Do you wish to restore a Hemp Seat Chair? Ours was in sad shape when we found it but with a little love and time, it is now sitting happily in our guest bedroom. Now you could also use these step by step instructions to Restore a Hemp Seat Chair in your house.
This chair with a hemp seat didn’t look this way when we found it. In fact, it was on the way to the garbage but I totally fell in love with it. The hubby wasn’t so sure about it but since he is a sweetie, he gave me the benefit of doubt and jumped on board to save this chair.
You could prob do this with just about any old chair as long as it has a basic frame.
But before we get into this post about how to restoring this chair you might be interested in this:
- How to Make a Fairy Door from a Horseshoe
- How to Remove Veneer from Furniture easily and painlessly.
- Faux Jute Wrapped Designer Bottles from old wine bottles or vases and jute
- Vintage Crochet Dollies on Embroidery Hoops Collage we made for our bedroom wall
- Patchwork Quilt Chair
Update: We just discovered another chair and this guy will have a matching partner. Stay turned!
How to restore a hemp seat chair
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This old hemp seat chair was in sad shape, the wood was very dry. West Texas is hard on wood furniture especially neglected wood furniture.
We started by cutting off the woven seat and removing all the dust and debris. We used a good wood cleaner and then when it was dry we doused the wood with furniture oil.
We purchased 2 rolls of this 1/4 inch hemp rope totaling about 100 feet at our local hardware store. But you can also find it on Amazon.
We begin the weave by typing the rope to the rear railing on the seat and then began stringing it back and forth wrapping twice on each run. Tie off the end with a knot.
Start the horizontal weave by tying the hemp rope to the side rail and start weaving side to side, wrapping the hemp around the wood side rail twice on each run.
Pull the horizontal weaves as tight as possible to the front as you work to the rear. The hubby made this little tool by using a metal rod and black electrical tape and it worked extremely well to pull those weaves tight.
Before tying off the rope, wrap the hemp around each side several times to fill in the gaps between the horizontal (side) runs.
Cassie, our border collie is keeping a sharp eye on our progress on the restore of a hemp seat chair. Not! Cassie is our shop dog, it doesn’t matter what we are working on, it doesn’t matter if the hubby is using loud power tools, that’s what she does, sleep near the action.
We have finished the restore of this hemp seat chair and it looks so quaint sitting in our guest room. This hemp bottom chair is one of my favorite remakes to date. (secret-I just found another old chair similar to this and I can’t wait to start on it)
But for Now, I’m off to Antique Farm House to find accessories and decor for this guest room. I saved enough money on this chair to buy some really cool items.
Click HERE to save these Restoration instructions to Pinterest
How to Restore a Hemp Seat Chair
Do you wish to restore a Hemp Seat Chair? Use these easy step by step instructions.
Cost: 30
Equipment
- Strong Scissors or knife
Ingredients
- wood cleaner
- furniture oil
- 2 50 ft rolls 1/4 inch hemp rope
- Old Chair
Instructions
- Start by cutting off the old woven seat and remove all the dust and debris. Use a good wood cleaner and allow to dry and then doused the wood with furniture oil.
- Begin the weave by typing the rope to the rear railing on the seat and then began stringing it back and forth wrapping twice on each run. Tie off the end with a knot.
- Start the horizontal weave by tying the hemp rope to the side rail and start weaving side to side, wrapping the hemp around the wood side rail twice on each run.
- Pull the horizontal weaves as tight as possible to the front as you work to the rear. The hubby made this little tool by using a metal rod and black electrical tape and it worked extremely well to pull those weaves tight
- Before tying off the rope, wrap the hemp around each side several times to fill in the gaps between the horizontal (side) runs.
Marilyn Metzgar
Saturday 27th of February 2021
Thank you for your reply! I have sanded this chair totally down to raw wood so I could not find any product to clean raw wood! I plan to use an air compressor to get rid of all dust/ sandpaper residue and then stain it / seal it with a satin polyurethane finish! Then I will attempt to do the weaving to the seat and also weave the back of the rocker! Big project but your directions are very clear ! I will send you before and after pics! Thanks again, Marilyn
Evelyn
Monday 1st of March 2021
Sounds like a great plan. We would love to see before and after pictures!
Marilyn Metzgar
Tuesday 23rd of February 2021
Can you tell me what brand wood cleaner to use on the chair? I thought i could use Murphy’s Oil Soap but on the label it says do not use on unfinished furniture so I won’t be using that product! I have sanded down an old Carolina Rocker that I have rocked both my kids in and both my grandchildren! I can’t wait to try your DIY Project for finishing this old chair!
Evelyn
Saturday 27th of February 2021
I used Murphy's on my chair but if you sanded your chair down, I don't see where you would need to use a wood cleaner. My chair was very dirty and had sat out for some time.
Teresa
Friday 17th of August 2018
Beautiful and detailed instructions This question may have an obvious answer. Will this hold up to regular use? I want to redo my ladder back dining room chairs.
Denise Yankie
Sunday 15th of April 2018
I want to get started trying to do a couple of chairs. I'm not sure about the length of the rope. Is it one continuous length of the rope for the whole chair or do you you cut it after you weave it back and forth one time?
Evelyn
Wednesday 18th of April 2018
I did cut it after weaving in one direction and started over again in the other direction.
Beth
Tuesday 10th of April 2018
I have a metal chair skeleton that I want to upcycle. I have to thank you because post was exactly what I've been looking for! My question has to do with the hemp tie-offs. You tied the hemp to the chair seat for stability. Did you then have to remove the tie-off as the last step, or just leave it there, or finish it some other way?
Evelyn
Tuesday 10th of April 2018
We left all the hemp on the chair.It became the seat of the chair.