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Wicker furniture has come back into style. It has a wonderful cottage feel to it, and the older styles can often be found second hand, though looking out for quality when searching through second hand shops is essential. Look for example for the maker's name, as Lloyd Loom is rather a good maker, and furniture made by them is likely to be of great quality.

Look also for damage which may be beyond repair. Occasionally, mending can be possible and if this is in an area which can be covered with a great cushion, it is possible to mend broken parts with the use of natural materials such as basket weaving reed of the same thickness. Natural fiber thread such as hemp can be used for bindings on legs, though you really can find some solid bargains where the only wear in the item affects the paintwork, which is easy to repair, even for the enthusiast rather than the professional.

If you find chairs which seem rather worn, this is usually for a good reason. One of the most enjoyable aspects of wicker furniture is that it is comfortable, particularly the armchairs and sofas, and with a little imagination, and the following tools, you can make an old wicker item into something wonderful to enhance the home.

*Sponge.
*Soapy water.
*Scrubbing brush.
*Spray paint
*Finishing lacquer.
*Newspapers.
*Natural looking hemp twine
*Basket weaving reed
*Snips for cane.
*Scissors for thread and twine.
*Transparent thread and needle.
*Medium sandpaper
*Undercoat
*Spray topcoat.

Look at the item that you have bought, and examine it for damage. Before we start the repairs, it will be necessary to get rid of built up dirt. Most can be washed off with soapy water, though stubborn areas where there is build up between the weave can be accessed with a stiff scrubbing brush. Be sure to wipe the bottom of the furniture as well as the top as this gives you a chance to examine areas which may need repair.

To repair areas which are damaged, weave new basket weaving reed into places where breakage has occurred and pull the old weave to the back of the furniture so that it will not show as much. Weave in and out and make sure the ends of your cane are neatly tucked in. If the breakage has occurred in a difficult place which requires a lot of bending of the reed, pre-soak the reed to give it more flexibility.

Strengthen any ties which are loose by tightly winding natural hemp twine around the joints in legs. Stitch this off firmly with a strong thread which is transparent. A darning needle may be used for this, and

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