Rung Replacement

Here is a sequence of replacing a broken oak rung prior to reweaving the seat with fiber rush. After removing the broken rung, assisted in this case by a loose rung below(otherwise loosen with steam of denatured alcohol), the procedure is:
Buy an oak dowel of the proper diameter or fabricate a piece of oak to match, then as pictured:

1-Cut the replacement piece to length.
2-hand chisel the tenons and split the ends with a fine saw cut
3-Dry fit(re-measure against the other side just in case)
4-Glue up and clamp both rungs

After 24 hrs., re-weave.

Seat Doktor at Symposium, Aug.2013

View my press release in the local Hickory newspaper here.

Hickory Bark Seats

First foray into real Americana seat weaving -- hickory bark. Encouraged by Richard Hall at the Seat Weavers Guild Annual Gathering in Sautee Nacoochee, GA, I tackled a set of 3 chairs, 2 of which are pictured here. This is so different from other weaving materials with a lot of swelling of the material as it soaks and then a whole lot of shrinking as it dries. Also has to be done over several days in small additions to accommodate the shrinkage.

 Very satisfying to accomplish this. Lots to learn as always. Sort of like neurosurgery -- "see one, do one, teach one".

Seat Bottom Question??

This chair has been out in the weather a bit and needs light refinishing. Also it needs a seat replaced and the customer obtained the chair with no seat in it. I am assuming that the seat was a thick cushion supported with strapping  placed in the slots cut in the wood -- 3 front to back and 2 side to side. The seat height is only 14".

Anyone seen this chair design and has any other ideas?

Potholders or chairseats from LOOPS

This is one of two  "muleback" chairs which the customer remembers being on the grandparents' front porch many years ago. Both are quite sturdy and sound structurally. The seats are woven from manufactured cloth loops, which I remember weaving on a small, steel loom to make potholders as a kid with rheumatic fever looking for something to occupy the long hours of seclusion. The loops in this case were doubled and joined  to form a weaver, and a simple basket weave was accomplished, which has endured quite a few years. Upholstery fabric was sewn on to complete the seats.
After exploring several options, the customer has decided to have the seats rewoven in 5/8" reed, herringbone.

Twine woven Child's chair?

Here is a twine-type weaving material from a set of children's chairs, quite old. This was woven in a 4x4 strand basket weave top and bottom. Looks to me like bailing twine from the farm. Any other ideas?

Dimensionally, it is 3/16 - 1/4". I'll be checking the farm supply stores for something close. It seems a tad heavy for what I am remembering of bailing twine from my farm days as a kid.