Homemade Hay Net

Construction Basics

• It is possible to make your hay net without spending any money at all. First, look through your used bailing twine. Cut 13 twine lengths; 10 should be 7-feet long and the three remaining lengths should be 4-feet long. Remaining required materials include a measuring tape, scissors, marking pen, five clothespins or plastic clips, a nail and matches or a lighter.

  Construct the hay net using overhand knots. To tie an overhand knot, make a loop with the rope, then take one end of the rope and put it through the loop. Pull both ends of the rope to tighten the overhand knot. Create the net starting from the bottom and working your way to the top in a series of five alternating rows of overhand knots to create a diamond pattern, and one row of drawstring loops.

Getting Started

• Line up the seven foot lengths so the ends are even, measure five inches from one end and tie a single overhand knot to form the bottom of the net. Make the knot as tight as you possibly can by tightening each length individually after making the initial knot.

  To make the tying process easier, fix the large knot to a stationary post or to the wall with a nail. Divide the 10 twine lengths into pairs and keep separate with clothespins or clips.

Create Net Body

• Establish the first row of knots by measuring 4 inches from the bottom of the starting knot and tying an overhand knot with each twine pair.

  The second row of knots establishes the nets' diamond pattern. Measure 5 inches from the first row knots and mark for knot placement with a marking pen. Use one strand each from two adjacent twine pairs and place a clip at the knot marker. Before tying knots, spread the net and inspect to ensure the pattern is correct. Tie an overhand knot with each new twine pair. Repeat the process for rows three through five, making sure to inspect the net for a correct diamond pattern before tying knots.

Create Drawstring Loops

• The sixth and final row will create the drawstring loops. Start the same as for previous rows and separate adjacent twine pairs to use one strand from each pair. Instead of tying a knot at the 5-inch point, make a small loop as for starting an overhand knot. Then, make a larger loop 2 inches from the end of the twine pair. Pull the larger loop through the smaller one, and tighten the smaller loop to secure. Use the free ends of the twine pairs to tie another knot around the small loop knot. Trim and singe loose ends to prevent the twine from fraying.

Make Drawstring

• Braid the three shorter twine lengths and tie an overhand knot at each end. Trim and singe loose ends to prevent the braid from fraying. Remove the nail securing the net and thread the drawstring through the hay net loops.