French caning
Hand caning
The fine, octagonal pattern woven through holes in the frame. It takes patience, and it rewards it.
Level: AdvancedDelivered by email a few minutes after payment.
French caning is the most demanding technique—and the most rewarding once it’s done.
You follow Marie as she weaves a new seat on a classic bentwood chair: layer by layer, through the zigzag and the pattern, all the way to the edging. She’s been weaving for more than 45 years, and she shows you the mistakes we see most often so you can avoid them.
What you’ll learn
- Clean the holes and choose the right cane size
- Weave the vertical and horizontal layers
- Weave the diagonals without losing the pattern
- Set the binder cane and pegs
- Avoid the mistakes we see most often
What’s in the course
22 video lessons
- Introduction1 lesson
- Preparation1 lesson
- Layer 12 lessons
- Layer 22 lessons
- Layer 32 lessons
- Zigzag6 lessons
- The pattern4 lessons
- Edging and finish3 lessons
- Materials and tools1 lesson
Materials and tools
- Cane in two widths (e.g. 2 and 2.5 mm)
- Rattan reed for pegs and plugs
- Wood glue
- An awl or a pointed needle
- Scissors
- Sandpaper
- A mandrel
- A drill to clear the old holes
- A thin flat screwdriver
- Tape measure or calliper
- Pegs or golf tees
Your teacher
Marie Skinbjerg
Chair weaver in the family behind Kurvemagerne
Marie grew up in a family of basket makers and has been weaving since she was eight. She has woven many thousands of chairs and runs her own workshop, where she repairs everything from French caning to Danish cord seats on design chairs. In the course, she weaves a new seat into an old Thonet chair and shows every move up close.
Free guides
- How to weave a chair seat: start by reading the frameHand caning, cane webbing, Danish cord, seagrass or flag halyard? Read the frame and find the method your chair needs.
- How to cane a chair, step by stepHand caning in seven passes: layers, zigzag, diagonals and edging, with the tools, the steps and the mistakes to avoid.
- How to recane a chair: from torn seat to new caningRecord the old seat, get the old cane out without damaging the frame, prepare the holes and reweave.
Weaving more than one chair?
Get Hand caning with two other courses in the Chair Bundle, and save $38.
Or go for the Masterclass: every course, all future courses, and a personal call with one of us.
See all pricingNot sure? Watch a free lesson first.
Watch the free lessonQuestions and answers
When do I get access to the course?
A few minutes after you buy, you get an email with a link to your videos. That’s true day or night, weekends included.
Can I download the videos?
Yes. You can stream them online or download them to your phone, tablet, or computer and watch them offline. They’re yours forever.
What languages are the videos in?
We speak Danish in the videos. Every course has voiceover in English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Spanish, and French—plus subtitles.
Do I need any experience?
No. The beginner courses start from scratch. Hand caning is more demanding, so we recommend trying one of the other techniques first.
What materials and tools do I need?
Each course comes with a list of materials and tools, so you can get everything before you begin.