Any ancient craft is valued in our time, and the further we move away from our traditions and historical knowledge, the more attractive the responses from the past look. Wicker furniture made from natural materials, and even self made can't be cheap! Therefore, this is a profitable business!

Today, even without knowing all the intricacies of weaving, you can easily learn this. There is currently sufficient literature about various types folk art. The same applies to weaving dishes. So, let's look at what you first need to start doing this type of business. The first is raw materials. The most common raw materials are shrubs such as willow and willow. Willow is not as common as willow, since it is used only in cases where willow branches are not available. So, first of all, you need to find willow thickets.

It usually grows along the banks of rivers and lakes. About seventy to eighty pieces is enough for one large basket. Having cut the required number of branches, you must immediately begin weaving from them necessary utensils. Otherwise, the branches will dry out quickly and then they will become brittle and will not be suitable for weaving. We will not talk about weaving technology, since different literature describes different methods.

For work, debarked twigs (without bark) are used. To make the bark easily removed, previously green willow twigs are revived, for which the twigs loosely tied into bundles are placed with their thick ends in water (there should be sand at the bottom) to a depth of 10-15 cm for swelling. After 2-3 weeks, sap flow will begin, at which time the bark from the twigs can be easily removed. It is better to remove with a special device - a “pinch.” The pinch can be metal or wood. The rod is threaded between its cutting edges and pulled twice, freeing itself from the bark.

After debarking, the rods must be immediately dried in air for 1-2 days, laid out on wooden grids and turned over from time to time. Thanks to drying, the shiny silky surface of the wood is preserved, in addition, it bleaches in the sun.

Nowadays, wicker furniture made from willow can also decorate the homes of people with very different incomes and status, with any taste and lifestyle. It looks equally excellent both in an expensive mansion and in an ordinary city apartment. And it's not just about the aesthetic advantages, but also about the wonderful qualities wicker furniture from willow.
A wide variety of furniture is made from willow vines. These include cozy rocking chairs, small tables, and pleasant stools and chairs. For example, a complete set of country furniture can consist of willow wicker furniture, bringing a unique flavor to a country house.

Despite its apparent fragility, willow vine is an extremely durable material, which makes any wicker furniture made from willow very comfortable and of high quality. Thanks to the flexibility of the vine, interior items can be of almost any shape, becoming real works of art. Wicker furniture made from willow, without a doubt, can become a decoration for any room. And, of course, wicker furniture made of willow will not leave indifferent a person who prefers handmade work.

Prices for wicker products vary in each region. Small baskets cost from 15 to 150 rubles, large ones - from 300 to 1000 rubles, bird cages - from 200 rubles, a floor vase, say, can cost up to 700 rubles, a lampshade - 300 rubles. The cost of a chair from willow twig in a store the average price is 3000 rubles, a chair - 1000-1500 rubles, a table - 4500 rubles.

Wicker furniture creates a special sunny mood in the house. It is not only beautiful and elegant, but also durable and comfortable. Despite the apparent complexity, you can make such furniture yourself. The main thing is to know some of the features of weaving.

The most popular material for wicker furniture is willow.

Preparation of raw materials for work

The branches of many plants are used for weaving, but the most popular is willow. The thinner the core of the rod, the better the quality of the raw material. Rods with a thick core are also suitable for work. They are used to make the basis for large products. But for openwork and airy creations, it is best to choose a material with a thin “heart”. When harvesting, you should also pay attention to the width of the willow leaf. The narrower it is, the more elastic the vine will be and the more openwork the weaving will be.

Raw materials can be harvested from October until the onset of severe frosts, as well as in the spring. During this period, the rods are well cleaned.

Tools for weaving from willow: A - knife, B - pinch pin, C, D - splinter and work with it, D - flat planer, E - edge planer.

Before you start making furniture from willow, you should decide how it will be made. There are two types of wicker furniture: frameless and stick. The peculiarity of the first type is that ordinary sticks are used in the manufacturing process. In the finished structure they play the role of stiffeners. In products made by the second method, a supporting structure is constructed from sticks.

You can weave furniture in different ways. The main types are single, openwork and combined weaving. They allow you to create both integral surfaces and create patterns.

To fasten parts of wicker products, two types of joints are used: detachable and permanent. The first method will be convenient when you plan to disassemble the furniture, for example, for transportation. However, it should be noted that it is rarely used. The second type of connection is more popular. In this case, conventional fasteners (nails, glue) are used, which makes the finished structure more durable. Plus, this method is much easier to use, especially for a novice weaver.

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Frame making

You can make any thing from willow branches with your own hands. A small wicker sofa will always be appropriate as a country yard, and on the balcony in a city apartment. To make one like this necessary thing, you need to prepare. To work you will need:

1. Willow twigs.
2. Strong sticks with a diameter of 25-30 mm.
3. Sandpaper.
4. Hammer.
5. Sharp knife.
6. Secateurs or scissors for cutting twigs.
7. Roulette.
8. Self-tapping screws and small nails for fastening.
9. Hacksaw.
10. Glue.
11. Screwdriver.
12. Stain.
13. Foam rubber and fabric for draping the seat.

First you need to prepare the material. Remove the bark from sticks and twigs and leave them to dry. Before starting work, lightly sand the raw material to protect your hands from splinters.

Elements of wicker furniture frames: 1 – sub-brace, 2 – sub-brace, 3 – crosspiece, 4 – horseshoe-shaped leg, 5 – U-shaped leg, 6 – I-beam, 7 – I-beam with two longitudinal rods.

Making a sofa begins with creating a frame. For the future seat, 4 blanks are cut from prepared sticks: 2 x 600 mm and 2 x 400 mm. You need to fasten them together with self-tapping screws to form a rectangle.

To make the sofa more stable, it is better to install 3 legs in front and behind. For the front legs, cut blanks of a length that corresponds to the distance from the seat to the floor, for example, 400 mm. They should be attached with self-tapping screws to one side of the seat frame at an equal distance, in this case every 200 mm.

As for the rear legs, then the height of the backrest must be added to the height from the seat to the floor. For example, a height of 250 mm is selected. Then you should prepare 2 legs of 650 mm each, which will be fixed on the sides. It is better to make the leg that will be installed in the middle higher, for example, 750 mm. This will allow you to make the back with a beautiful curve. Attach the legs to the seat frame.

To decorate the backrest, you need to cut a blank that will be longer than the seat. Using self-tapping screws, secure it to the upper ends of the rear legs. The result will be a back in the form of an arc.

The frame needs to be stiffened. The same sticks that were used for the frame itself will act as stiffening ribs. Be sure to mount them at the same height. First, the lateral and middle legs are fastened together. To secure these stiffeners, it is necessary to attach 2 blanks along the length of the seat. The next step is to connect the outer legs with the middle back one. The blanks are attached diagonally. The edge that will be attached to the outer legs should be positioned at the level of the rib that fastens the back and front legs, and the other should be slightly below the seat.

For different interiors and exteriors great solution counts wicker furniture. It has many advantages and is presented in numerous forms; you can create wicker furniture with your own hands quickly and easily, and at the same time it can fully meet the needs of direct users. The whole process is divided into simple sequential steps, so if you first make a drawing, watch a training video and follow the instructions exactly, you will get a reliable and durable design.

The advantages of creating wicker furniture include:

• low costs for obtaining unique designs that are original;
• environmental friendliness, due to the fact that wicker furniture is made exclusively from safe and natural materials that do not cause any harm to people or the environment;
• the lightness of the resulting products, so they can be easily transferred from one place to another;
• the technology for making wicker furniture is considered not too complicated if you carefully understand it, so this process is accessible to every person;
• the structures do not have any unpleasant or specific odor;
• they are easy to care for, and this does not require the use of unusual care products, but it is not allowed to leave them outdoors for a long time, as they will lose their attractiveness and high parameters under the influence of ultraviolet radiation or rain;
• since it is planned to make wicker furniture with your own hands, unique designs can be obtained that cannot be found in stores;
• The long service life of the structures makes it possible not to think about buying new furniture for many years.

To learn how to competently weave different designs, it is recommended to practice first, for which you can create different products for dolls or other toys.

The disadvantages of DIY wicker furniture include the fact that it does not withstand exposure to various atmospheric factors for a long time, so it is not allowed to leave it outside for a long time. Also regular use leads to the fact that some elements of such products will begin to unravel, and repair is a complex process.

Materials suitable for weaving

The production of wicker furniture can be carried out using various materials. The main requirement for them is high flexibility and durability. The most commonly used materials are:

• banana leaves - they are up to 350 cm long and highly durable. This material is considered suitable not only for creating various unique and unusual furniture, but also for producing a variety of ropes or ropes. It is lightweight, and furniture made from the material has a dark brown color;
• bamboo - it is considered quite tough, so it is rarely used by novice craftsmen. It is difficult to obtain any specific products from this material. Bamboo shavings are usually used, which are effectively used to obtain unique decorative elements;
• rattan - any wicker product made from this material is distinguished by its sophistication. It is considered easy to use, inexpensive and makes it possible to obtain original furniture. Production different designs It is considered so simple that it is accessible to every person. The resulting products are durable and also resistant to moisture;
• willow - weaving furniture from willow is a popular procedure, since this material is chosen most often. It has good strength and excellent flexibility. The disadvantages of willow construction include its tendency to crack, which significantly spoils its appearance, and it is almost impossible to correct this drawback. Also, the rods are considered quite rigid, so difficulties often arise when bending them;
• paper - it is not used to create any interior or exterior items, but weaving from newspaper tubes or plain paper considered popular. It allows you to make furniture for dolls or various decorative elements that fit perfectly into a variety of interior styles.

Having figured out what furniture is woven from, you can begin the actual weaving process.

banana leaves

Required Tools

How to make wicker furniture? This process is not considered too complicated, but you must first prepare for it so that all the tools and materials are at hand. To do this, you must have:

• hammer and screws;
• high-quality glue designed for fixing different materials;
• direct material for weaving, which can be represented by different rods.

For beginners, it is recommended to use rattan, since this material is considered the easiest to use, but if you want to make wicker furniture from willow with your own hands, then you need to prepare for a rather complicated process, since the rods are quite rigid.

In addition to preparing the materials, you should decide what kind of weaving will be used:

• single, in which you need to work with only one rod;
• combined, using several rods at once, but this technique is considered quite complex, so it is suitable only for experienced craftsmen;
• openwork, allowing you to get truly unique and appearance design, however, such work will have to spend a lot of time, and it is also considered quite complex.

Single

It is necessary to ensure in advance that all components of one piece of furniture are firmly fastened, otherwise it will not last too long. The connection of individual elements can be detachable or permanent. In the first case, any structure can be disassembled if necessary, and then reassembled, but this method is not used too often. The most optimal technique is considered to be a permanent connection, which ensures the strength of the resulting structure.

Sofa manufacturing technology

A master class of this process for beginners is presented step by step below. The procedure does not have any specific difficulties, so it can be performed even by people who do not have complex skills.

The following steps are performed in advance:

• the material used for the work is selected, and most often artificial or natural rattan is purchased for this, since these elements are affordable and easy to use;
• it is important to check that the purchased rods do not have any defects, and if purchased natural materials, then it is advisable to sand them to ensure smooth surfaces;
• it is determined what dimensions and other parameters the future sofa will have;
• it is advisable to make a special diagram of the future structure according to which all work will be carried out;
• The weaving method is determined, and since a beginner acts as a master, standard single weaving, which does not require experience or special skills, will be optimal for him.

After completing all preparatory stages You can begin the actual process of creating a sofa.

Required Tools

Seat frame

First, the frame is made. Some wicker furniture can be made without it, but not a sofa, since it will certainly be subject to quite significant loads during operation.

The frame can be made of wood or metal. It should completely match the shape and size of the future seat. It is important to use materials coated with special protective agents that prevent the process of corrosion or rotting. For connection individual parts Self-tapping screws or other fasteners may be used. The resulting frame is braided with selected rods, for which you can use different weaving technologies.

Wooden frame

The frame is gradually braided with rattan

Legs and back

Either three or four legs can be selected. Their height can also be different, and for this purpose the height and other dimensions of the people who are the main users of the resulting sofa are assessed. Their optimal height is considered to be 40 cm. They are fixed to the seat using self-tapping screws, and the distance between them should be the same.

To create the back, a metal rod or wooden stick is prepared. The length of this element should be slightly longer than the seat. It is fixed to the rear legs with self-tapping screws. The resulting structure is covered with wicker elements that are connected to each other securely and tightly.

Work is best done on a stand

Add rigidity

A sofa made of wicker elements must be reliable, for which in the process of its manufacture it is imperative to give it rigidity. To do this, follow these steps:

• identical wooden sticks are attached with self-tapping screws between the side legs;
• they must be at the same height;
• to connect the rear legs, two sticks are also used, and they are fixed diagonally;
• the rod of the selected material is rolled into an arc, after which it is fixed to the left side of the back, and its ends are attached to two legs, with the upper arc connected to the back;
• the same work is done on the other side of the back;
• another large rod is taken, which is also rolled into an arc;
• its ends are fixed to the front legs with small nails, and the upper part is attached to the seat.

In this article:

Wicker furniture is used not only for relaxing in the countryside and in country houses. Graceful openwork products made of wicker or rattan will be appropriate in cafes, summer areas, ethnic restaurants, baths and saunas, and even more so in the setting modern apartment(for example, in the kitchen, loggia, recreation area, hallway, hall, winter garden). The originality of the author's handiwork and the high environmental friendliness of the material are what make products made from wicker rods so in demand. And therefore expensive.

But, despite the high profitability of products and the lowest cost of all types of wooden furniture, the market for wicker products is far from saturated and is filled mainly with expensive imported models. Therefore, it makes sense to start production and develop in the middle and low price segment. Fortunately, there are no problems with either raw materials or equipment. It's only up to talented craftsmen.

Types of wicker furniture

If we consider wicker furniture from the point of view of the materials used, it can be divided into:

• made entirely from plant materials (stick furniture with various types of weaving;
• solid wood furniture with decorative braiding);
• combined - furniture in the production of which, in addition to weaving rods, chipboard, plywood, frames made of wood, metal, plastic and soft elements for sitting and lying are used.

With the help of weaving they make:

• chairs, stools – mostly hard, non-dismountable;
• armchairs, chaise lounges, sofas, couches, beds, cradles - can be either soft or hard;
• tables – coffee tables, dining tables;
• shelves, chests of drawers, cabinets, chests.

Raw materials for the production of wicker furniture

Wicker furniture is made from any climbing plants with a fairly dense and flexible base.

For the production of wicker products the following can be used:

• willow raw materials– the general name for preparations from a number of plants, which include: vine, willow, willow, shelyuga, willow, sedge, willow. Three-year-old twigs (and older) are used for the furniture frame, and one-year-old vine is used for the weaving itself. Therefore, two types of raw materials are in demand in production: willow sticks for the frame, with a diameter of 10-40 mm and flexible stems-rods with a root thickness of up to 10 mm (Fig. 2);
• roots of pine, spruce, fir, cedar– harvested in cutting areas and uprooting areas;
• birch bark– a layer of birch bark, used for weaving decorative furniture elements. Birch bark strips, 20-40 mm wide, are harvested in the spring and summer from growing trees intended for felling or just felled. This birch bark has a beautiful natural shade(pink, yellowish-white), which lends itself well to coloring and goes well with other plant materials: vine, cattail, rattan;
• rattan– shoots of rattan palm;
• bamboo– tropical (subtropical) grass of the grass family;
• linden bark– washcloth in the form of ribbons various widths serves both for decorative weaving and for connecting individual parts of the product into a single whole;

Today at industrial production Rattan and willow raw materials are widely used. Full cycle production includes independent procurement of rods with subsequent processing (sanding and drying). But you can also use ready-made raw materials, cleared of bark and processed to give the right size and shapes (round, flat, flat-convex rods-blanks). There is also a special ready-made material for making seats for sofas, chairs, armchairs - reed fiber or rattan bark, which is split into fibers, “spun” on special machines into linens and sold in rolls.

The advantage of doing business in wicker furniture- in its availability: you can produce products on an industrial scale or organize piece production to order - it all depends on the volume of sales and the number of working craftsmen.

Wicker furniture market development trends

Reasons for growth and world leaders

According to data for 2012, the volume of the wicker furniture market in Russia exceeded 50 million rubles. It is necessary to take into account that many handicraft industries and “at-home” craftsmen do not officially register their business, so real indicators differ significantly from statistical ones. Of course, on the big side.

But, undoubtedly, the domestic wicker furniture market is actively developing. In 2011-2012 alone, its volume increased by more than 35% (in monetary terms). The reason for this growth was the increase in the volume of dacha and cottage construction. At the same time, owners of new private houses prefer to immediately purchase sets and sets of wicker furniture for furnishing premises and personal plots. And among “old” owners there is a tendency to abandon plastic (which until recently was considered the best option for country and garden furniture) in favor of much more comfortable, strong, environmentally friendly and wear-resistant wicker furniture.

In the world market of wicker products, leadership traditionally belongs to Asian countries: Indonesia, China, Malaysia, and the Philippines. And Russia is an exception here: domestic production occupies no more than 35% of the market volume. Everything else is import.

Undeniable competitive advantages in the form of low cost of raw materials (rattan and bamboo), large quantity cheap and trained in weaving techniques work force, Asian manufacturers have supplemented with the active introduction of machine weaving, which reduces the quality of products, but allows them to increase volumes and reduce costs. In addition, most Asian countries prohibit the export of raw materials or impose strict restrictions on exports. Therefore, the domestic manufacturer uses mainly local raw materials - willow vine.

Structure of the Russian wicker furniture market:

• rattan furniture – 58%;
• wicker furniture – 31;
• bamboo furniture – 7%;
• furniture made from other materials for wickerwork – 4%.

Market prospects

Industry development trends:

• replacing expensive imported raw materials with independent procurement of domestic ones;
• reduction in imports. In 2012, the Indonesian government announced a moratorium on the export of rattan raw materials. This has significantly reduced the production of wicker furniture by other countries that do not have their own raw material base. Many factories even in the Asian region (for example, China) have converted to the production of furniture from bamboo or artificial rattan. European manufacturers - for the production of furniture from solid wood with decorative rattan braiding remaining in production reserves;
• use of machinery for serial production wicker furniture;
• tracking fashion trends– unlike Asian manufacturers, local entrepreneurs have the ability to quickly respond to changes in consumer demand;
• development of new furniture designs that would allow us to move away from the stereotype that “wicker” is Street furniture for cafes and furnishings for a summer residence, as a result of which sales have a pronounced seasonality. In Europe, wicker furniture has long been recognized as comfortable and environmentally friendly for furnishing apartments - products from famous Italian and Spanish furniture companies (Roberti Rattan, Bonacina, Gabar, Rattan Wood, Rattan Deco) cost as much as luxury furniture. The price of an imported chair is about $450, a two-seater sofa is from $1,300, a set of a pair of armchairs and a coffee table is from $2,000. In our country, the direction of “wicker furniture for the home” is just beginning to develop.

In general, over the next 5 years, experts predict the growth of the domestic wicker furniture market by 25-30% annually.

Equipment for the production of wicker furniture

Depending on the complexity of the technological process, in the production of wicker furniture they use hand tool and machines. Workplace The braider is a stable table 750 mm long, up to 65 0 mm high and 400-450 mm wide with drawers for storing tools.

TO manual equipment for mechanical processing of furniture include:

• hand saws;
• shmol (for sharpening ribbons to width);
• plows;
• clamps (steel plates for bending or straightening rods);
• bit;
• iser (a cone-shaped steel plate for aligning rows in products and thickening the weave);
• chisels;
• drills, drill bits;
• screwdrivers;
• emery skins;
• knives and other tools.

Regarding automated production- at the moment this does not exist. There are only machines, the prototype of which was weaving ( Loom technologies), but for natural raw materials such technologies were not justified in terms of quality: even the weaving of a simple fabric after stitching is prone to deformation, and precise fit of the frame with uniform tension of the braid along the entire length can only be achieved by hand.

Technological process for manufacturing wicker furniture

Modern wicker furniture is not just a piece of furniture made from natural plant materials. The design can combine wood, leather, various accessories and even glass.

But the classic technology for the production of wicker furniture consists of the following steps:

• mechanical processing of wood (cutting, bending, planing, grinding, joining parts with screws, knitting);
• heating wood;
• drying;
• weaving;
• gluing;
• decoration and varnishing.

Stages of weaving furniture

Let's take a closer look at how wicker furniture is made from wicker:

1. The cheapest and most accessible raw material in our latitudes is willow vine. It is collected in forests, swamps, and river backwaters. Checking whether willow is suitable for weaving or not is very simple: before cutting the rod, bend it at a right angle. If it doesn’t break, it means the raw material is suitable for harvesting.

Willow harvesting ends as soon as buds appear on the vine. Depending on the period of cutting, the color of the raw material also changes: in the cold season the vine has a creamy tint, and in the summer it is white, the most sought after. But cutting willow in warm weather is not recommended: the butt (remnant of the twig) does not heal for a long time and does not produce new shoots. Therefore, the official harvesting period for vines is late autumn (from the end of October), winter and early spring. And to achieve a snow-white shade, the raw materials are bleached.

2. Stage of cleaning the rod from bark

After cutting, the rod is sorted and sent for debarking. Cleaning is possible in two ways:

• cold– to “revive” the rods, soak them in ordinary cold water to cause the movement of juices. This method does not require any special equipment; the rods can be soaked both in bathtubs and natural reservoirs. But for this method, raw materials that have retained at least 25-30% of the original moisture content are suitable. Therefore, on an industrial scale, the hot cleaning method is more in demand;
• hot. Without “cooking” it is almost impossible to peel off the bark without damaging the rod. Therefore, the sorted rods are loaded into a special container cage and lowered into a boiling “bath”, in which the raw materials are kept for about 2 hours. During this time, the hard bark softens and swells (Fig. 4).

The second method, more suitable for small production, is cooking in a kettle in the open air. A small ditch is dug under the metal container and a fire is built in it. Water is boiled and rods weighed down are immersed in it so that they do not float above the surface.

3. Sanding the rod

Next, the steamed rods are sent for sanding. The barked rod should be completely clean along its entire length, with a creamy shiny surface. A high-quality rod cannot have breaks, scratches or other mechanical damage.

And such sanding can only be done manually, in the old fashioned way, with the help of special pincers through which the rod is “driven” along its entire length, which makes subsequent cleaning easier. The whiteness, elasticity and density of the rod depend on the method of its cleaning and subsequent drying.

4. Whitening process

To bleach the rods, use a special solution: bleach (1 part) is mixed with water (15 parts) diluted with two percent sulfuric acid. Bleaching with sulfur is also known. To do this, take 60 grams of sulfur per 1 m 3 of wood, set it on fire and place it in a sealed chamber for 3-6 hours.

5. Drying prepared rods

The debarked rods are sent to dryer- a special room where the temperature is maintained at about 60-70 C°. Here the raw materials are kept for at least 20 hours, after which they are ready for use.

In the warm season, the cleaned rod can also be dried in the sun (at the same time using the natural bleaching mechanism). True, drying in such conditions will last at least 3 days, but it will not require special equipment. During the rainy season, the rods are dried under canopies for at least 6-7 days.

6. Manufacturing of furniture frame

Next they make furniture frame. To do this, a large-diameter vine is leveled with a sapling, bent or bent (depending on design features furniture). Using the same jig, the rods are bent to necessary details. Then legs, crosses and other structural parts are nailed to the frame.

7. The frame is braided with split vines

Afterwards the frame is braided vine, split on a special machine into three flexible dense strips along the length of the rod. Manual separation is also used: for this, the rods are soaked in water for 4-7 hours (depending on the thickness), after which they are split into 3-4 parts (tires) using splitters.

8. Choosing a weaving technique

The craftsman, when creating a piece of furniture, takes into account its purpose, shape and permissible weight load. Based on these parameters, he selects the most optimal weaving technique.

Moreover, even in one product several types of weaving can be used at once:

• simple (Fig. 8);
• thick;
• solid;
• rare;
• openwork (Fig. 9);
• layer-by-layer (Fig. 10);
• in rows (Fig. 11);
• squares (Fig. 12);
• string (Fig. 13);
• bending (Fig. 14).

To ensure that the rods bend well, they are moistened with water during the weaving process, after which the finished products are dried again.

9. Connecting wicker parts

After weaving, the parts are connected in one of the following ways:

• simple overlay or trimming of wood by 1/3 or 1/4 of the thickness of one part in relation to the width of another part;
• corner connections (onlay);
• overlay with cutting and bending;
• connection of two parts using an oblique cut;
• girth fastening;
• connection by fire;
• tricks;
• leggings

8. Varnishing of wickerwork

After processing the frame with braid, forming parts using various weaving techniques, assembling and subsequent drying and grinding, it’s time for the next stage - varnishing of the product. For this purpose, nitrocellulose varnishes are used (for example, NTs-218,222,223,224), as well as paraffin-free polyester (PE-232,247,250). Such varnishes dry well and make the surface glossy and shiny.

After drying for 18-24 hours, the product is sent to the finished goods warehouse. Since weaving rods are, in fact, the same wood, they can not only be varnished, but also stained and painted in any color, which gives wide possibilities in terms of design.

Features of organizing a business for the production of wicker furniture

1. Legal form of business

For legal registration, it is enough to register an individual entrepreneur, because the end consumer is mainly individuals.

2. Official type of activity

For reference economic activity You must indicate the following OKVED codes:

• 36.14 – Production of other furniture;
• 52.44.1 Retail sale of furniture.

3. Room

In a workshop for the production of wicker furniture it is necessary to provide:

• a room for drying vines (outside - in the warm season, in a well-heated drying room - in winter);
• room for painting and varnishing;
• main production workshop.

There are no special requirements for the premises: heating, communications, access roads.

4. State standards

To get started, familiarize yourself with GOSTs:

• 25552-82 — Twisted and wicker products. Test methods
• 13025.5-71 Household furniture. Functional dimensions of tables
• 13025.2-85 Functional dimensions of furniture for sitting and lying
• 19120-93 Furniture for sitting and lying. Sofa beds, sofas, chair beds, lounge chairs, couches, ottomans, benches, banquettes. Test methods

5. Increasing benefits

The production of wicker furniture is a highly profitable business, especially if you procure the raw materials yourself. A finished furniture rod costs about 150-200 rubles/100 pieces (depending on the thickness and category).

6. Financial indicators

The cost of a finished wicker chair made according to GOST standards and sizes is 1-1.5 thousand rubles. (includes labor costs and purchased materials). At the same time, the sales price of the product starts from 3,000 rubles. and higher (depending on the region).

It takes about 3-5 days to make a chair or stool by one craftsman (depending on the complexity of the weaving).

Nowadays, fashion for folk crafts is returning, and in particular, for products made from wicker. It could be original furniture, various baskets, boxes, etc. Lovers of exclusives pay good money for original works. Wicker weaving for beginners can bring a decent income if you approach the matter seriously and responsibly. In this article we will take a detailed look at wicker weaving for beginners step by step.

Business registration

If you plan to work independently at home, you don’t need to register this business at first. But if you are interested in wicker weaving as a business, you need to officially register the enterprise.

To do this, you should register an individual entrepreneur or LLC. The choice of organizational and legal form largely depends on the planned scale of production. Also, be sure to obtain a permit from the fire department since you will be working with flammable materials.

Types of products

Vine is a pliable material that is highly flexible. You can weave various items from it.

These may be the following products:

1. Armchairs, tables, sofas, shelves, chairs;
2. Baskets, stands, bread bins, flower pots, trays;
3. Souvenirs, figurines, Christmas tree decorations, vases.

Do-it-yourself wicker furniture is the most popular. To make such products, craftsmen use a technique somewhat reminiscent of macrame, that is, alternating knots and loose threads. Our ancient ancestors learned to create various products from wicker. Modern people began to value environmental materials, so the love for folk art began to be reborn.

Craftsmen can use different types of weaving in their work:

• Solid;
• Openwork;
• Spiral;
• Simple;
• Weaving with rope.

If you want to master this art yourself, find a step-by-step video of wicker weaving for beginners on the Internet. But it's best to take lessons from experienced craftsman, which will help you gain all the necessary skills. Once you understand how to weave baskets from wicker, you can gradually move on to making more complex products.

Procurement of raw materials

Most best material, which is used for weaving wicker products with your own hands, is willow. You should be aware that you should not mix rods with different trees. You can prepare raw materials all year round. Its quality largely depends on what time of year they were cut. In spring and summer, the material has a beautiful milky color. The bark from such twigs is easy to clean, and the wood itself has a herbaceous structure.

In winter, the material is more elastic and durable. It does not need to be sanded, as the rods acquire a beautiful color. different shades. By combining them, you can make wickerwork with a pattern. After you cut the rods, they need to be sanded and split into several parts. It is advisable to do this in clear sunny weather so that the rods can dry out a little.

Pattern: wicker weaving technique

Technology

As a rule, training begins with a simple technique of weaving with wicker. This is the main element that is used to make various products. After you have mastered simple wicker weaving for beginners, you can move on to openwork.

We act according to the following principle:

• The rods braid the risers;
• The horizontal row goes around the vertical one.

The location of the risers largely depends on how correctly you choose the material. During operation, you should check the strips so that they are at the same distance and do not twist. The simplest option is weaving using one rod.

When you figure out how to weave simple products from wicker, move on to making openwork furniture.

Business benefits

Original do-it-yourself wicker furniture is always in great demand. You won't spend a lot of money on making it. The biggest investment is your time and effort.

If you prepare the rods yourself, the cost of the products will be low, and accordingly, you will receive a high income. The most important advantage of such a business is that it does not require large capital investments. All invested money will be returned within 1-2 months of work.

Staff

When the business begins to develop, you can hire several craftsmen to work. Over time, their number can be increased. In this case, you can divide the production process into several stages. Some workers will work exclusively on frames, while others will only do weaving. To diversify the models, invite seamstresses to work who will make furniture covers, sofa cushions and other elements made of fabric or leather.

Sales channels

The first buyers of your products will be your acquaintances and friends. The most profitable activity is weaving furniture from wicker. It can be sold online on your own website or on social networks.

All you need to do is take a photo of your products and put them up for sale at affordable prices. You can rest assured that the first buyers will appear in the shortest possible time. In addition, you can sell products at markets or in your own store.

Financial calculations

To set up a home business, you will have to spend a certain amount.

Main expenses:

• Taxes;
• Renting a retail outlet or promoting a website on the Internet;
• Transportation costs for finished products.

You can reduce costs if you reach an agreement with stores and sell your products. As a result, you can save on renting a retail outlet and transporting products.

For example, in one day you make 2 tables for 6 thousand rubles. For the sale of products, you will pay the store 20% of its cost, as well as 6% tax for conducting business activities. For a month it will be approximately 35 thousand rubles. This is your net income.

Price policy

Furniture items can be made either as a set or separately. For example, there is always a high demand for chairs. They cost approximately 500 rubles. But if you make four chairs and a table, the price of such a set is already 10 thousand rubles.

The greatest demand is for wicker bedside tables, coffee tables, hangers, etc. Rocking chairs also sell well. They are purchased wholesale by private sanatoriums and boarding houses.

Video on the topic Video on the topic

• You should not immediately take on the production of complex objects. Try to weave simple things, such as small baskets or coasters. First of all, you need to figure out how to make a frame, after which you can try to weave a vine into it;
• To give the product the desired shade, you can use special chemical compounds;
• The most common product that is in greatest demand is rocking chairs. One person can make two such products per day.

conclusions

For beginning entrepreneurs, the business idea of ​​wicker weaving is attractive because it does not require large financial investments. The market for wicker products is not yet fully saturated. Mostly, consumers are offered expensive imported goods. If you set affordable prices, the demand for your products will be high. This means that the business will bring decent profits.