Psyduck, I Choose You!

Every once in a while, a project comes along that exists for absolutely no practical reason other than pure joy. This was one of those projects.

Recently, I crocheted a hammock for my Psyduck plushie using some Red Heart yarn that had been gifted to me and a 7mm hook. There isn't a dedicated pattern for this project because it eventually wandered off the map and into freehand territory.

Making the Hammock

To get started, I used a triangle scarf pattern I found on Pinterest. I worked it until I felt the piece was large enough to support Psyduck comfortably. The hammock itself was made using double crochet stitches throughout in a granny square-type motif, which gave it the open, airy structure I was looking for while still being sturdy enough to hold my plushie passenger. 

Once I reached the size I wanted, I began adding a border. The border served two purposes: it gave the hammock a more finished look and helped cinch up some of the fabric so it would cradle Psyduck instead of leaving him sprawled out like a dropped potato.

After weaving in the tails, it was time for installation. I grabbed a package of Command hooks and started testing placements on the walls. This part took longer than expected. I often feel embarrassed, or maybe there’s a better word, when I ask my husband for help with little household projects like this, so I decided to tackle it myself.

Putting the Hammock in Place

There was some struggling. There was some measuring. There was a moment when it suddenly felt ten degrees hotter in the room, and I had to turn on the fan.

Eventually, though, the hooks were in place. Following the directions, I let them cure for the allotted time before hanging the hammock. Once everything was ready, I carefully attached it to the hooks and stepped back to admire my work.

Admiring My Handiwork

The space between the walls ended up being a little tighter than I expected.  There's a bit of bunching that I wasn't anticipating. Looking at it now, I wonder if I should have frogged part of the hammock to make it fit better. But we're pushing forward! Because despite the slight bunching, the project achieved its most important goal.

Psyduck fits beautifully in his new hammock! He reminds me of my son. He's perpetually stressed, confused by the world around him, and carrying the weight of existence on his tiny shoulders...despite not even having started school yet. My son’s comment was “that’s a nice bed you made for Psyduck mommy”. He’s so sweet 🥹

Honestly, seeing him nestled in there made the entire project worth it. And yes, I absolutely announced, "Psyduck, I choose you!" when I put him in his new spot. Now my Psyduck has a hammock. My son is still working through the mysteries of life. And I have another delightful crochet project to add to my list of completed work. I'd call that a success.

Psyduck lounging in his hammock.

Share any stories you have of spontaneous projects!