WWII US Navy Hammock Clew

The hammock clew (pronounced “klu”) is the gathered end of a hammock where multiple ropes (called nettles) come together and attach to a ring. During World War II, the US Navy issued canvas hammocks to sailors, each with a hand-woven clew made of braided rope. These clews were strong, durable, and designed to distribute weight evenly across the hammock.

In this guide, you will learn:

The full meaning of each component of the hammock clew
Materials needed (steel rings and braided poly rope)
How to set up a jig for weaving
How to create the shouldered sword mat knot
How to taper the nettles (the hanging ropes)
How to finish with a two-strand diamond knot

Historical Note: This is an authentic reproduction of a WWII-era US Navy hammock clew. The techniques are traditional and have been used by sailors for generations.

What Is a Hammock Clew?

Component	Description
Clew	The gathered end of a hammock where all ropes meet
Ring	A steel ring (3 inches / 7.6 cm) that attaches to the hammock hook
Nettles	The individual ropes that hang down from the clew and attach to the hammock fabric
Shouldered sword mat knot	The decorative, woven knot that sits below the ring
Two-strand diamond knot	The finishing knot at the bottom of the clew

Part 1: Materials (Clew Materials)

Material	Imperial	Metric	Notes
Steel ring	3 inches	7.6 cm	Two rings total
Braided poly rope	50 feet	15.25 m	Two ropes total

Total rope needed: 2 × 50 ft = 100 ft (30.5 m) of braided poly rope.

Why Braided Poly Rope?

Property	Benefit
Braided construction	Holds knots well, resists unraveling
Polypropylene	Does not absorb water, resists rot
Strength	Holds the weight of a sleeping sailor
Flexibility	Easy to weave and knot

Part 2: Finished Clew Specifications

Component	Measurement
Steel ring	3 inches (7.6 cm)
Shouldered sword mat knot	Decorative woven knot below ring
Nettles (hanging ropes)	21 inches (53 cm)
Working ends	Become the “weft” (woven cross strands)

Part 3: Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Set Up Your Jig

Action	Detail
Create a jig (a board with pegs)	To hold the rope in place while weaving
Thread the rope through the jig	Always passing the rope through the same direction in the ring

Why a jig? A jig keeps consistent tension and spacing while you weave the complex knot. Without a jig, the nettles can become uneven.

Tip: Do not pull the rope too tight at this point. The weaving process will tighten up the nettles naturally.

Step 2: Thread the Rings

Action	Detail
Take one 50 ft rope	Thread it through the first steel ring
Pass the rope through the ring in the same direction each time	Consistency is key
Repeat with the second rope	Both ropes pass through the same ring

Result: Two ropes passing through a single steel ring, with long tails hanging down.

Step 3: Weave the Shouldered Sword Mat Knot

This is the decorative knot that sits just below the ring. It is called a “shouldered sword” knot because of its shape — wide at the top (shoulders) and tapering down (the blade).

Action	Detail
Use a shuttle (or your fingers) to interlace the strands	Take the two working ends and weave them through the space
Alternate the interlacing	Pass strands front-to-back, then back-to-front

The weaving pattern:

Pass	Action
First weave	Take working ends and weave through the space
Second weave	Alternate: front-to-back instead of back-to-front
Continue	Keep alternating with each pass

Result: A flat, woven mat that sits below the ring — the “shouldered sword mat knot.”

Step 4: Taper the Nettles

After the first two weaves are complete, you begin to taper the knot — making it narrower and narrower until only two nettles remain.

Step	Action
1	Complete the first two weaves (full width)
2	Begin to skip nettles in the weave
3	Skip one nettle on each side with each pass
4	Continue tapering until only two nettles remain

Visual of tapering:

Full width:   ||||||||||||  (12 nettles)
After taper 1:  ||||||||||   (10 nettles)
After taper 2:   ||||||||    (8 nettles)
After taper 3:    ||||||     (6 nettles)
After taper 4:     ||||      (4 nettles)
Final:            ||        (2 nettles)

Result: A tapered, sword-shaped woven knot — wider at the top (below the ring) and narrowing to two ropes at the bottom.

Step 5: Finish with a Two-Strand Diamond Knot

Action	Detail
Take the two remaining nettles	These are the working ends
Tie a two-strand diamond knot	A decorative, ball-like knot
Fuse the ends	Use a lighter to melt the rope tips (for poly rope)

How to tie a two-strand diamond knot:

Sub-step	Action
1	Cross the two strands to form a loop
2	Pass one end over, under, and through the loop
3	Pass the other end over, under, and through from the opposite side
4	Tighten carefully to form a diamond-shaped knot

Result: A decorative knot at the bottom of the clew that prevents the weave from unraveling.

Step 6: Attach the Second Ring (Optional)

Action	Detail
Pass the finished clew through the second steel ring	Or attach directly to the hammock fabric
The second ring can be used to connect to the hammock	Or attach to a hook or suspension system

Part 4: Understanding the Terminology

Term	Definition
Clew	The gathered end of a hammock (pronounced “klu”)
Nettles	The individual ropes that hang down from the clew
Shouldered sword mat knot	A woven, tapered knot named for its shape
Weft	The crosswise strands that weave through the nettles
Jig	A board with pegs used to hold ropes in place while weaving
Two-strand diamond knot	A decorative stopper knot

Part 5: Historical Context — WWII US Navy Hammocks

Fact	Detail
Issued to	All US Navy sailors during WWII
Material	Canvas hammock body, braided rope clew
Use	Sleeping berths on ships (stacked in rows)
Storage	Hammocks were lashed and stored in netting
Tradition	Sailors often personalized their clew knots

The clew was critical — if it failed, the sailor would fall. These knots were tied with great care and inspected regularly.

Part 6: Tips for Success

Tip	Why It Matters
Use a jig	Ensures even spacing and consistent tension
Don’t pull too tight early	The weaving process will tighten the nettles naturally
Keep the same direction through the ring	Prevents twisting and uneven wear
Fuse poly rope ends	Prevents fraying and unraveling
Practice the diamond knot first	It can be tricky to get symmetrical

Part 7: Common Mistakes & Fixes

Mistake	Cause	Fix
Nettles are uneven lengths	Inconsistent tension while weaving	Use a jig and check lengths frequently
Shouldered sword knot is lopsided	Skipped nettles unevenly	Count nettles on each side; skip symmetrically
Diamond knot is misshapen	Pulled one side tighter	Tighten both sides evenly and gradually
Ring moves out of position	Not secured in jig	Clamp or tie the ring to the jig
Rope frays at ends	Cut with dull scissors or not fused	Use sharp scissors; melt ends with a lighter

Part 8: Modern Uses for This Technique

Project	Adaptation
Camping hammock	Use modern synthetic rope; smaller ring
Decorative wall hanging	Use cotton rope; display the clew as art
Plant hanger	Smaller scale (1-inch ring, thinner rope)
Bag handle	Woven clew as a decorative handle attachment
Keychain	Miniature version with small cord

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Title	WWII US Navy Hammock Clew: Complete Weaving Guide
Meta Description	Learn to weave an authentic WWII-era US Navy hammock clew with steel rings and braided rope. Step-by-step instructions for the shouldered sword mat knot and two-strand diamond knot.
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Keywords	hammock clew, WWII Navy hammock, shouldered sword mat knot, two-strand diamond knot, netting hammock, braided poly rope hammock
Alt text for image	WWII US Navy hammock clew diagram showing 3-inch steel ring, shouldered sword mat knot, 21-inch nettles, two-strand diamond knot, and weaving pattern

Final Pro Tip: Make a Miniature Version First

Before cutting 100 feet of rope, practice the technique on a small scale:

Material	Miniature Version
Ring	1-inch key ring
Rope	3 mm cotton cord, 2 × 10 ft
Use	Keychain or zipper pull

Once you master the weaving pattern on a small scale, scale up to the full 50 ft ropes for an authentic hammock clew.

Summary: You Can Now Weave a WWII Navy Hammock Clew

Step	Skill Learned	Status
1	Set up a jig and thread ropes through the ring	✅
2	Weave the shouldered sword mat knot	✅
3	Alternate the interlacing (front-to-back, back-to-front)	✅
4	Skip nettles to taper the knot	✅
5	Reduce to two nettles	✅
6	Tie a two-strand diamond knot	✅
7	Fuse the ends	✅

This historical technique is a rewarding project for anyone interested in maritime history, traditional knotting, or hammock making. The finished clew is both functional and beautiful — a true piece of naval craftsmanship.