Learn to weave a chair seat with rattan splint reed in a herringbone twill pattern.

Learn to weave with splint reed in a herringbone twill pattern.

General: This style of caning is also called “split weaving” because the authentic material was split off of the bark of a tree (usually hickory or oak).

Materials and patterns can vary from chair to chair. Here is a breakdown:

1. The most affordable, common, and simple way to weave a splint seat is with flat rattan reed in a herringbone pattern (seen in photo above). Any chair with four rails can be repaired with this technique.
2. Authentic bark is harvested in early summer and is extremely labor intensive. It is available seasonally, more time consuming to weave and more expensive to purchase, if available at all. A herringbone pattern is the most common pattern. Any chair with four rails can be repaired with this technique.
3. Binder cane is a rounded rattan reed with a natural silica coating often seen on large porch rocking chairs and mid-century chairs. Binder cane is lovely but takes twice as long to weave as splint reed, being half the size, and typically can’t be woven in a day as a beginner. Common pattern include the “open weave” seen on Old Hickory Furniture, porch weave, and herringbone. Any chair with four rails can be repaired with this technique.