Q for rat owners!!

Where do you get your hammocks?

I bought one at Petco the other day, just to see if they would actually lay in it and sleep in it before I bought nice ones.

So, where do you guys buy yours?

I found this etsy shop, which I LUUURVE and will probably get some from, but I'm open to other recommendations too!

From the shop I love:

I want it soooo bad, but I know they would have the hangy parts chewed in a couple days!! Maybe I should just buy the metal thingies for when they do chew them.

From another shop I have been stalking on etsy:

This one has the metal things that I like.

I just make my own though I don't have rats, but they're the same hammocks LOL

I used to just make my own. No-sew hammocks were my best friends: http://www.suzsugargliders.com/nosewaccessories.htm

A member from Goosemoose (Scubbs): http://chelseyscozies.com/

She does a really nice job and always has the most awesome fabric choices.

Now that I have a sewing machine I'll be making my own, most likely, but I'll still use her for things I don't know how to make (ie cubes).

I never bothered buying any fancy ones. They always loved tearing them up, so it was really just a waste of money! I always either made my own out of fabric scraps or something similar..

If you can figure out a hammock, cubeS are stupid easy

I too make my own. Way too expensive to buy (though not saying the people overcharge, its just they get destroyed...even my males who werent big chewers took care of them pretty quickly).

They are so easy to make, even the cubes etc.

These are examples of things I've made, no pattern and very quickly, usually with the kids "help" lol....and I am NOT a sewer. I make these and baby carriers lol

I always made my own, too. LOL! Even if they were only as simple as a single layer of fleece, cut in a square or rectangle, with holes poked in the corners to hook binder clips, through. If I was fancy, I would make TWO layers and just hook them together.

I've also done the type where you cut two pieces with fringe, and then knot then together to create a two-layer hammock. I'm sure you could do the same thing to make a tube.

I also knit/crocheted a lot of hammocks for my rats.

How do you sew cubes!!

Seriously all I know how to do is sew 2 pieces of fabric together. I can't make things lol.

I had a pattern once upon a time for making no-sew cubes. Hrm. Going to have to look for it for you!

Your basically sewing 6 pieces of fabric together . I have step by step pictures somewhere, but I'm at work currently lol

Southpaw, we need to have a cubing party! Lol

I have fabric at home that I may just buy some metal clips for.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22031339@N06/sets/72157613821975753/detail/

How to make a cube

Fo sho! But it'd be more like.... attempt to cube, get really frustrated and end up just making flat hammocks instead party. :lol-sign: That's how it'd go for me, at least. lol.

Greenmagick thanks for the link! I think I'm gonna raid Joanns today and see what I want to try my hand at creating.

Oh and I always just make fabric loops for mine, sew them into the corners. Then I can just use the shower curtain hangers to hang them

Or the no-sew version of making a cube: http://www.suzsugargliders.com/nosewcube.htm

I made my own fleece no sew pouch today from my own design and ended up loving it. I'm going to attempt a hammock next- the design is from Suz's No Sew.

I couldn't really find what I wanted for a set online, so I figured I'd try making my own.

Did you ever find that they chewed at the fringey bits (for any of the no sew projects)? Seems like it could be a tempting invitation - start at the fringe and nom your way through the rest of the hammock! Although for a rat that wants to chew, it probably makes no difference anyway

They did on a couple of fringes, but for the most part they were content to chew through enough that they could sleep in between the two layers, lol.

Lol gosh as disappointing as it is when they destroy such pretty things, I'll admit it is super adorable that they just want to snuggle in between and be cozy :lol-sign:

I spent like a gazillion dollars at Joanns. Okay only $65. That is (hopefully) for enough fabric to make 3 sets of liners for my cage - and if I planned it right I should have extras for hammock making, because Lord knows I don't want to spend any more money on fabric! It does end up being cheaper than buying from someone else though so hopefully it's worth it.