Chair Caning: A Practical Guide to Weaving Cane Seats

This practical guide explains how to weave chair seats using cane. If you want to learn to weave patterns such as the Double Victoria, Star and Daisy, this is the book for you. Drawing on Rachael South’s many years of experience, the book starts with the familiar standard Six-Way pattern before introducing more challenging caning techniques for use on a range of styles of furniture. With lavish examples, the book brings Rachael’s contemporary flair and passion to the traditional craft and covers restoring antique and contemporary chairs to their original glory. All the projects described will make lasting sustainable seating using cane.

Rachael South is a second-generation upholsterer and a third-generation chair caner. She specialises in restoring fine antique furniture, and exploring contemporary seat weaving. Her work has been exhibited widely, she regularly teaches chair-caning workshops and she is the upholstery course leader at London Metropolitan University. She’s also appeared on the BBC’s The Repair Shop and is a yeoman of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers.