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Cochrane and Anne Roberts, creators of internationally acclaimed willow structures, hold workshops on building classic willow furniture. It's an intense weekend of work, but the end result is a chair that you will cherish for many years to come.
Follow these instructions to make a rustic willow chair of your own.
Tips:
• Work with a partner.
• To avoid splitting wood, drill pilot holes and drive nails in at a slight angle.
• You can harvest willow twigs and shoots along streams, rivers and lakes. Pussy willow is what you're looking for; weeping willow, a tree, is too brittle to use.
• Choose straight, pliable twigs without gnarls that range from 3/4 to 2-1/2 inches in diameter.
• To prevent damage to plants, cut twigs by pruning shrubs or trees (be careful not to pull or cut out the roots).
• Collect extra twigs in case you break some, and store them in a bucket of water until ready to use.
• Cut twigs only after you have the permission of property owners.
You need:
• Galvanized framing nails, 2-1/2 to 4 in
• Finishing nails, 1 in and 1-5/8 in, for armrests, headrest, seat/back
• Measuring tape
• Small bow saw, rasp and hammer
• Garden shears and 2-handed pruning shears
• Cordless drill, selection of bits
• Bristle paintbrush
• Linseed oil, turpentine
To make:
1. Using small bow saw or pruning shears, cut shoots to length, as described in cutting chart.
2. To make sides: On work table lay out side beams and front and back legs. Using corner of table as a square, position 1 back leg on table parallel to and along side edge of table; move bottom (foot) of back leg in 3 in from side edge of table, ensuring that it touches bottom edge of table. This is back slope of chair. Place 1 front leg 20 in from bottom of back leg parallel to side edge of table (not sloped).
Page 1 of 3 – Learn how to join the chair sides and support the frame on page 2.
