Willow Furniture Week

This rustic willow stool is a wonderfully characterful piece, equally at home in the garden, greenhouse, or by the back door. Made using thick willow rods and simple construction techniques, it celebrates the natural curves and individuality of the material.

On this course, you’ll learn how to select and prepare willow, form strong legs, and weave a sturdy seat designed to last. No two stools are ever the same, and that’s part of the charm — each one tells the story of the hands that made it.

It’s an ideal introduction to making functional willow furniture and a deeply satisfying project to complete in a day.

The bent stick chair is a classic form with deep roots in rural craft traditions. Lightweight yet surprisingly strong, it’s a practical chair for both indoor use and sheltered outdoor spaces.

During this course, you’ll learn the traditional techniques behind chairmaking in willow: steaming and bending sticks, forming a strong frame, shaping legs and stretchers, and weaving or fitting a comfortable seat. The focus is on honest construction, good proportions, and time-tested methods.

This course is perfect for those who want to step into traditional furniture making and gain skills that can be built on for years to come.

This deluxe course takes the bent stick chair to the next level, focusing on refinement, detail, and craftsmanship. The form is similar to the traditional chair, but with greater attention paid to symmetry, clean lines, precise joins, and an elegant overall finish.

You’ll work more slowly and deliberately, learning advanced bending and fitting techniques, refining the chair’s profile, and developing a deeper understanding of structure and balance. This is about elevating a humble rural form into a piece of fine handcrafted furniture.

Ideal for experienced makers or returning students, this course offers the chance to create a chair that feels truly special — something to use, admire, and keep for a lifetime.