Directions for Caning a Chair Seat

Purchase a cane kit from a crafts store. Cane comes in a variety of six sizes -- common, narrow medium, fine, fine fine and superfine. To purchase the correct cane size, measure the hole's diameter and the distance from the middle of one hole to the middle of the next hole.

Remove any damaged or old cane from the chair seat, along with any fasteners such as nails and staples. If the wood is rough, smooth it with sandpaper. Fix any cracked holes with glue. Let the wood dry completely.

Place cane strands in a water-filled container. Cane must be wet, so it's pliable and can be woven. Should they dry out during the weaving process, run a damp sponge over the cane strands.

Locate the center hole at the back of the chair frame. Push a cane strand down the hole. At the bottom, leave 4 inches for tying off cane strands when they come to the end. At the top of the hole, push a peg in to secure the cane strand. Pull the opposite end of the cane strand with pliers through the top of the front center hole of the chair. Secure it with a peg. Continue looping the cane from front hole to opposite back hole, and securing each hole with a peg. When finished, pull out the pegs. As a strand ends, tie it off to the 4-inch piece at the bottom of the chair. Each new strand needs to have 4 inches left for future tie-offs.

Create the second layer by weaving cane strands first through the top center hole at the right of the chair down and over to the top center hole of the opposite left side. Add pegs to keep secure until all done. These strands are at a horizontal 90 degree angle to the first layer of cane.

Weave the third layer of cane through the same holes as the first weave. The cane should go up and over the cane strands of the second weave. Rock the awl gently in the holes to get the additional cane to slide through.

Weave this fourth layer of cane through the same holes as on the second weave that went from right to left of the chair. The cane should be woven over and under the first and third layers that ran from the front to the back of the chair.

Start weaving the fifth cane layer's strands at the back's right-hand corner's hole. Weave the cane toward the front's top hole at the left-hand corner. This diagonal weave will be up and over the two existing vertical strands from front to back.

Weave the final and sixth layer of cane starting at the back's left-hand corner top hole to the top hole of the front's right-hand corner. This diagonal weave will be up and over the two existing strands from right to left.

Measure a binding cane to be the same length as the sides of the chair plus an additional 4 inches. Where the chair's edge connects with the newly woven part, lay the binding strand flush upon it. Pull a separate strand of cane up from any hole and over the binder. Repeat. Continue weaving cane strands around the binder cane. When finished clip off any unused ends with a utility knife.