Crochet Toy Storage Net Hammock – Free Pattern
If you’ve ever tripped over a pile of stuffed animals in the middle of the night or watched your child’s bedroom disappear under a mountain of plush toys, you already know the struggle is very real. Organization is one of those things that sounds straightforward in theory but quickly becomes a daily battle when you’re dealing with kids and their beloved collections. That’s exactly why this crochet toy storage net hammock pattern is one of those projects that feels genuinely rewarding on multiple levels. You get to crochet something useful, watch it come together stitch by stitch, and then hang it up knowing it’s actually going to make your life a little easier. That’s a win in anybody’s book.
This free crochet pattern walks you through every step of creating a corner toy hammock that hangs neatly in the upper corner of a child’s room, keeping stuffed animals off the floor and on display in a way that’s charming rather than cluttered. It works up quickly, requires only beginner-friendly skills, and uses inexpensive materials you can find at any craft store. Whether you’re making it for your own home or as a handmade gift for a new parent, this is one of those practical projects that will get used every single day.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know, from materials and abbreviations to full row-by-row instructions and finishing tips.
Why a Crochet Toy Hammock Is the Perfect Storage Solution
Before we get into the pattern itself, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate why this particular storage solution works so well. Toy hammocks have been popular in kids’ rooms for decades, and for good reason. They use vertical space that would otherwise go completely unused — that upper corner of a room just sits there, doing nothing, while the floor below it is a chaotic obstacle course. A corner hammock reclaims that dead space and turns it into a functional, beautiful display area.
What makes a crochet toy hammock especially appealing over a store-bought net is the craftsmanship. Commercial toy nets tend to be made from thin, scratchy nylon that doesn’t hold its shape well over time. A crocheted version, on the other hand, is sturdy and textured. The open mesh design allows you to see exactly what’s inside (no more digging through opaque bins to find the one specific stuffed dog your child insists they need at bedtime), and the natural drape of the cotton rope gives it a look that fits beautifully into a nursery, a boho-themed kids’ room, or even a playroom with a more eclectic aesthetic.
It’s also a project that grows with your family. If you already have one and need more space, you can make a second one and hang them at different heights. You can adjust the size by working more or fewer chains at the start, and you can change the rope thickness or color to match your room’s decor. The pattern is incredibly adaptable, which is part of what makes it so satisfying to make.
Materials You’ll Need
Getting your materials together before you start will make the whole process smoother. Here’s what you’ll need for a standard-sized toy hammock that holds a good number of medium-to-large stuffed animals in a typical room corner.
You’ll need approximately 100 to 120 yards of 5mm natural cotton rope. Macramé-style cotton rope works beautifully for this project because it’s strong enough to hold weight without stretching out of shape, it has a lovely texture, and it can be left natural or dyed to match any color scheme. You can find it at craft stores or online, and it’s generally very affordable.
For your hook, a 6.5mm or 7mm crochet hook works well with 5mm rope. You want enough tension to create a firm, sturdy mesh without making the work so tight that it becomes difficult to pull your hook through. If you tend to crochet tightly, go up to the 7mm; if you’re a looser crocheter, stay with the 6.5mm.
In addition to your rope and hook, you’ll need a yarn needle or large tapestry needle for weaving in ends, a pair of scissors, and three wall hooks or cup hooks for hanging. These hooks should be rated to hold at least 15 to 20 pounds to be safe, especially once your child’s stuffed animal collection grows. You’ll also want a tape measure or ruler for checking your gauge and spacing your hooks correctly on the wall.
Optional but lovely: small wooden rings or dowel rods can be worked into the top edge of the hammock to give it a more polished, structured look along the hanging edge. These are entirely optional and the hammock hangs beautifully without them, but they add a really nice finishing touch if you’re making this as a gift or want it to look extra intentional.
Gauge and Sizing
Gauge matters more for some crochet projects than for others. For a toy hammock, you don’t need to be perfectly precise, but getting close to the recommended gauge will ensure your hammock is the right size for a standard room corner and has enough structural integrity to hold its contents without sagging excessively.
Working with 5mm rope and a 6.5mm hook, aim for approximately 10 chain stitches and 5 rows of single crochet to measure roughly 4 inches by 4 inches. If your swatch is significantly larger or smaller than this, adjust your hook size accordingly.
The finished hammock, when laid flat before hanging, should measure approximately 36 inches along each of the two straight sides, with the curved or diagonal edge spanning roughly 50 to 52 inches. When hung in a corner at ceiling height, this creates a generously sized pocket that comfortably holds 15 to 25 medium stuffed animals depending on how you arrange them.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology. Here’s a quick reference for the abbreviations you’ll encounter throughout the instructions.
Ch means chain. Sc means single crochet. Dc means double crochet. Sl st means slip stitch. Sp means space. Rep means repeat. St means stitch. Sts means stitches. Sk means skip. Yo means yarn over.
Special Stitches
This pattern uses a simple mesh stitch that creates the open, net-like appearance of the finished hammock. The mesh is made by alternating chains and single crochets in a straightforward pattern that’s easy to memorize after the first few rows. If you’ve ever made a basic mesh or net stitch swatch, you’ll feel right at home. If not, don’t worry — it’s genuinely one of the easier stitch patterns in crochet, and you’ll have the rhythm down within the first couple of rows.
The Free Pattern: Crochet Toy Storage Net Hammock
Getting Started: The Foundation Chain
Begin by making a foundation chain of 81 chains. This creates your longest edge, which will run along one wall of the corner. When you’re done, give it a gentle tug to make sure your tension is consistent from one end to the other. If any part of your chain looks significantly looser or tighter than the rest, it’s worth starting again — an uneven foundation chain will affect the way the mesh looks in your finished piece.
Row 1: Sc in the 5th ch from the hook (this counts as your first dc plus a ch-2 sp), ch 2, skip 2 chains, sc in the next chain. Continue working ch 2, skip 2, sc across the row until you reach the end. You should finish the row with a sc in the last chain of your foundation. Chain 5 and turn.
Row 2: Sc in the first ch-2 space of the previous row, ch 2, sc in the next ch-2 space. Repeat across the row, working one sc into each ch-2 space and placing 2 chains between each sc. When you reach the end, work sc into the turning chain space from the previous row. Chain 5 and turn.
Continue in this manner, repeating Row 2 for the body of the hammock. The turning chain of 5 counts as a dc plus a ch-2 space at the beginning of each row, and you should end each row with a sc worked into the turning chain space from the row below.
Work even in this mesh pattern until your piece measures 36 inches from the foundation chain, counting along the straight edge. This will take approximately 30 to 35 rows depending on your gauge and tension.
Shaping the Diagonal Edge
This is the part of the pattern that gives the toy hammock its triangular shape, allowing it to fit snugly into the corner of a room. Instead of working all the way across each row, you’ll begin decreasing at the end of every row to create the diagonal line that forms the curved, hanging edge of the hammock.
Decrease Row: Work across in established mesh pattern until 2 mesh spaces remain before the end of the row. Work 1 sc into the next ch-2 space, then sl st into the final ch-2 space. Do not work into the turning chain. Chain 5 and turn, then work back across in the established mesh pattern.
Repeat this decrease every row, working one fewer mesh space on the shortened end of each row, until you have just 3 mesh spaces remaining. At this point, your triangle is nearly complete.
Final Rows: Work the last 3 mesh spaces in the established pattern for 2 additional rows to create a neat, firm edge at the narrowest corner of the triangle. Fasten off and weave in your end securely.
The Hanging Edge
Now that your triangle is complete, you’ll add a reinforced edge along the two straight sides of the hammock — these are the edges that will be attached to the walls and ceiling. This reinforcement helps distribute the weight of the toys evenly and gives you firm anchor points for your hooks.
With the right side of your work facing you, join your rope at any corner of the hammock with a sl st.
Hanging Edge Row: Work 3 sc evenly across each row end along the straight edges of your triangle. When you reach a corner, work 3 sc into the corner stitch to turn. Continue all the way around both straight edges, ending at your starting point with a sl st to join.
Second Round: Chain 1, work 1 sc in each sc from the previous round, placing 3 sc in each corner. Join with sl st. Fasten off and weave in end.
This double layer of single crochets along the straight edges gives you a stable, durable surface for attaching your hanging hardware.
Finishing: Adding Hanging Loops
Your hammock needs strong, reliable loops at the three corners for hanging. These are the points that will bear all the weight of your toys, so take your time with this step and don’t rush it.
At each of the three corners of your hammock (the two corners along the shorter straight edge and the one at the top of the longest straight edge), use your rope to create a loop as follows. Cut a 12-inch length of rope, fold it in half, and use a lark’s head knot to attach it securely around the corner stitches of your reinforced edge. You can reinforce these loops further by whipstitching them down with your yarn needle for extra security.
Alternatively, if you’re experienced with crochet finishing, you can work a chain loop directly at each corner during your edging round. To do this, when you reach a corner stitch during your reinforcement round, chain 12, slip stitch back into the corner stitch to form a ring, then continue your sc edging around the loop to reinforce it. This method creates a fully integrated loop that is particularly strong.
How to Hang Your Toy Hammock
Installing your toy hammock is straightforward, but a little planning goes a long way. Start by identifying the corner of the room you want to use. Upper corners near the ceiling work best because they keep toys completely off the floor and create a fun, den-like display. If you prefer the hammock lower — at about shoulder height for an adult — it works there too, and makes it easier for children to reach in and grab what they want.
Mark the wall on both sides of the corner, roughly where you want the top edge of your hammock to sit. Use a level if you have one to make sure both marks are at the same height. Then mark a third point on the ceiling (or high on the wall, just under the ceiling) directly in the corner. These three points are where your hooks will go.
Use cup hooks or screw-in hooks rated to hold at least 15 pounds. Screw them firmly into wall studs or use drywall anchors if you can’t hit a stud. Attach each of the three loops of your hammock to a hook, adjust the tension by pulling the loops tighter or looser as needed, and you’re done.
Fill it with stuffed animals and step back to admire your work. It genuinely looks wonderful, and the first time you see a collection of beloved stuffed animals nestled inside a handmade crocheted net, you’ll understand why this has become such a beloved project in the crochet community.
Tips for Customizing Your Toy Hammock
One of the great joys of making your own version of this pattern is that it’s endlessly customizable. Here are a few ideas for making it your own.
If you want a colorful hammock, macramé cotton rope takes dye beautifully. You can pre-dye your rope before you begin crocheting, or you can work with two or three colors by changing rope at the beginning of different rows. Even a simple stripe pattern in soft nursery colors looks absolutely stunning.
For a larger hammock — great for rooms with higher ceilings or for collections of really large stuffed animals — simply start with a longer foundation chain. Adding 12 to 15 chains will give you a noticeably larger finished piece without changing anything else about the pattern.
For a smaller version suitable for a crib corner or a low shelf area, start with a foundation chain of 51 to 60 stitches. This creates a compact, adorable little version that works beautifully for smaller collections or in tighter spaces.
You can also work this pattern in chunky yarn rather than rope for a slightly softer, more textured look. A bulky cotton or cotton-blend yarn in a 6 weight gives a beautiful result, though it won’t be quite as structurally firm as the rope version. For purely decorative use or for very light loads, it works beautifully.
Caring for Your Crochet Toy Hammock
Natural cotton rope is durable and easy to care for. If your hammock gets dusty or dirty over time, you can hand wash it in cool water with a gentle soap, then reshape it and allow it to air dry completely before rehanging. Avoid putting it in the washing machine on a rough cycle, as this can cause the rope to unravel or fray at the ends. A gentle machine wash on the delicate cycle in a mesh bag is fine if you’re in a hurry, but hand washing is always the safest option for preserving the integrity of the stitches.
Why Handmade Matters
There’s something deeply meaningful about making storage and organization tools by hand. A store-bought toy net does the job, but it doesn’t carry any warmth or personality. A handmade crochet toy hammock, on the other hand, is a small act of love worked into the space your child inhabits every day. It holds their favorite toys in something you made with your own hands, and years from now, when those stuffed animals are packed away in a box and your child is grown, you’ll still look at that corner of the room and remember the afternoon you sat down and crocheted something useful and beautiful for someone you love.
That’s the real reason so many of us crochet. Not just for the finished object, but for everything the making represents.
We hope you love this free pattern as much as we loved creating it. If you make your own version, we’d absolutely love to see it — share a photo in the comments or tag us on social media. Happy crocheting!
