Build a Ladderback Chair
Instructor: Craig Stevens
Coming again in 2025 (8 evenings or 2 weekends)
This project, made of solid cherry, utilizes angled mortise and tenon joinery. The chair is similar to a Shaker chair, but Shaker chairs were often made wholly of turned parts, with the result that the rear legs and back posts were totally straight. A chair is more comfortable if the back of the chair leans to the rear a bit, which our chair does. The back slats are comfortably curved, sawn from solid wood after the tenons are cut.
The skills gained in this project include basic chair design, angled mortise, and tenon joinery, pattern routing and working with curves, determining pleasing grain patterns when cutting curves and weaving a comfortable seat of Shaker cotton tape. The weaving will be demonstrated, allowing students to perform the actual weaving of their seats at home since the chair should be completely finished and dry before installing the Shaker tape seat material. Detailed instructions will be provided, assuring a successfully woven seat. The ladderback chair is a very satisfying project and a great introduction to chairmaking.
Cost includes all materials, shaker cotton tape and weaving supplies for the seats.