Care must be exercised to keep the strands from overlapping improperly at the corners. The strands should fit snugly where they go over the rails. To assure this, tap them sharply with a mallet used over a block of soft wood. This may be done at frequent intervals or when several strands have been woven over each rail. Uniform tension on the strand is desirable and this should be tight.
FIG. 42. METHOD OF FILLING IN CENTER.
As the work progresses the interior between the upper and lower rows of strands is stuffed. This is done with the same material as that used in the weaving. The butt ends of rush are used to stuff the seat of rush; raffia is used to stuff a raffia seat; craft paper to stuff a fiber seat; and so on. The packing should be done in a thoro manner, for it builds up the seat and prevents its breaking down at the inner edges of the rails, and sagging with continued use. A slightly curved hardwood stick about 12 in. long may be used to advantage to do this work. [Fig. 41] shows a sketch of such a stick. It is ¾ in. in diameter at one end and tapered to ½ in. by ⅛ in. at the other. Considerable force needs to be exerted in packing, and caution used to avoid breaking strands.
Rectangular Seats.—As stated, in weaving a square seat the initial process is repeated at all corners until all openings are filled. In rectangular seats the spaces on the short rails will fill before those on the long rails. Weaving around corners is then manifestly impossible. [Fig. 42] shows a partly woven seat with the short rails filled, and the process of filling up the remaining area under way. The method is this: Go over and under a long rail, across half the frame opening and up thru, then across the remaining distance, and over and under the other long rail. Repeat until the seat is completed. [Fig. 43] is a sketch of a partly woven seat, illustrating the method of filling in the center just described. It supplements the photograph and makes the method clearer.
FIG. 43. METHOD OF FILLING IN CENTER.
It should be noted that the strands in crossing at the center must be compressed one-half of their diameters. They will need to be tapped sharply with a small mallet or hammer to produce proper crowding. [Fig. 44] shows a stool seat of fiber woven by an eighth grade boy. [Fig. 45] shows the complete stool. The seat is woven over a separate frame and inserted. [Fig. 46] is a child’s chair of oak, with a seat of fiber woven over the rails of the chair.