Unlaced Danish Cord, 3-Ply Paper Cord, Natural, 1 or 2 lb

Unlaced Danish cord has the same three plies of twisted kraft paper as laced cord, but the plies are not laced together. They lie side by side, so the cord sits flatter and the finished seat has a softer, smoother surface where the rows blend into each other instead of standing out one by one. Choose it when the original seat has that quieter, almost fabric-like look, or when you want a calm, even surface on a new frame.

It comes in natural, a light tan.

Working with unlaced cord takes a little more care than laced:

• Keep the three plies flat and together as you wrap. Let the coil turn as you pull, rather than pulling cord off over the end, which adds twist.
• Smooth the plies with your thumb as each wrap goes around the rail, so none rides up on another.
• Hold the same tension on every wrap. Because the surface is so even, a slack row shows.
• Pack the weft rows with a flat, blunt tool rather than a pointed one, which can split the plies apart.

Like laced cord, it is woven dry, and the cord loops are held on L-nails driven into the inside of the rails; a typical seat uses 30 to 50. If you are restoring, note the pattern, count the warps in each group and mark where the old nails sit before you remove the old seat.

Look closely at the old seat. If each strand shows a distinct rope twist, it was laced cord; if the strands look flat, with the plies lying side by side, it was unlaced. For a new frame, unlaced gives a calmer, more even surface and laced a more textured one.

Most dining chair seats take 1.5 to 2 lb of cord. Our 2 lb coil, about 360 ft, usually covers one; armchairs, benches and woven backs need more. The 1 lb coil is also handy for repairs and for finishing a seat that came up short.