How to Make Twig Furniture

Twig furniture is easy to make at home using simple tools. Willow twigs are a popular choice because they are easily found and long lasting. You should build a small table as your first project to get acquainted with the twig furniture process.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drill, tape measure, branch cutters, knife, screws, nails
• Four 18 inch long twigs at least 1 1/2 inches thick (legs); four 14 inch long twigs 1 inch thick or smaller (sides of lower shelf); four 12 inch long twigs about 1/2 inch thick (sides of table top); a bundle of smaller twigs of various lengths (table top and shelf top)

Find and Cut Your Twigs to Size

1. Check your yard or travel to a wooded area for twigs.

2. Use your branch cutters or a saw to cut the twigs to the appropriate lengths.

Make One Side of the Twig Table Frame

3. Pre-drill holes in the cut ends of all 8 side pieces. This will be 16 pre-drilled holes in all.

4. Pre-drill all four table legs 2 inches from the top.

5. Pre-drill all four table legs 2 inches up from the bottom.

6. Align the pre-drilled holes in one leg with one side piece and screw together using the drill.

7. Screw another leg into the other end of the side piece you just attached a leg to.

8. Screw a lower side piece into place on the frame piece you just assembled. This gives you one side of the table.

Make the Second Frame

9. Select one of the unused legs and screw it onto both a top and bottom side piece as you did with the first frame piece.

10. Screw the remaining unused leg to the top and bottom side pieces. This completes the second half of the frame.

Attach the Frames to Each Other

11. Screw the remaining top and bottom side pieces onto one of your pre-made frames at the pre-drilled places.

12. Align the second frame with the ends of the unattached top and bottom side pieces and screw together.

Attach Leg Braces

13. Cut four of your remaining twigs so that they fit in the diagonal between the bottom leg ans the bottom shelf side.

14. Trim the ends on a diagonal and screw in. This adds necessary stability.

Create the Top and Shelf

15. Cut twigs from the extra bundle slightly longer than the table frame top and shelf

16. Attach these using small nails to create the table top and lower shelf.

Tips & Warnings

• Always pre-drill holes in the furniture.
• Attempting to screw pieces together without pre-drilling will split the twig.

[nan-e]

on 2/22/2009 I have a small twig garden table which leans and some of the split pieces on top are warped. Can I take off a warped piece, soak it and then weight it and flatten it until it dries, then reattach? I dont' know what to do about the leaning. Also, it is very dry in general. Shouldit be oiled or something?ThanksNan

[tromba1]

on 6/27/2007 STOP using the word pre-drill. It makes no sense. How do you drill a hole before you drill a hole. Just "drill" will suffice.

Do not get me started on "12 items or less". It's "fewer", not "less".