How to Weave Rocking Chairs

Remove any existing rush using a utility knife. Pull tacks with pliers. Save any pieces of cardboard among the fibers. Cut rush into 30-foot lengths. Rush is sold in 150 foot lengths, so you should create five smaller bundles.

Place a straight edge from the front seat rail even with the inside of the back post. Draw a line on your front rail. Repeat for both sides. Usually the front rail is wider than the back and after you draw your lines you will see a triangular shape from the line to the front seat post on each side. These triangular areas are woven first using half the weave pattern, since you are only weaving for the front rail area.

Dip rush in water for 10 seconds. This will make it more pliable. Position the rocking chair with the seat back away from you. Tack the end of the rush 1 1/2 inches from the front leg post along the inside of the left side rail. Bring the rush forward and over the front rail, under, up and over the rush and over the left side rail and to the underside. Take the rush up and over the right side rail, under, up over and to the front over the front rail and down to the underside and back 1 1/2 inches along the right side rail. Tack the rush to the inside of the right side rail and cut the rush 1 inch beyond the tack.

Tack the second strand of rush 2 inches from the left front post along the inside of the left side rail. Bring the rush forward and over the front rail, under, up and over the rush and over the left side rail and to the underside. Take the rush up and over the right side rail, under, up over and to the front over the front rail and down to the underside and back 2 inches along the right side rail. Tack the rush to the inside of the right side rail and cut the rush 1 inch beyond the tack.

Continue rushing the front half of the seat until you reach the pencil lines keeping your rush tight to the seat corner posts and tight to itself. You can tighten your rush using a block of wood and mallet to push it along the rail toward the posts. Your last partial rush should end close to the right back seat post along the inside rail.

Tack the first full rush to the inside of the left side rail against the left rear seat post. Bring the rush forward and over the front rail, under, up and over the rush and over the left side rail and to the underside. Take the rush up and over the right side rail, under, up over and to the front over the front rail and down to the underside. Bring the rush back and over the rear rail, under, up and over the rush and over the right side rail and to the underside. Take the rush up and over the left side rail, under, up over and to the rear over the back rail. This is the full weave.

Weave the full pattern for approximately 1 inch. If you need to add rush, always tie your knot on the back left underside of the pattern. If you have cardboard pieces, cut new ones in the same trapezoid shape and tuck them into the weave for extra support. One will fit along each side with the wider side close to the rails. If you don't have samples cut cardboard three-quarters of the length of the rail along the side. Cut a rectangle that is one-fourth the width of the chair. Trim off two corners on one long side to create a trapezoid. Trim it to fit your chair.

Weave the rest of the chair until you have a small open section from the back to the front rail. Change your weave to a figure eight to finish this section. Bring the rush up from the back left, over the front rail to the underside, up through the center and over the back rail. Take the rush up and over the front rail to the underside, up through the center and over the back rail. Continue until the hole is gone. Tack off your last rush to the underside of the front or back rail.