Chair Caning With Jane Nelson

I suppose most of us at one time or another have seen a cane-bottomed chair in desperate need of repair and perhaps assumed that it was ready for last rites. Not so. As Jane Nelson demonstrates in this step-by-step guide to chair caning, a frayed seat is not necessarily a sign of early death. Opening with a brief look at the tools required as well as a discussion of the various kinds of cane and their properties, Nelson proceeds to show viewers the full process for re-caning both hole cane and set-in cane chairs (with separate sections on square and round seats). Divided into "steps" which detail the weaving and binding processes, the excellent camerawork and precise narration offer very good segmented instruction which viewers should find easy-to-follow. Each completed chair is accompanied by a review of "points to remember." An excellent program for the home hobbyist, Chair Caning With Jane Nelson is highly recommended. (Available from: Cashmere Cane & Wicker, 117 Cottage Ave., Cashmere, WA 98815.)