An introduction to handwoven chair seats, this course reveals how to weave three different patterns with three different materials. Reed core, Danish cord or seagrass may be woven in checkerboard, right angle and under-over patterns. While it is possible to learn these patterns and the various techniques needed from books or the internet, the most important knowledge you will take away from this course is how to manipulate the material. At this point, the knowledge of a master weaver becomes essential. This course is workshop based and all tools and materials will be supplied.

This course is a workshop based experience, we will be practicing beside the bench all the time and some introductions to the technical aspects will also be received. The skill comes after the practice, so we need to have a go. By the end of the week you will be able to take home three pine stools, woven with three different materials and using three different patterns.

It is a great opportunity for those who want an introduction to the handwoven chair seats. One of the stools will be woven with Danish cord, as Carl Hansen & Son. does in the CH24 Wishbone chair, a chair designed in 1950 by Hans J. Wegner. The second stool will be woven with rattan round reed as the designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe made in the MRChair in 1927. And the last stool will be woven with seagrass in a checkerboard pattern, commonly used in a lot of chair seats in Europe.

Checkerboard, right-angle, and under-over patterns and the techniques needed, can be learnt on books or youtube but the most important knowledge you will leave with from Marlborough this summer is how the material wants to be manipulated in each pattern. The knowledge of a master weaver becomes essential at this point.

All tools and materials will be supplied, you only have to bring your smile. It is recommended to wear comfortable clothes, chair weaving is not especially dirty but old clothes will make you be more conformable. We will be at the workshop, sandals are not a proper workshop shoe, a shoe that holds your feet in place and covers it will be enough.

Monday

We will start with an introduction to the tutor, and to the different technics and material that will be used in the course. We will glue the wooden stools needed for the week and we will start with the Danish cord and the right-angle pattern.

Tuesday

We will prepare the round reed for the second stool and, while soaking it, we will finish the first stool started on Monday.

Wednesday

We will end the under-over pattern started on Tuesday with the round reed, for the second stool.

Thursday

We will have a go to the third stool, the checkerboard pattern made with seagrass.

Friday

First we will finish the last stool and before leaving we will have time to discuss about the different patterns and the most repeated doubts of the week will be commented again.

Daniel Lizarralde Aguirre

About Daniel

Daniel is a Spanish 44 year old master craftsman and he has been involved in craftsmanship for the last 25 years. He has attended the City & Guilds of London Art School for postgraduate studies in Historic Ornamental Woodcarving and he is equally proud of the bench experience obtained in different workshops with Spanish craftsmen. Now he is the last remaining chair weaver in his province, in the Spanish Basque Country, and he has obtained his master experience working for private clients, collaborating with designers and teaching. He is the principal tutor at his craft academy in Spain, Zurjole, and was one of the finalists of the 2019's Spanish Craft Awards.