The Caner's Handbook: A Descriptive Guide With Step-By-Step Photographs for Restoring Cane, Rush, Splint, Danish Cord, Rawhide and Wicker Furniture [Paperback]

Bruce W. Miller (Author), Jim Widess (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 1991

Give life to old cane furniture as well as weaving seats and backs for new pieces. Traditional techniques and new shortcuts make caning with wicker, rattan, raw-hide, and other materials easy. Useful charts detail how much fiber to buy and what standard lengths are available. “An excellent purchase for any size library.”—Library Journal.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Using clear, easy-to-understand, black-and-white illustrations, this handbook shows how to replace complete sections as well as make small area repairs on wicker furniture. It provides step-by-step directions and illustrations for a variety of different types of wicker, including cane, rush, splint, Shaker tape, rawhide, Danish cord, and binder cane. Hand-weaving patterns range from simple to complex. The extensive manual also covers special techniques and proper maintenance of woven furniture. Since caning techniques do not readily become outdated, institutions need not worry about keeping up with current titles. However, if your collection lacks material in this area, The Caner's Handbook makes an excellent purchase for any size library.
- Barbara Bartos, St. Croix Cty. Lib., Hammond, Wis.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Lark Books (December 31, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0937274607
• ISBN-13: 978-0937274606
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

82 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Bible" of the seat weaving industry!, October 8, 2000

By 

"wickerwoman" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Caner's Handbook: A Descriptive Guide With Step-By-Step Photographs for Restoring Cane, Rush, Splint, Danish Cord, Rawhide and Wicker Furniture (Paperback)

Of all the myriad of reference books I have acquired in the 25 years working in the seat weaving business, The Caner's Handbook is by far the best and #1 on my entire list.

I was fortunate to purchase my first book (in hardcover), right after it was published in 1984. I had already done every type of seat weaving covered in this book, but through the clear, close-up pictures and accompanying text, was able to fine tune my craft even more.

At each one of my seat weaving classes, and whenever someone asks me what the best all around book on seat weaving is, I tell them to buy The Caner's Handbook. Through the information in this book, anyone can learn to weave with cane, rush, splint, rawhide, Danish Modern, Oriental seagrass, and all types of splints in a variety of designs and patterns.

Jim Widess, who besides co-authoring this book, is the owner of The Caning Shop, where he and his employees not only sell materials used in cane and basketry, but have first-hand knowledge of weaving. They have been doing this for a living for many years, so know all the problems and questions the novice as well as the consumate weaver might encounter.

I urge anyone that is contemplating beginning seatweaving as a hobby or profession to buy this wonderful book, take some time to read and digest it, then go out and conquer the world of seat weaving! There will be no doubt that you will be a professional in no time!

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only book you need to weave seats, June 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Caner's Handbook: A Descriptive Guide With Step-By-Step Photographs for Restoring Cane, Rush, Splint, Danish Cord, Rawhide and Wicker Furniture (Paperback)

One book that tells you EVERYTHING is The Caners Handbook by Bruce W. Miller and Jim Widess. It is the best I have found. A great book for beginners as well as pros like me who have been in the business for 20 years.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The one reference a chair restoration enthusiast must have., November 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Caner's Handbook: A Descriptive Guide With Step-By-Step Photographs for Restoring Cane, Rush, Splint, Danish Cord, Rawhide and Wicker Furniture (Paperback)

This book provides an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide to all the major seating types, with plenty of photographs. You'll refer to this book over and over.