Field corn, hand-harvested (not combine harvested) and twisted into single/double-ply cords and woven in a rush/envelope pattern on a chair seat or used in basketry. Though not commonly used on chair seats in 2026, the material was once widely used to make cords for a variety of purposes including chair seats, especially on Appalachian ladderback chairs.
Handling Notes
- Only the middle ⅓ of the shuck can be used
- The outer part is too fibrous, the inner part is too flimsy
- They should be soaked for ~10 minutes before twisting
- Short pieces must be spliced together while also pulling tension
- Not for the faint of heart or forearms
- Not great for outdoor seating
In Use
Have you used this material?
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