How To Weave Shaker Chair Bottoms
The Shakers were a group of Christians influenced by the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, that left England for America in 1774 and set up a religious communal society throughout areas of the Northeast. The Shakers believed in simple living and scorned beauty for beauty's sake. They did, however, believe in functional beauty, and the testament to that is the enduring furniture still produced today exactly as it was done in 1774. Learning how to make or repair Shaker chair bottoms will take some practice, but due to the simplicity of design, it can be done without any unusual tools or items.
Things You'll Need
- Tack hammer
- #3 upholster tacks
- Scissors
- Needle and thread
- Flat-blade screwdriver
- Shaker chair woof and warp tape
- Foam for cushion
Instructions
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1
Begin by warping the seat. Warping goes from front to back; start by holding the roll of woof and warp tape at one end of the front of the seat frame. Fasten a piece of the tape under the front edge of the seat and bring the tape over the top of the chair seat and back under. Bring it to the front and over the top again, slightly overlapping the first row.
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Continue warping until the seat is entirely covered by overlapping rows of tape. Pull the tape so it is taut, but not tight enough to bend the wood frame of the chair. Tack down the first piece and last piece of tape and cut the roll away from the seat.
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3
Place the cushion on top of the warped bottom. Trim it to fit the seat. There should be no overhang of the foam over the edges of the seat. Slide the foam between the top and bottom layers of warping.
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4
Woof the seat. Leave the roll of tape intact rather than cutting strips. Woofing goes from side to side, so you will start by tacking the first piece of tape under the edge of one side of the seat. Bring the tape up as near to the right-hand side of the back as possible and insert it under the first row of warping on the top of the seat.
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Bring the tape over the next row and then under the third row. Continue weaving in this fashion until you reach the other side of the chair. Begin the next row by weaving in the opposite pattern, bringing the tape over the first row and under the second, over the third and so on until you reach the other side once more. Always begin the rows on the right-hand side of the seat. Continue until you can fit no more rows on the seat.
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6
Finish the small triangular areas in the corners by using the woof tape to cover them.
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Tips & Warnings
Stain the chair before putting on the cushion or seat.
Keep the tape taut as you work and weave through both sides for a more durable chair.
