Rocking chairs are a logical next step in adding complexity to chair construction, stretching your mind to add features that accentuate the form. So much of the furniture we have is purely functional and fades into the background of our spaces. Rocking chairs have a certain draw as a statement piece you can enjoy and say with pride, “I built that”. The rocker is often seen as a pinnacle of the woodworkers portfolio, and often feels out of reach. This class is intended to help demystify and guide you through that process. We’ll start by orienting you to the design and a full overview of the process. Things heat up quickly with some steam bending. Next, the class will spend a few days at the lathes. Seats are patterned, and we speak to the design elements that are unique to rockers. The seats are carved, which is one of the features that takes a Windsor from a ridged board to a form-fitting, comfortable chair. The rockers will be pattern routed and joinery hand cut in the legs. Learn to shape and fit the curved crest, precisely drill for mortise and tenons, produce spindles with a drawknife and spoke shave, and spend some time customizing your chair with small hand made details. This is a physically demanding project with a lot of handwork. High effort, high reward. You can expect to leave this course with a fully assembled rocker, so plan accordingly in your travel. If you desire, you can leave your chair unassembled so that you can flat pack the chair parts and ship them home to yourself. Required Tools: Personal protective equipment Pencil Paper or notepad Close-toed shoes Prerequisites While having built a Windsor previously would be helpful, it is not required. Turning experience is essential for success in the class. Consider signing up for one of our beginner turning or weekend turning courses in advance of this course.