Jim, Thanks so much! It's exciting to hear from you personally! :-)
I'll consider drilling those holes a bit bigger. The holes will then be a bit closer together, and the weave will look more "compact," but strength would trump all that.
Hi everyone with more experience than I have, I was about to begin reweaving a seat. According to Jim Wildess' book, since there are 9 holes in a span of 6 inches on the side rails, I should use 3mm... more
Occasionally weavers used narrower sized caning on the horizontals and verticals than on the diagonals because the contrast made a lacy looking pattern. Usually they used one size bigger than normal... more
Thank you, Joyce, I'm doing this chair with 2.75 on the H and V, and 3.0 on the D's. I'm almost done and really like how it looks. Since the original was done this way, but with 2.25 and 2.5, I... more
I always look forward to what Sue has to say about this pattern. We are after all weaving an English invention and a shortage of knowledgeable weavers in the 20th century coupled with numerous... more
Thanks, Sue and Mindy, Since this was originally woven with 2 different sizes, perhaps that is what the customer will still find most pleasing. Thanks for the tips upon smoothing newly-drilled holes... more
Laurie, if you're concerned the holes are going to fill up too fast, you could use a 13/64" drill bit to slightly enlarge the hole. 3/16 is a little small for 3.00 chair cane anyway. With my tip of 9 ... more
re: is this common or correct ABQLaurie,Mon Aug 27 11:46pm
It is usual to use two different sizes of cane in England. One size throughout is only used if different sizes don't 'work'. Aesthetically we find the two sizes more pleasing. For getting cane into... more
I use our "caning awl" which is a long, thin, slightly tapered ice pick to keep the strands of cane against the sides of the hole. Of course you have to be careful that there are no twists in the... more