How to Make Twig Furniture & Household Things

Tree trimmings are a good source of material.

Twig furniture is a type of furniture created from wild and found materials. Perfect for patio or garden furniture or for a retreat cabin, it is an excellent way to use up pruning debris from garden and wood lot. Or, for the advanced wild-crafter, the materials can be planned and deliberately harvested.

Things You'll Need

• Long-Handled Anvil Pruning Clippers
• Pocket Knife
• Pruning Saw
• Hatchet
• Hammer
• Drill
• Nails
• Stout cord
• Poles about six inches in diameter
• Flexible twigs, about three inches in diameter
• Chain Saw
• Sand paper

Instructions

Small Table

1. Cut and angled slab from a fallen tree trunk, using a chain saw. The size of the tree will determine the size of the table, but cutting it on an angle will extend the amount of surface possible and will add a texture interest to the table top. The slab should be about 3 or more inches thick.

2. On the back of the table, mark a large X using a marking pen. At the end of each part of the X, drill an angled hole (the angle should point to the outside edge of the table), about 1.5 inches deep.

3. Cut four pole pieces, about three inches in diameter, about 2.5 feet long. Sharpen one end on each to a blunt point. Insert the point into the prepared holes, using carpenter's glue for a secure bond. Measure the distance between each pair of legs. Cut four poles, about two inches in diameter. Drill a hole using a small drill bit through the ends of these poles into the leg pieces, about four inches up from floor level. Secure the poles using nails. Wrap the joins with cord and glue for added stability.

4. Sand the top of the table smooth, and add a gloss finish to bring out the wood grain. Let dry.

Garden Basket

1. Select two green twigs about four feet in length, and sufficiently flexible to bend into a circle shape. Create the circles, tie the ends of each pole with a bit of stout cord to keep them in circle shape. Hickory or willow are good woods for this.

2. Place the joins (where you tied the ends of the twigs into a circle shape) together. Tie a bit of stout cord around both, to keep them that way.

3. Create a separator on the opposite side of the circle. Secure a stick, about twelve inches long, between the two circles by tying each end of it to one of the circles, on the side opposite the tied-off spot.

4. Measure the distance between two circles, at the point halfway between the separator and the tie-off spot. Cut a twig just long enough to cross this point, and secure using stout cord. Repeat on the opposite side.

5. Cut flexible twigs, and place them between the first two circles, with the ends extending at least three inches above each side brace/separator. Secure with light string.

6. Peel bark from fresh wood cut from hedgerows or trimmed out of the garden. Weave the bark strips under and over the twig framework starting at one side separator and ending at the other.

7. Bend the ends of the flexible sticks that are extending above the side brace/separators, and tuck them back into the basket weave. Wrap the joined circle edge with bark to create a handle. Secure any loose ends with a drop of carpenter's glue.

Easy Coat Rack

1. Cut the top off a left-over six foot Christmas tree. Select five or six sturdy branches, and cut them off about 8 inches from the trunk. Trim away all the rest of the branches.

2. Whittle away loose bark or extra small branches using a sharp pocket knife.

3. Make sure the bottom of the tree is level. Drill about two inches up into it. Drill a hole in the center of a board scrap. Use a wood screw to fasten the board onto the bottom of the tree. Use a couple of the branches or some more scrap wood to make braces from the board to the tree trunk.

4. Stand the coat tree in a corner. Tack the bottom board to the floor. Run two wires (old coat hangers will do) from just below the twig stubs to the wall, creating a triangle of wire, rack and wall.

References

• Mother Earth News: Wild and Woody
• "Making Twig Furniture and Household Things" by Abby Ruoff, 1999
• "Making Rustic Furniture" by Bim Willow, 2002