How to Make Wicker Chairs

Gather wickering materials

• 1

  Choose your wickering material. Wicker chairs must be made from material that is bendable and flexible. Rattan is often used when making wicker chairs because it is strong and durable. Other natural wood options include reed, bamboo and willow. You can purchase wickering materials at most craft and garden stores.

• 2

  Purchase a frame for your chair. Frames can be made out of hard wood, plastic or aluminum. Avoid steel frames which rust over time.

• 3

  Soak wickering materials in water until they are flexible. This take between 2 and 12 hours, depending on the thickness of the thread.

• 4

  Hammer your wickering threads onto the frame and secure them with finishing nails. Create straight, even lines of thread. After you have hammered your first row of thread, weave a perpendicular row of thread. Continue until the entire chair is covered in woven thread. The less space you leave between lines of thread, the tighter your weave will be.

• 5

  Apply two coats of latex paint to your chair. After the paint is dry, add a coat of marine varnish to your chair. Reapplying marine varnish once or twice a season will increase your chair's longevity and prevent weather damage from sun and rain exposure.