HELPFUL HINTS. 431 



THE BARREL CHAIR. 



No list of home-made furniture would be complete with- 

 out the famous old-time barrel chair, which is really, if 

 properly made, one of the most cosy resting-places imagin- 

 able. 



You want a good, strong barrel for the foundation, sugar 

 barrel for instance, and the first thing to do is to nail the 

 central hoop firmly to the staves, clinch nails are best to 

 use ; then secure the bottom hoop half way across the bar- 

 rel intact, to serve as a back, which can be varied in height 

 and shape as desired, and made with arms or without. The 

 seat is formed by nailing stout pieces of wood to the sides 

 of the barrel of the proper height to reach from the bot- 

 tom to the seat, when placed on end ; three or four placed 

 at equal distances around the inside will make a good found- 

 ation for nailing across stout strips of webbing, two or three 

 each way interwoven. If you have not got the Avebbing, 

 strips of strong ticking, doubled and stitched, from two to 

 three inches wide, will do as well. Over this tack strong 

 bagging — an oat sack will do very well. 



Make sure that this is not slighted, for it is not condu- 

 cive to comfort or good temper to sit down on an empty 

 space, as sometimes happens if the seat of a chair is not 

 securely made. 



The next step is to make a cushion of the same shaj)e as 

 the back, and another for the seat, and tack them in place. 

 Then cover the rest of the chair neatly with the same ma- 

 terial, chintz or cretonne are best. If one is willing to 

 take the trouble to tuft the cushions, they will be all the 

 more comfortable, and the chair will look like an expen- 

 sive, regularly upholstered piece of furniture. 



Two or three of these barrel chairs will be found very 

 cosy in the family sitting-room, and half-barrels, treated 

 the same way, make comfortable chairs for the little folks. 



