How to Reweave a Wicker Chair Bottom

Full Bottom Replacement

• 1

  Soak new reeds in warm water for 20 minutes until flexible.

• 2

  Pour drops of white vinegar on old reeds where they are inside the seat base. Let sit for 10 minutes until glue is dissolved and reeds come out easily. Some may need to be pried out with screwdriver or pliers.

• 3

  Fill reed placement space with drops of wood glue after cleaning out the white vinegar.

• 4

  Place center reed into the middle space in the seat base. Tack it down from the bottom of the seat.

• 5

  Place a reed on either side of the center reed leaving flexibility space for second set of reeds. Tack in both ends. Continue until the seat is filled.

• 6

  Tack in one reed into the reed space in the side of the seat and weave it between the first set of reeds. Weave it above the first reed, below the second, above the third and below the fourth, continuing in this course until it reaches the end of the seat.

• 7

  Tack another reed an inch from the first and weave it in the same pattern as the first. Continue adding reeds until the seat is filled.

• 8

  Varnish seat bottom to match the rest of the chair.

Repairing A Section of Chair Bottom

• 9

  Soak new reeds in warm water for 20 minutes until flexible.

• 10

  Pour droplets of white vinegar on reed ends that need replacing. Let soak 10 minutes until glue is dissolved. Be careful to not dribble vinegar on reeds that do not need replacing.

• 11

  Remove broken reeds with pliers or screwdriver. Clean out white vinegar.

• 12

  Fill new reed area with wood glue.

• 13

  Tack in new reed from the bottom of the seat and weave it through to the other side in a pattern matching the original weave.

• 14

  Continue this course until all broken reeds are replaced. Varnish if necessary.