How to Cane Weave a Ladder Back Chair

Traditional Cane Weave

• 1

  Locate the center holes in the seat frame on the front, back and side rails. Insert a peg into these holes. Insert the cane strand from below into the center hole in the back of the seat. Leave enough extra cane so that the end hangs down to the lower rail to allow for tying off later.

• 2

  Pull the cane towards the front of the chair. Insert the strand into the center peg on the front rail from top down. Loop the cane from below up into the next hole to the right, and pull it towards the back of the chair.

• 3

  Continue this process until you reach the side rail. Insert the strand into the hole in the side rail that will keep the cane lines running parallel when viewed from directly above. Leave enough excess strand to reach the lower rail then insert a peg into the final side hole.

• 4

  Repeat this vertical back to front weaving process by starting at the hole just left of center at the back of the chair and working to the left until the whole seat has a vertical weave.

• 5

  Start at the top right corner in the back of the chair to do the horizontal side to side weave. Leave enough excess cane as before and insert a peg in the starting hole to hold the cane in place during weaving process.

• 6

  Lay the horizontal strands over the vertical strands as you work your way across the seat. Insert the strand into the top hole on the left from above, then from below insert it into the next hole in the side.

• 7

  Work from the back of the chair to the front in this horizontal weaving method. Leave excess after the last hole. Push a peg into the hole to hold the strand in place.

• 8

  Repeat the vertical weave process until you have two strands running in each hole to create a double weave.

• 9

  Tie off the excess cane underneath the chair by looping it under a close-by cane loop between holes. Insert the end into the created loop and pull to tighten. Make certain not to obstruct the hole when you tie off the cane.

• 10

  Using the cane tool, weave the second horizontal strand by starting at the back right corner of the seat and weave over the second vertical strands and under the first vertical strands. This second horizontal strand should be run just below or in front of the first horizontal strand.

• 11

  Take a small piece of cane to practice a diagonal weave from the back right corner of the seat to the front left corner; this will help you plan out the weave as you go to ensure you end in the correct place. Weave over the vertical strands and under the horizontal strands. Carefully remove the practice strand when you have planned your route then repeat with the full length strand.

• 12

  Work the diagonal weave from the diagonal center towards the back left corner of the seat. Finish the diagonal weave from the center working towards the front right corner. Tie off the cane underneath the seat using the same method as before.

• 13

  Plan your second diagonal weave with a practice strand as before. Start at the back left corner and work towards the front right corner. Weave the second diagonal strand under the vertical strands and over the horizontal strands. Remove the practice strand and repeat the weave with a full length strand. Work from the diagonal center towards the back of the chair. Weave from the diagonal center towards the front left corner of the chair. Tie off the cane underneath.

• 14

  Finish the seat by inserting border cane around the edges of the seat to cover up the holes. Many seats will have a groove for the border cane to fit into, otherwise weave it over three or four holes to secure it. Loop the strand cane over the border cane over three or four holes to hold the border in place. Tie off the cane underneath the seat.