The first thing necessary is to remove the old cane.  This can be done by turning the chair upside down and, with the aid of a sharp knife or chisel, cutting the cane between the holes.  After this is done the old bottom can be pulled out.  If plugs are found in any of the holes, they should be knocked out.  If the beginner is in doubt about finding which holes along any curved sides should be used for the cane running nearly parallel to the edge, he may find it to his advantage to mark the holes on the under side of the frame before removing the old cane.

The worker should be provided with a small sample of the old cane.  At any first-class hardware store a bundle of similar material may be secured.

The cane usually comes in lengths of about 15 ft. and each bundle contains

[Illustration:  Three Stages of Weaving]

enough to reseat several chairs.  In addition to the cane, the worker should provide himself with a piece of bacon rind, a square pointed wedge, as shown in Fig. 1, and 8 or 10 round wood plugs, which are used for temporarily holding the ends of the cane in the holes.

[Illustration:  First Layer of Strands]

A bucket of water should be supplied in which to soak the cane just before weaving it.  Several minutes before you are ready to begin work, take four or five strands of the cane, and, after having doubled them up singly into convenient lengths and tied each one into a single knot, put them into the water to soak.  The cane is much more pliable and is less liable to crack in bending when worked while wet.  As fast as the soaked cane is used, more of it should be put into the water.

Untie one of the strands which has been well soaked, put about 3 or 4 in. down through the hole at one end of what is to be the outside strand of one side and secure it in this hole by means of one of the small plugs mentioned.  The plug should not be forced in too hard nor cut off, as it must be

[Illustration:  First Two Layers in Place]

removed again.  The other end of the strand should be made pointed and passed down through the hole at the opposite side, and, after having been pulled tight, held there by inserting another plug.  Pass the end up through the next hole, then across and down, and hold while the second plug is moved to the last hole through which the cane was drawn.  In the same manner proceed across the chair bottom.  Whenever the end of one strand is reached, it should be held by a plug, and a new one started in the next hole as in the beginning.  No plugs should be permanently removed until another strand of cane is through the same hole to hold the first strand in place.  After laying the strands across the seat in one direction, put in another layer at right angles and lying entirely above the first layer.  Both of these layers when in place appear as shown in one of the illustrations.