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Roping In Style: Discard Bench Makeover
13
Piece by piece we are getting closer to a finished SK8R boyz bedroom redux. The pieces and projects are all planned and we are still on track to be done by the end of the month. I am very anxious to finish and share the results with you.
Today we are making over a bench which was on its way out. This was a perfect solution for a bench in the reading area of the bedroom. I used orange towing rope to weave the seat. It adds a punch of color and gives the piece a little urban touch. The seat is sturdy and stylish. I'll check with the kids, but I think it might even be considered cool.
savour... hardware aisle chic
Get the rest after the jump...
Woven Rope Bench
Before you start:
Check your local home improvement center for other types of rope to suit your needs. Mine had no less than 10 different colors/textures from which to choose.
Make sure to get the right sized staples. This is a game changer. Even a few millimeters can make a difference.
This job can be done solo, but it would be easier with two. One person (stronger) can pull and hold the rope in place while the other secures it to the chair.
Working from back to front is imperative. Often times the back of the chair is smaller than the front of the chair. You should be placing your ropes in the center of each segment on the back of the chair and attaching it to what would be the center of the segment on the front of the chair. This will keep them evenly spaced in both places.
You will have far fewer side to side ropes than back to front ropes.
As you place more side to side ropes the tension will build making it more difficult to manage. Go slowly and work one rope at a time.
Before:
The materials:
- Bench or chair
- Rope
- Needle nose pliers
- Hammer
- Staple Gun
- Staples
- Lighter
The steps:
- Clean up chair frame, remove staples and/or nails as necessary.
- The first rope lengths will go from back to front and be fairly close together.
- Begin by putting one rope on either end and one in the very center. Secure with at least two staples on the under side of the chair and wrap around the frame. Stretch it as tightly as possible with your hands to the other side.
- While holding it tightly in position staple it in place.
- Tap with a hammer to sink staples even further. Cut rope 1/2 inch to 1 inch above staples.
- Place the next pieces halfway between the ropes on the ends and the center rope. You should have 5 ropes attached now.
- Continue placing ropes halfway between each segment until you have filled the space as much as possible. The purpose of this method is to get them evenly spaced. It is fine if there is a little space between each as long as it is consistent.
- When you have finished in this direction, start working from side to side.
- To begin, place the first length of rope as close to the front of the chair as possible. Secure it on the under side and wrap around the frame just as you did the back to front ropes.
- Weave the rope over and under each of the ropes and attach on the underside of the opposite side of the chair by stapling and tapping with a hammer to secure.
- Continue weaving the ropes through and attaching alternating over and under the ropes to create a basket weave effect. Use your fingertips to push the weave together as tightly as possible before securing.
- Go one more time around the entire underside of the chair with the hammer to make sure all of the ropes are secured.
- Turn the chair on its side and use a lighter to melt the ends of the rope to prevent fraying.
After:
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Great idea and love the color.
Posted by: BatPig | 01/13/2011 at 06:04 PM
Thanks, BatPig! I'm glad you liked it.
Posted by: Sam | 01/14/2011 at 11:42 AM
I am totally in love with this idea! I don't have any seatless benches hanging around, but I do have a chair or two and I'm imagining that this could work equally well. I'd love it if you'd drop by my international crafty linking party and share this on Sunday, I have had two men at the party in the past two years, so you could be the third!
Posted by: crafts@creativejewishmom.com | 08/18/2011 at 04:39 PM
Just as an FYI, don't use nylon rope for this if it's going to be in a sunny location. UV light makes nylon degrade, and it'll start giving you those nasty rope splinters.
Posted by: Faye | 08/26/2011 at 05:26 PM
@crafts, thanks for being here. I hope you will fly by the Nest often.
@Faye, great tip. I love the nylon rope, but this project is well suited for many other materials, too.
Posted by: Sam | 08/27/2011 at 09:49 AM
I love the project! What is the staple size? You refer to the importance of the exact sizing but I can't find the details.
Posted by: NICOLE | 08/29/2011 at 10:31 AM
@NICOLE, Sorry I should have been more clear. The staple size will depend on the size of the rope. My rope was approximately 1/2 in diameter and I used 5/8 inch staples. You just need to be sure that there is enough staple to go through your rope and sink deeply enough into the frame to be secure. I hope that helped. Please let me know if you have any further questions. Thanks for stopping by the Nest. Hope to see you here often.
Posted by: Sam | 08/29/2011 at 11:24 AM
Love love love this!
Would it be possible to post any more images of the process? I want to try this, but just can't wrap my head around how you get started with the weaving. So beautiful.
Posted by: ScoutHK | 09/01/2011 at 12:27 PM
I want to see the underside! It probably isn't as attractive as the top, but I suspect it would help with understanding the process.
Posted by: Ruth | 09/01/2011 at 03:00 PM
Gorgeous! What a clever idea --- the color and texture of the towing rope is fabulous!
Posted by: Elsa | 09/01/2011 at 07:23 PM
I am completely enamored with this idea, my only question is durability. Keep posted with how it holds up to wear and tear, please?!
Posted by: Kylee | 09/01/2011 at 07:45 PM
Its great!
Could I post my "before and after " chair, and how?
Thanks
Posted by: MarZe | 09/02/2011 at 04:06 AM
@ScoutHK
@Ruth, I promise to post some more photos of the process and the underside. However, I am out away from my studio right now and don't have access to the bench. I will try to get some more info out this weekend. Thanks for your interest.
Posted by: Sam | 09/07/2011 at 08:35 PM
@Kylee, despite what some may say about the nature of rope and its propensity to stretch over time, I have not had a single problem with this bench or other projects of its kind. The example has been used as a bench and a side table without incident. I say 'go for it'. The worst that could happen is that you have to change it out sometime in the future. Rope is so inexpensive that you might welcome the opportunity to change it up.
Posted by: Sam | 09/07/2011 at 08:40 PM
Oh please post most photos of the process? I'd love to do this but am very visual . Thanks.
Posted by: Lizzie Solger | 02/15/2012 at 07:11 PM
How much rope did you use (approximately, obviously) I'd like to do a version of this project, but I'm having a hard time estimating how much rope to get.
Posted by: Stephanie | 03/14/2012 at 03:36 AM
Instructions are very hard to follow. Anyone else need more visual?
Posted by: Karen | 05/08/2012 at 04:50 AM
Love the bench it's so pretty, and though some people are having problems with the tutorial, it explains it perfectly. Thank you.
Posted by: Erin | 10/02/2012 at 09:44 PM
Love this cute bench! So artistic. Thank you for this author of this blog. It is so inspiring.
Posted by: Hoogan | 01/31/2013 at 03:52 AM