Things You'll Need:
- 6 feet of 2-by-2-inch wood
- 4 7/8-inch wooden dowels in 3-foot lengths
- Wood glue
- Belt cording in two colors
- Power drill
- 7/8 wood drill bit
- Sandpaper
- Paint or stain
- Water sealer
- Upholstery tacks
- Hammer
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Saw
- Safety glasses
- Pencil
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Step 1
Cut the 2-by-2s down into four legs of equal length (12 to 16 inches, depending on how high you want the footstool to be). Mark the wood with the pencil at your chosen length and make sure you cut straight down the pencil mark on each leg to avoid a wobbly footstool.
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Step 2
Mark and cut the 7/8-inch wooden dowels into eight 16-inch long pieces.
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Step 3
Measure and mark 1 inch from the ends of two 2-by-2s, then make a second mark 7 inches from the other ends of the boards. On the other two 2-by-2s, mark at 2 1/4 inches from one end and 8 1/4 inches from the other end.
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Step 4
Drill a 1-inch deep hole with the 7/8 drill at the marked positions of the 2-by-2s. The holes should be in the exact center of the boards (1 inch from each side). When you're done, you should have one hole in each end of all four 2-by-2s. Test the size of each hole by inserting an end of a 7/8-inch dowel section into it. The dowel should fit snugly.
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Step 5
Make a second mark 1 inch below both of the drilled holes on each 2-by-2, this time on an adjacent side of the board. Again, you will want to drill 1-inch deep holes in the exact centers of the boards. Each board should now have four holes, two on one side and two on an adjacent side, running in a staggered pattern. Test your design by assembling a box shape with the boards, using the dowels as connectors. The upper and lower rungs of the box (formed by the dowels) should run parallel to the ground. Disassemble the box.
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Step 6
Place a dab of wood glue into each of the holes, then reassemble the 2-by-2s and dowels to form the box for the footstool. Clamp the boards and dowels and let the glue dry.
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Step 7
Sand and treat the wood with two to three coats of stain, followed by a weather-resistant sealant.
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Step 8
Tack one end of a length of belt cord into the underside of the top dowel, as far to one end of the dowel as possible. Stretch the cord to the opposite dowel, wrap it around, and bring it back to the first one. Keep going until the top dowels are entirely covered with the cord. Tack the cord down with the hammer at the other end of the top dowel, on the underside.
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Step 9
Interweave the second, different-colored cord with the first in an over-under pattern. Tack down the cord on the end of the uncovered dowel at the start and end of the cord.
