How to Make Garden Chairs Out of Twigs

Functional, unique and natural, twig furniture adds a rustic touch to your outdoor setting. With the right materials, building a chair out of twigs is easy, and you can tailor it to your own fancy. Willow is a popular choice for material. These trees are usually found near water.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning or carpenter's saw
• Bucket
• Water
• Hammer
• Carving knife
• Tape measure
• Screwdriver
• 2 back legs, 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter by 28 inches
• 2 front legs, 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter by 12 inches
• 6 side and cross braces, 1 1/4 inch in diameter by 22 inches
• 1 rear-seat cross brace, 2 inches in diameter by 20 inches
• 2 back cross braces, 1 1/4 ito 2 inches in diameter by 16 inches
• 1 back bender braces, 1 1/4 to 2 inches in diameter by 14 inches
• 1 top cross member, 11/2 inches in diameter by 28 inches
• 1 armrest nailer, 1 1/4 inches in diameter by 20 inches
• 5 front & seat braces, ,1 1/2 inches in diameter by 24 inches
• 10 arm benders, 3/4 inch in diameter by 60 inches
• 5 hoop benders, 3/4 inch in diameter by 96 inches
• 13 seat bars 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter by 20 inches
• 10 back benders, 1/2 inch in diameter by 40 inches
• 1-inch, 1 1/4-inch and 2-inch finishing nails, half-pound each
• 15 #8 deck screws, 2, 2 1/2 and 3 inches long
• 45 #8 cup washers

Instructions

1. Harvest willow in the spring, when the plant's buds begin to swell and leaf tips start to appear on its branches. Use a pruning saw or a carpenter's saw to cut the branches. Store your wood with the ends in a bucket of water so they remain pliable.

2. Cut all pieces to length. Use the longest, straightest pieces for the back and arms of the chair. Label all of the pieces with masking tape and sort them into piles for easy use.

3. Screw all of the frame pieces together with washers and screws. Drill pilot holes to avoid splitting any wood. Make two identical frames, one for the left side of the chair, the other for the right. Angle the rear legs back slightly for a comfortable backrest.

4. Connect the two sides with two braces at the front and two at the back. Attach the back bender brace just above the seat. Attach another brace to the top of the back of the chair. Gently bend the smaller diameter pieces on your knee. Nail the arm benders one on either side of the chair. Create two armrests by securing the rest of the pieces (5 on each side) like the first. Add hoop benders across the top of the chair, nailing them on either side of the back of the frame.

5. Nail seat pieces to the front and back braces. Fill in the back of the chair with the rest of the benders in a design of your choice. Make sure to attach them at the top and bottom bracers.

References

• Canadian Home Workshop
• Mother Earth News