Paper cord is a material for chair weaving, where both the cord and the way it is woven are part of the result. When a seat needs to be renewed, you should therefore start with the chair and the existing pattern rather than just choosing a roll in the right colour.
You can have the structure assessed as part of chair weaving.
Document the seat while it is still intact
Take photos from above, below and along the edge. Note whether the pattern matches across several chairs and whether there are signs of earlier alterations. Photos of the underside can be particularly useful because fastenings are often hidden from normal view.
Do not remove all old cord before the pattern and construction are documented. If you are in doubt about the chair's model, then photograph the labels and the entire frame.
Choose the cord and pattern together
Ask for the quality and dimension that suit the chair. Another cord can change both the density of the pattern and the way the edge is finished. A universal quantity indication per chair is therefore a poor basis for ordering materials.
Ask whether the existing pattern will be retained or whether there is a reason to change it. The guide to materials for chair weaving helps distinguish paper cord from other types of weaving.
Choose the colour with the whole set in mind
New cord and an older seat may have different expressions. Compare a sample with the wood and with any chairs that are not to be altered. Agree whether the aim is to preserve variation or to achieve a uniform set.
Carl Hansen & Søn describes its paper cord as a material with modest maintenance requirements. It is still relevant to obtain a concrete care instruction for the cord being installed.
Check the frame before new weaving
Loose joints and cracks should be assessed before work begins. New cord is not a substitute for a stable construction. On a Y-chair that needs new weaving, it is therefore natural to see the seat and frame in context.
Once the seat is finished, store the material information and read the guide to cleaning paper cord. It makes future care more precise than general advice, which might concern rattan or plastic weaving.
