Making a Doll’s Hammock

One of the most beautiful aspects of homeschooling is the way learning can grow organically from stories, curiosity, and everyday materials. A simple idea can turn into a rich lesson that weaves together practical skills, history, maths, and creativity. Making a Doll’s Hammock for a homemade rag doll is one of those projects. It is small in scale, yet full of meaning.

Catch Up! If you haven’t read all about our first week on the prairie, I would encourage you to go and read my Little House in the Big woods post. This covers everything we did from making nightdresses, to prairie cooking and making button strings. It also gives you a good idea of everything we achieved with our own little house on the prairie renovations!

This project grew naturally from our little house on the prairie unit study, where we have been immersing ourselves in pioneer life, handmade toys, and the resourcefulness required by families living with very little. As we read about Laura Ingalls and her treasured dolls, it felt only right to slow down and create something similar with our own hands. I will be posting about making ‘Raggy’ our home-made rag doll next week.

In this post, I’ll share how Thomas learnt knots for making a dolls hammock became a wonderful homeschooling activity, how it fits beautifully into a little house on the prairie unit study, and why projects like this are so valuable in a homeschooling home.

Why Learn Knots Through Homeschooling?

In modern life, knot-tying is often overlooked as a skill. Yet for centuries, knots were essential for daily survival. They were used in farming, sailing, building, sewing, and play. When homeschooling, we have the freedom to reintroduce these practical life skills in meaningful ways. Making a doll’s hammock was a perfect reason for learning knot-making!

Learning knots for making a doll’s hammock offers hands-on problem solving, fine motor skill development, spatial reasoning, patience and perseverance. Oh, and, we have a tangible end product to hang in our little house.

Unlike abstract lessons, knot-tying provides immediate feedback. If the knot is wrong, the hammock slips. If it’s right, it holds. This kind of learning is powerful, especially for children who learn best by doing.

Connecting Knots to a Little House on the Prairie Unit Study

The little house on the prairie unit study is a natural place to include knot-tying and simple construction skills. Pioneer children did not have shops full of toys. They made what they needed, often from scraps, string, and fabric.

By learning knots for making a doll’s hammock for a rag doll, children gain insight into how pioneer families reused materials and why practical skills mattered. They also learnt the value of handmade items and the creativity required in everyday prairie life.

This activity feels authentic to the world of the Little House books and helps children step more fully into that historical setting.

Check out week two! Last week we focused on Farmer Boy. This is the second book in the Little House on the Prairie book set. During the week we did lots of prairie cooking (hasty pudding, making a sour dough starter and some prairie bread) and also made some button lamps, a prairie ladder, and some peg hooks. Gary and the little ones did some gardening in our prairie garden and we tried to make some more of our rag rug.

Why is Thomas Making a Doll’s Hammock?

Rag dolls are a staple of pioneer childhood and are frequently mentioned in little house on the prairie unit study resources. Making a hammock for a doll is manageable in size, forgiving of mistakes and is perfect for practising knots. In addition, Thomas found it deeply satisfying.

Unlike a full-size hammock, a miniature version allows children to focus on technique rather than strength. It also gives them something meaningful to use and play with once the project is complete.

Materials Needed (Simple and Accessible)

One of the joys of this homeschooling project is its simplicity. You don’t need special equipment or expensive supplies.

You may need:

• String, yarn, twine, or thin rope
• Two sticks, dowels, or pencils (we used chair backs)
• A homemade rag doll
• Scissors
• A stable place to tie knots

Using scraps and found materials adds to the pioneer feel and fits perfectly with a Little House on the Prairie Unit Study.

Introducing Knots in a Homeschooling Setting

Before beginning the hammock, Thomas took time to explore what knots are and why they matter. In homeschooling, these moments of discussion are just as important as the activity itself.

We talked about where knots are used in everyday life, how pioneers used knots, why some knots are stronger than others and the importance of choosing the right knots for the job in hand.

This laid the groundwork for  making a doll’s hammock rather than simply copying instructions.

Simple Knots for Making a Doll’s Hammock

For this project, we focused on just a few basic knots. Keeping it simple helps children build confidence and avoids frustration.

Overhand Knot

This is often the first knot children learn. It’s simple and perfect for stopping string from slipping through loops.

Square Knot

Used to join two pieces of string together. This knot is ideal for extending cord length using scraps, very much in the spirit of pioneer living.

Lark’s Head Knot

A great knot for attaching string to sticks or dowels. It’s secure and easy to undo if needed.

These knots provided everything we needed for learning knots to make a hammock while still keeping the project accessible for young learners.

Step-by-Step: Learning Knots for Making a Doll’s Hammock

Step 1: Creating the Frame

Thomas, 11, began by attaching strings to the knobs of two chairs using lark’s head knots. This formed the ends of the hammock and gave him a beginning structure to work with.

Step 2: Measuring and Spacing

Thomas measured lengths of string and practised spacing them evenly. This introduced gentle maths concepts such as counting, measuring, and symmetry, all seamlessly integrated into homeschooling.

Step 3: Tying the Hammock Bed

Using overhand knots, Thomas tied the ends together to form a simple woven bed. He made some mistakes, and had to redo some knots. But that was fine, he learnt lots of patience along the way.

Step 4: Securing the Ends

Finally, he used square knots to secure the strings firmly. Testing the hammock by placing the rag doll inside was definitely the most exciting part!

Mistakes as Learning Opportunities

One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling is the freedom to let mistakes happen. When knots slipped or strings tangled, it wasn’t a failure, it was part of the learning.

Through making a doll’s hammock, Thomas learned how to undo and retie knots, why tension matters and how small changes affect the whole structure of a net.

These lessons extend far beyond knot-tying.

Skills Developed Through This Project

This simple activity touches on a wide range of skills:

• Fine motor control
• Hand-eye coordination
• Logical sequencing
• Patience and focus
• Problem-solving

All of this happens naturally, without worksheets or pressure. And this is one of the greatest strengths of homeschooling.

Encouraging Independence and Confidence

As Thomas became more confident, I encouraged him to continue experimenting changing the size of the hammock, trying different knots and adjusting the tension. This sense of ownership is invaluable. 

Making a doll’s hammock became his own project, not just an assigned task. And, even better, he had a lovely gift to give his littlest sister.

Tying It Back to the Little House on the Prairie Unit Study

Once the hammock was finished, we connected it back to our little house on the prairie unit study. We discussed where a doll’s hammock might be hung in a pioneer home, how children cared for their toys and why handmade items were treasured.

These conversations deepen understanding and bring literature to life.

If you’d like a book chock-a-block full of prairie activities, do take a look at my review of My Little House Craft Book.

Extending the Learning

This project can easily grow with your homeschooling:

• Research different knots used historically
• Make a larger hammock for stuffed animals
• Write a short story about a pioneer child and their doll
• Draw diagrams of knots
• Create a knot reference chart

Homeschooling allows learning to expand naturally from interest.

Why Practical Skills Matter in Homeschooling

In a world increasingly dominated by screens, practical skills offer balance. Learning knots to make a hammock reminds children that their hands are powerful tools.

These skills build self-reliance, encourage creativity, foster resilience and connect children to history, creating meaningful memories, something every homeschooling parent values.

A Quiet, Meaningful Project

This was not a loud or flashy activity. It was calm, focused, and deeply satisfying. Thomas worked slowly, talked quietly, and took pride in what he made.

Moments like this are why many families choose homeschooling.

Final Thoughts on Making a Doll’s Hammock

This small project – learning knots to make a hammock – became so much more than Thomas expected. It brought together history, handcrafts, maths, problem-solving, and storytelling in a way that felt natural and joyful.

As part of a little house on the prairie unit study, it provided a tangible link to pioneer life. As a homeschooling activity, it reinforced the value of slow, meaningful learning.

Sometimes the simplest projects create the richest lessons.

  For more activities please do visit my MEGA Little House on the Prairie Unit Study page. This contains all ten weeks of our summer building our own Little House on the Prairie!