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Binder Cane/Shaved Slab/Ash or Oak Splint/Flat Reed/Flat Oval/Seagrass/Danish Cord/Shaker Tape/Rawhide

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BINDER CANE

Binder cane is sliced from the outer glossy skin of a rattan pole, as is the narrower sizes of cane for woven seats. Binder cane is distinguished from standard seat cane by its wider dimensions. Binder cane is used to bind off the outer perimeter of hand cane seats but it is also used on open frames to create a number of very attractive woven patterns. Binder cane weaving patterns are quite numerous. The standard is the herringbone or twill pattern, pictured below left. Additionally, there are diamond and multiple diamond patterns, diagonal cross patterns, basket, arrow, zig zag, square and multiple square patterns. Also, patterns used on danish style furniture can be woven with binder cane.

This is binder cane used in a danish style open box weave.

Two examples of binder cane in a herringbone weave on two types of frames. The photo above is an in-progress shot.

SHAVED SLAB

Shaved slab is simply uber sized shavings from the skin of rattan poles. It is super-sized binder cane and can be woven in the same patterns as binder cane with the exception of danish pattern weaves. Because of its larger dimensions, it yields a less formal, less refined look than binder cane. Stick furniture, porch rockers and other rustic appearing pieces are most likely to be seen woven with shaved slab.

These two pictures show the typical style of furniture on which Shaved Slab is used and the most common way in which shaved slab is woven, a simple basketweave pattern. The photo of the entire chair also shows the color variation between new and aged material. This color variation is characteristic not only for shaved slab, but also for binder cane and the narrow strand cane used for typical cane seats.

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ASH OR OAK SPLINT

Splint is actual thinly shaved sections of wood, typically ash or oak. Splint is available in widths from 1/4" up to 1 1/2", so varying looks can be achieved based on the width chosen, though the overall impression with splint is a more rustic, informal look. Splint is typically woven in the herringbone weave but can also be done in a diamond or diagonal cross pattern. Distinctive with splint is the wood grain that adds to the interest of the weave. Splint can also be stained and finished.

FLAT REED

Flat reed is another material that is a product of the rattan plant. Like splint it is also available in a wide range of sizes and can be woven in a variety of patterns. Why would someone choose flat reed over splint? Reed is less than half the cost of splint, it has a more uniform appearance (no wood grain), it is more flexible for tighter weaving in smaller sizes and it comes in longer strands so can be woven on larger frames. Like splint it can also be stained and finished. The two photos below left and center show different stages and direction of weave. The difference in the color of the material is entirely a matter of lighting and our poor photography skills! (Same is true of the splint pictures just above.) The lighter photos are taken in natural light, the amber are taken with a flash indoors. The photo to the right showing the diamond pattern is yet another photo/light variation! If you want to know what flat reed and splint really look like, come on in, we'll show you a real life colored sample.

FLAT OVAL

Flat oval is similar to flat reed in that it is also a product of the rattan plant, comes in varying widths, can be woven in the same patterns, is uniform in appearance, is flexible, can be woven on any size frame and can be finished. The difference is that flat oval has one domed, or oval, surface like binder cane and shaved slab. So, even though flat oval is most similar to flat reed in material, it can be used like binder cane or shaved slab when you want a stainable material for your weave. We will post pictures in the future.

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SEAGRASS

In addition to being used in the common diagonal cross pattern as illustrated on the other page, seagrass can be used either twisted or roped in other patterns. Roped seagrass can be woven in a single layer or double layer weave. The difference between these two weaves is that in single layer, the weave is wrapped around the frame creating a clearly visible frame for the woven pattern inside, as can be seen in the two photos below. In the double layer weave, the pattern extends to the side edges of the frame on both the front and back, creating two complete woven surfaces with an air pocket in between, as can be seen on the photos of flat reed just above.

The seagrass in the photo to the left is a roped seagrass woven in a danish pattern. The weaving was done elsewhere.

The seagrass seat to the right is twisted seagrass in a classic mexican weave on a toddler sized chair. Here seagrass was used in place of the original straw.

DANISH CORD

Danish cord is woven on an open frame but, as is illustrated in the photo to the left, a danish frame typically has hooks or nails used to anchor the weave, or double side rails--which makes the work more laborious and more expensive . Danish cord frames are also often broad frames around which the weave creates its unique look. Danish cord comes either laced (roped) or unlaced (twisted). It is similar to fiber rush in that it is made from a heavy kraft paper, but it is twisted or roped more tightly, in a slender strand, and is waxed to give it a smooth look and feel. Patterns used on danish corded furniture are unique to the style, the most common of which is the over two under two basketweave pattern illustrated below.

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SHAKER TAPE

Shaker tape is a cotton canvas strap, offered in various colors. It is most often woven with two colors in the checkerboard pattern shown below left but can be woven monochromatically, or in a diamond or herringbone pattern, or in any pattern and color combination appealing to the eye of the beholder. We did not weave this seat but did other work on this chair.

RAWHIDE

Rawhide is woven from one long strip of 1/2" wide untanned leather in its own unique pattern. This material is best on more rustic appearing pieces. It is the fastest weave to accomplish but with the most expensive of materials.

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