Willow branches are perfect for making rustic furniture.
If you are in the market for a rustic wooden chair but don't want to put out a lot of money, consider building your own chair from flexible willow shoots. This chair is sturdy, long-lasting and will not break the bank. Not just for decoration, a rustic willow chair, with the help of a cushion, is a great place to put your feet up and relax. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Frame
1. Cut 10 1-inch-diameter shoots measuring 25 inches long. These are the beams for the chair.
2. A hand saw or bow saw is perfect for cutting the legs.
Cut four legs for the chair from 2-inch-diameter willow shoots. The back legs should measure 32 inches long, and the front legs should be 16 inches long.
3. Place one front leg and one back leg on a flat surface. Position the two legs so they are parallel to each other and about 24 inches apart. The bottoms of the legs should be in line with each other. Place one of the beams across the two legs, 3 inches from their bottom ends. Nail the beam to the legs with finishing nails. Nail a second beam across the legs so that it sits 3 inches from the top of the front leg. This is one side of the chair; repeat to make a second side.
4. Place the two sides up on their legs and across from each other and 24 inches apart. Place a beam across the two front legs, 4 inches from the bottom ends. Nail it in place. Nail another beam across the front legs, 2 inches from the top. Attach two beams across the back legs in the same positions as the beams across the front.
5. Place the remaining two beams across the top side beams. Position one on the front of the chair, and one on the back. Nail the beams in place. These are the beams that will support the seat.
6. Cut a 2-inch-diameter willow shoot 36 inches long. This is the headrest beam. Place the headrest beam across the top of the back legs and nail it in place.
Armrests, Headrest and Seat
7. Pruning shears are better suited for cutting the flexible shoots.
Cut 10 1/2-inch-diameter willow shoots that are 60 inches long. These are the armrest shoots. Five of the shoots will be used for the left side, and the rest for the right.
8. Gently flex the five left-armrest shoots over your knee to curve them slightly. Place the end of the first shoot behind the left side of the bottom front beam. Flex the shoot up and out and nail the end to the side of the back left leg. Nail the bottom to the bottom beam. Repeat to install the remaining four shoots on that side, set tightly next to the first one. Install the right armrest in the same manner.
9. Cut six headrest shoots from 1/2-inch-diameter flexible willow. These shoots should measure 84 inches long.
10. Bend the six shoots over your knee like you did with the armrest shoots. Place one end of the first headrest shoot behind the top left beam, on the outside of the armrest. Bend the shoot across the back legs and then tuck behind the top right beam on the outside of the armrest. Nail the shoot to the headrest beam, and the top side beams. Repeat to install the remaining five headrest shoots.
11. Cut 10 flexible willow shoots measuring 60 inches long. These are the seat pieces.
12. Flex the seat pieces over your knee. Nail one end of the first seat shoot to the back of the headrest. Flex the shoot downward and nail the center of it to the back seat support. Continue to pull the shoot down and nail the other end to the front seat support. Repeat with the remaining seat pieces, spacing them as desired.
13. Double nail all of the joints to make the chair sturdier. Finish by smoothing the ends of all the shoots with a rasp.
Tags: inches long, back legs, beam across, beams across, inches from, willow shoots