Basic Weaving Patterns with Danish Cord

There is mostly two main patterns that you can find in most chairs woven with Danish cord. This section will describe these two and suggest some online tutorials for reference. 

Warp and weft pattern

The “Warp and Weft” pattern is the most common and traditional method of Danish Cord weaving. It involves weaving the cord both vertically (warp) and horizontally (weft) around the chair frame using either hook nails or slots, creating a sturdy and visually appealing woven surface.

This is the technique used in famous chairs such as Moller No. 77.

There is variants of this pattern in the way the cord is woven around the chair frame. Techniques like ‘double wrapping’ avoid the need for hooks by using a second rail to help the cord to ‘turn around’, basically making hook nails redundant.

Photo: North Sea Design

The Rush or Envelope pattern

This is the pattern that has been traditionally used in chairs all around the world and which Hans Wegner included in many of its iconic designs like the ‘Wishbone chair’ or the ‘peacock chair’. In this pattern, either the cord is woven around the four corners or through slots without the need for hook nails. It can be quite time consuming and requires quite a bit of practice to master.