In handwoven chair caning, theouter bark of a rattan palm tree is processed into varying widths of strands from 1.5–3 mm. The strands are then woven through holes drilled into the seat frame in a variety of patterns, with the six-way weave being the most common. Binder cane can either be used to finish the edge of handwoven cane chairs, or can be woven in a warp and weft method on a chair seat or back with four round/squared rails.
Handling Notes
- Soak cane for flexibility without oversoaking, as it can turn gray
- Strand cane: soak in warm water for about 5 minutes
- Binder cane: soak for 5–10 minutes
- Slab rattan: soak for 10–15 minutes
- Avoid bending the cane to prevent cracking its silica coating, which can weaken it
- Strand cane is woven into patterns through chair frame holes, while binder cane is typically wrapped around rails
- Be careful, as the edges of larger cane can be sharp
In Use
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Please contact Mellanee Goodman, Program Director, Curator, and Materials Specialist, to start a conversation about submitting your work for inclusion on this site.
mgoodman@centerforcraft.org