Weaving Flat Reed
a few thoughts and resources
These past few years, I’ve primarily woven flat reed for my chair bottoms. Once we moved to Maine, and the commercial purchasing hickory bark became impossible, I switched to flat reed. It works differently than hickory bark and it’s not fair to compare the two, though both are natural materials. I will compare them, at least their workability, in this post since I’m now familiar with each one.
I explain my weaving choices like this; were we to put all the options on the table - hickory bark, flat reed, Shaker tape, Danish cord, seagrass, leather (I’m sure that I’m forgetting a few others) - I’d go for the hickory bark. For the last few years, that option was off the table*. With the remaining choices, I prefer the flat reed.
* Both the Alexander Brothers and Greencove Craft have plans on harvesting and selling hickory bark. I’m excited that it’s a possibility again.
A quick note on the differences: bark is more durable than the reed. It’s a little thicker when put in the chair and should last longer (though both will last plenty long when treated well…or put another way, as long as they’re used for sitting and not for standing on or other abuses). They look different, of course. The bark is richer in color, it has more variations, and is less uniform. The reed, on the other hand, has color and size continuity, is fast to weave, and makes for a strong and durable seat.
The bark is taken from the inner layer of a hickory bark tree (ideally in spring, when it’s easier to peel from the tree). The reed is the inner material of the rattan plant. It’s sliced into uniform lengths. The outer material of the rattan plant is used for caning supplies.
Flat reed can be toned/stained. That’s my next challenge…finding a good method of coloring the reed before weaving it into the seat. It comes in natural and smoked (though smoked is often hard to find).
I purchase my reed from Basketmaker’s Supply out of Kentucky. I believe that all of the reed I’ve purchasees has come from China. I’ve purchased it on Amazon before as well. The cost is the same between the two retailers. And the reed looks the same…it appears to come from the came supplier, with the same blue binding and same font on the material tab. Basketmaker’s Supply has quick shipping and I’ve been happy with the quality of their reed.
As for the actual process of weaving a seat, I point people towards the videos by Brandy and Dave, the skill and experience at Silver River Chair Caning. They do a mountain of work to share knowledge from their studio in North Carolina. They’re my go-to (on YouTube) when I have chair weaving questions or am considering a new material or a new weave pattern. I am a chairmaker who weaves in seats. They are professional weavers.
Their video on flat reed was a huge help as I became acquainted with the material. I still go back to it on occasion for additional insights.
Here’s the link to their reed video on YouTube. It’s 26-minutes and takes you through the process of completing a chair bottom.
Notes on weaving flat reed:
What follows are a few thoughts and images regarding the reed weaving process. I compare it to hickory bark at times where there’s a difference in the working approach between the two materials. Otherwise it’s the same pattern and working principles - I usually put in a two-over-two herringbone pattern (the same one that Silver River Chairs demonstrates in their video).
