16 ¼” long
Draw a line from point F to point E at 2 ¼” long
Draw a line from point C to point E at 18” long
Cut out pattern piece along drawn lines EXCEPT point B to F (this is the halfway fold of your pattern piece.)
*Please note the photo actually shows the measurements written directly onto the muslin pattern piece. I have done this for demonstrative purposes only.
2. Now, you will unfold muslin pattern piece so it lays flat facing you on work surface. On the right hand side of muslin pattern piece, mark an opening approximately 6” in length. This opening will be used for turning the piece after sewing.
Stitching lines shown in orange. Please refer back to this photo when beginning to sew.
3. As a gentle reminder, use a pen to write these words along bottom section of the muslin pattern piece. Something to the effect of:
DO NOT CUT along bottom fold line! Place whole pattern piece as flush with bottom fold line as possible.
4. Prepare and Cut Pattern in TowelTo prepare towel, first fold bath towel in half with the “dress side of towel” on the outside. Cut towel exactly in half along this line.
5. Before Pinning the Pattern...
Note: There is no photo of this step, but it is very, very simple to do.
With toweling cut in half, lay one piece with dress side up facing you. Set other half aside for the next hammock.
Grab the upper left hand corner of the towel and fold this corner down so it touches the right hand side of the towel along the line which was previously cut. Smooth with hand.
6. Pin muslin pattern piece to toweling as shown.
7. Cut out pattern piece along all sides EXCEPT for the bottom fold line; leave this folded section intact.
8. Prepare Four Straps for Hammock
Cut four pieces of polypro webbing at 15” length each for the four straps. With a disposable lighter, lightly singe both cut ends of the straps to prevent fraying.
9. Fold each of the straps in half and pin to the dress side of toweling in the
positions shown. Note the towel is not folded in half during this step.
10. CLOSE UP VIEW The joined edges of each folded strap are pinned exactly 1 inch from the edge of toweling.
At sewing machine, sew the straps in place ½” from the edge of toweling.
11. Cut ONE muslin pattern piece out of single layer of batting. It will NOT be folded.
BEFORE sewing the layers together as shown in the bottom half of the
picture, ensure all four straps are tucked INSIDE.
Just to reiterate, in the bottom half of the picture I wanted to show again how the straps MUST be tucked INSIDE the towel before sewing. DRESS sides together and straps INSIDE.
You'll Need Webbing for the Straps
12. Sew through all layers in a ½” seam from raw edge along stitching lines as shown in orange in the picture below.
13. Turn Hammock Right Side Out
Insert hand into the six inch opening and grasp one corner of the hammock inside. Turn right side out.
Slip stitch or top stitch opening closed.
Next, start at short end of hammock and top stitch at least two areas at random with machine from top to bottom edge to ensure batting remains in place at bottom edge inside the hammock during use. Note the curved top stitching on the toweling for this purpose.
To hang the hammock you may want to use shower curtain hooks or if you plan on making a bunch of these for donation or to sell, here is a lot of 120 carabiners that is very affordable.
14. You can:
1. Make corner cat hammocks in all colors!
2. Position the straps at different points on the wire grid will create a nice cozy swag if you have a cat or kitten that prefers that.
3. These hammocks are easy to wash and dry.
4. You can even use prewashed upholstery fabric (shown in lower right hand corner) if you have a fancy cat. :)
On behalf of all the homeless kitties, I want to say THANK YOU for your interest in this page. Will you be sewing and/or sharing this pattern to help the animals?
Comments
S.P. Greaney from Ireland on July 25, 2019:
Love this idea. With a little bit of effort you make something cute and unique.
Delia on July 27, 2014:
What a great project! I think I might make one for my sister's indoor cat. Thanks for sharing!
Susan Zutautas from Ontario, Canada on July 27, 2014:
I don't have cats but I'll be passing your lens onto people I know that would love to make a cat hammock. Great How to Lens!
Elyn MacInnis from Shanghai, China on July 27, 2014:
They are so lovely, and you are an angel too!
devinyaya on July 26, 2014:
Thank you so much for sharing this pattern. I made one for my sister's cat and will make another for the kitten rescue in our town. If they like it and want more I am on it
Thanks again
Sincerely Sheryl
Virginia Allain from Central Florida on July 15, 2014:
Very detailed directions for all the cat-loving seamstresses out there.
Im2keys on July 14, 2014:
My kitties are going to LOVE this- thanks for your instructions!
Lorelei Cohen from Canada on July 12, 2014:
The kittens sure look happy in their little bed. What a nice simple pattern to make cats so content.
Merry Citarella from Oregon's Southern Coast on July 07, 2014:
What a cute idea! Love it.
LaurieKristensen on July 02, 2014:
First, this is awesome and thanks so much for sharing it for free and putting all the work into that you have!
But I have a suggestion, I hope that's okay... some of us may be challenged by this.... (like ME!)....
You don't really explain how to hang it up, especially if you don't have handy grid-like screening/fencing in any of your corners (as somewhat visible in the background photo). What kind of hooks do you attach to the straps? How do you attach them securely to all kinds of walls?
Could you possibly include more pics of the hammocks hanging in corners of different types that show how they are affixed to the walls? The bottom photo shows kitties in the hammocks, but we cannot see how they are attached to the walls. Thanks again so much!
Judy Filarecki from SW Arizona and Northern New York on April 17, 2014:
Thanks for sharing this. I'll save to give it a try.
flycatcherrr on April 05, 2014:
My mother's cat would love a hammock like this - she's an elderly indoor cat so doesn't get to go out and explore, and her great joy in life is to lie on something comfy near a window. I know just the place to put such a hammock for her! Love the fact that you're doing this to help the humane society, too - that's a lovely bonue. Yes, I'll certainly be sharing it around!
Pam Irie (author) from Land of Aloha on February 22, 2014:
@Diana Wenzel: YAY Diana! Thank you for always helping the animals! :)
Renaissance Woman from Colorado on February 22, 2014:
Sure thoughtful and generous of you to provide us with this pattern free of charge. I look forward to doing my part in making some of these cat hammocks for the good of the cause. Thank you!
Pam Irie (author) from Land of Aloha on February 21, 2014:
@smine27: A smallish dog would fit great on this, but even if our dog was small, I don't think she'd like the "feeling" of a hammock. Cats are just fearless like that. :)
Shinichi Mine from Tokyo, Japan on February 21, 2014:
Those two cats are absolutely adorable. I wonder if my dog would like this?
