Learn to weave with paper rush on a chair or stool with four rails.

Paper rush is also called fiber rush.

Learn to weave a chair with paper rush.

Natural rush is an intermediate class. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do I know if my chair has paper or natural rush?

  • Paper rush is a solid cord, even in color. When broken, it usually occurs across a rail as if it were cut.
  • Natural rush has variations in color and flakes like dried grass when needing repair.
  • Paper rush looks the same on the top and bottom of the seat.
  • Underneath an authentic natural rush seat, you can see cut ends of plant fiber in an x shape that follows the pattern.

Notes about natural rush:

*Natural rush is a tricky material and is considered intermediate. It is best to learn the pattern in paper rush before moving on to natural rush.
**Natural rush comes in pre-twisted and authentic forms. Pre-twisted is manufactured and despite being pre-twisted, has a tendency to shred and generally requires more vigilance when wrangling material. Authentic rush weaving techniques date back thousands of years (to ancient Egypt). Bundles of grass are twisted into cord as you work rather than pre-twisted. Bullrush or cattail rush are the most common varieties.
***Authentic natural rush is harvested in the fall and the process is so laborious that it is hard to purchase anymore. Pre-twisted natural rush woven by an expert chair weaver is virtually indistinguishable on the top of the chair seat. As of 2021, even chairs which technically deserve authentic rush, are not “devalued” by weaving with pre-twisted, which can be removed and woven later with authentic rush if you are able to harvest it or find someone who will.


Rush Weaving
Paper Cord
Tues & Wed, March 19-20, 2024
10am-4pm

$350.00

2 in stock

Learn to weave a chair seat with paper fiber rush 

Paper rush is also called fiber rush.

Paper rush chair seat.

Class Length: 2 days 10am-4pm

Tuition: Includes all tools/materials needed to complete one chair seat.

BYOC: Bring your own chair or we can provide one for you with advanced notice for ~$40-$50.

Click here to watch a video showing how to choose the best beginner chairs for your first project. 

After the class:  your new seat will need a shellac coating.  The chair should dry overnight first. We can do this for you and you can pick it up the next day, you can return to the shop the next day and do it yourself, or we can send you home with simple instructions to do it yourself.

Special considerations for rush weaving classes:

  • Rush is the most physically demanding of all of the styles of weaving. You must have moderate to strong hand, shoulder, arm strength to do this work.
  • Rush is the easiest pattern to understand…but the hardest to make look good. Practicing on dozens of chairs after the class will help your rush weaving skills improve and your seats look posh.
  • Learning on a rectangular footstool will not be the same experience as learning on a trapezoidal chair seat. If you’re wanting to learn in order to do this as a hobby/job, learning on a chair will be the best way to get your practice going.
  • Rocking Chairs are generally larger and not suitable for a class setting. Send us a photo of your chair if you wanted to learn on a rocker, we may be able to accommodate if it is small.
  • If your chair has wooden edging to remove from the sides of the seat, this must be done before class. We can remove and re-attach the skirts for a fee but this should be done AT LEAST ONE DAY BEFORE CLASS and will require 1-2 days after the class to reattach and match color.  We are going to have to charge for our time on this. This could be done by any furniture restoration professional in your hometown.

IMPORTANT: Please read our Workshop FAQs.

Choosing a Chair for Rush Weaving Class