Flat Reed for Basket and Seat Weaving, 1 lb Coil, 1/4 to 7/8 in

Flat reed is the inner core of rattan cut into flat strips. It is the backbone of the classic flat-reed basket, from market baskets to small trays, used for both the stakes and the weavers. The wider widths are also woven into chair seats in checkerboard and herringbone patterns, much like a Shaker tape seat.

One side is smoother than the other. Weave the smooth side out. To tell them apart, bend a wet piece sharply: the rough side frays and splinters more along the bend. In a basket base the rough side faces up, so that when the stakes are turned up the smooth side ends up on the outside.

Working with flat reed:

• Soak it in warm water for a few minutes before you bend it. Flat reed softens quickly.
• For seat weaving, where the reed wraps tightly around the rails, give it a longer soak, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Over-soaked reed gets fuzzy, so soak what you will use in the next stretch of work, not the whole coil.
• Mark centers and cut lines on the rough side, where they won't show.
• Let finished work dry completely before storing it.

Reed is matte and porous, so it takes dye and stain well. For dark accents without dyeing, see our smoked flat reed, which is colored all the way through.

Follow your pattern: basket patterns list each width and how many feet you need. As a guide, the wider widths, 1/2 to 7/8 in, make stakes and bold weavers, while 1/4 and 3/8 in are used for narrower weavers, fillers in the base and lashing. Narrower widths give more length per pound; a 1 lb coil of 1/2 in runs roughly 175 to 185 ft.

For a woven chair seat, 1/2 in is a common width on side chairs. Most side-chair seats take more than one coil, so order two.