Ref: SLW42031
Traditional chair seating, with either cane, rush, willow or paper cord, will be taught, depending on chair projects your bring.
The course aims to give a good grounding in whichever seating technique you choose, to explain the stages of this work and the methods of preparing and handling the materials. You may complete one rush dining chair or complete/partially complete one caned bedroom chair during the course, or reach a stage where you can easily finish at home. You will be given demonstrations and instructions for the final techniques, if necessary.
Caning: the six-way standard method of caning will be taught, unless you prefer to learn another pattern, for the purpose of matching with a set, etc. As time permits, other patterns can be practised on sample frames, if desired.
Rushing: rush will be used to give the traditional English rush chair seat pattern, unless the chair has been worked previously in another way. Continental patterns may be woven, if appropriate.
Other seats: Danish cord, seagrass or willow can be used for seating, provided that the tutor is contacted a minimum of three weeks in advance (please email: [email protected]).
It is essential that the chair you bring is structurally in a sound condition and you do the necessary preparatory work before the course see below. Should you need to contact the tutor, please email via the bookings office.
On the first evening, we will assess the chairs or stools brought in by students and discuss the materials you will be using over the weekend.
On this course, all of the materials for completing one seat in either cane, rush or willow will be provided. Cord can be supplied by the tutor, providing it is requested well in advance please see below.
Students to bring Please bring a chair in need of reseating with either, cane, rush, paper cord or seagrass, as listed. The chair frame should be repaired, polished or painted before coming to the course, as this cannot be done easily after the cane or rush is woven in.
The tutor can offer advice for the frame preparation on the course, but it is better to have this done before the course, as follows: For caning: the old cane should be cleared from the frames by cutting the cane strands underneath and knocking out the pegs from the underside.
If it is found that some pegs have been glued in, they should be drilled out with a small hand drill, taking great care not to damage the wood.
Cut the old cane sheet as close to the frame as possible and bring this to the course. For rush seats: the old seat should be cut off carefully and brought to the course, in case it is an unusual pattern which is to be replaced. This should be done by cutting down just inside the seat frame and easing the seat downwards.
This may reveal necessary repair to the frame. To ensure the smooth running of the course, please contact the tutor as soon as possible if you have any queries and to let the tutor know which materials you require, so that these can be ordered.
Please email: [email protected] and include your name, course title and course dates, ideally with a digital image of your seat.
Wear covered footwear in the workshop this is an essential health and safety requirement.
Please bring as many of the following as you have available:
For a chair with a cane seat: Chair for caning Stanley knife/similar sharp craft knife with a narrow blade or a good penknife
Mallet or small hammer
Sponge/small piece of towelling
Notebook and pencil Pair of scissors for cutting cane or side cutters
A clearer (if possible), i.e. a punch with a diameter smaller than the holes drilled in the chair (can be made by sawing off the end of a screwdriver or 3" nail)
Small stool (optional) for student's comfort whilst working
A cushion Spectacles (if worn)
For chair with a rush seat: Chair for re-seating An old flannelette blanket/old bedspread/piece of sacking of a similar size for wrapping up damp rushes
Scissors for cutting rush J-cloth/flannel or piece of rag
Small stool (optional) for student's comfort whilst working
Small ball of soft string
A cushion 1 or 2 spring clothes pegs Stuffing stick, wooden spoon or wooden kitchen spatula
For chairs with seats made of other types of cord, e.g. Danish or paper cord, or seagrass, the tutor can advise individually on tools and equipment to bring.
N.B. Tools may also be borrowed from the tutor. Standard cane and rush is available at the College.
Please bring a chair in need of reseating with either, cane, rush, paper cord or seagrass, as listed.
The chair frame should be repaired, polished or painted before coming to the course, as this cannot be done easily after the cane or rush is woven in. The tutor can offer advice for the frame preparation on the course, but it is better to have this done before the course, as follows:
For caning: the old cane should be cleared from the frames by cutting the cane strands underneath and knocking out the pegs from the underside. If it is found that some pegs have been glued in, they should be drilled out with a small hand drill, taking great care not to damage the wood. Cut the old cane sheet as close to the frame as possible and bring this to the course.
For rush seats: the old seat should be cut off carefully and brought to the course, in case it is an unusual pattern which is to be replaced. This should be done by cutting down just inside the seat frame and easing the seat downwards. This may reveal necessary repair to the frame.
To ensure the smooth running of the course, please contact the tutor as soon as possible if you have any queries and to let the tutor know which materials you require, so that these can be ordered. Please email: [email protected] and include your name, course title and course dates, ideally with a digital image of your seat.
Wear covered footwear in the workshop this is an essential health and safety requirement.
Please bring as many of the following as you have available:
For a chair with a cane seat:
Chair for caning Stanley knife/similar sharp craft knife with a narrow blade or a good penknife Mallet or small hammer Sponge/small piece of towelling Notebook and pencil Pair of scissors for cutting cane or side cutters A clearer (if possible), i.e. a punch with a diameter smaller than the holes drilled in the chair (can be made by sawing off the end of a screwdriver or 3" nail) Small stool (optional) for student's comfort whilst working A cushion Spectacles (if worn)
For chair with a rush seat:
Chair for re-seating An old flannelette blanket/old bedspread/piece of sacking of a similar size for wrapping up damp rushes Scissors for cutting rush J-cloth/flannel or piece of rag Small stool (optional) for student's comfort whilst working Small ball of soft string A cushion 1 or 2 spring clothes pegs Stuffing stick, wooden spoon or wooden kitchen spatula
For chairs with seats made of other types of cord, e.g. Danish or paper cord, or seagrass, the tutor can advise individually on tools and equipment to bring.
N.B. Tools may also be borrowed from the tutor. Standard cane and rush is available at the College.
From the College: Please contact the Bookings Team if you wish to order a practice frame for caning, at least two weeks in advance they will also advise about the cost.
Please telephone +44 1243 818300 - option 2 or email [email protected]
From the tutor (youll need to pay the tutor by cash or bank transfer):
Depending on availability at the time, the tutor may have a limited number of second-hand foot stools for rushing and small practice frames for caning to purchase, should you wish to try another technique after completing the seat on the chair you bring before the end of the course.
Arrival day - first date of course
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
Student welcome, followed by dinner: 6.45pm (dinner included)
Teaching session: 8pm-9pm (attendance is essential)
Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am-5pm
Morning session: 9.15am-12.45pm including coffee/tea break
Lunch break: 12.45pm-2pm (lunch included)
Afternoon session: 2pm-5pm including coffee/tea break
Teaching finishes: 5pm
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.
Departure day - last date of course
Course teaching: 9.15am-3pm (lunch included)
Teaching finishes: 3pm
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am.
Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.
Rachael South was taught chair caning by her father who had also learned from his father. She has been teaching for eight years and has original woven furniture on display at the Museum of London, is a member of the Basketmakers Association and a Yeoman of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers.
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
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