Daily Wire Tip: A First Traditional Wire Wrapping Project

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip

Question:

Hi Dale, I was wondering, as a beginner to your wire wrapping style, what kind of a project should I start with? What do you teach first to you students first? Thanks.

-Tammy in Kelowna, British Columbia

Answer:

Thanks for such an easy question, Tammy!

As a progressive instructor, the very first project I teach anyone is my All Wire Unisex Bangle

To quote myself:

This is my absolute favorite beginner’s project, because it teaches all of the basic skills and techniques I deem necessary to progress into any traditional or classic wire jewelry design that uses square half hard wire. You will learn how to straighten wire using only your hands and how to successfully bundle, tape and then make neat, tight wraps using square half hard wire. The procedures taught in my All Wire Bangle are found in about 85% of my designs and patterns!

Really, these are all of the skills needed to continue working with about any traditional wire jewelry design using mainly square half hard wire. My wrapping technique is good for making any type of wraps!

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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4 Comments

1. 

   mary

   February 28, 2011 at 12:12 pm

   Tammy:
   We refer to this as “The Bracelet”…lol From it comes all the knowledge and techniques you will use to make anything else using square half-hard wire. And once you learn to make a bracelet, you don’t feel intimidated about tackling the other projects that Dale’s dvds offer.
2. 

   BEVERLY

   March 1, 2011 at 12:04 am

   This was the exact project that my instructor taught me in copper wire. From there he taught me the basic pendant also in copper. Then he taught me the friendship ring and the cabochon ring also in copper wire. The last project was to wrap the crystal in a cage frame which from there one can go onto any shape object. I still have and wear my first bracelets and pendants and rings. I am now teaching and passing on the skills to my students in copper or brass. Every one of my students has succeeded in producing a beautiful pendant the first time, so I guess I have been successful in passing on the skill taught to me way back in the late 1980’s. Its such a wonderful skill to share and so rewarding to see the results that are so very different with each class. I get goosebumps when I see admirers asking how did you do that to my students. Next week I am going to put on display as many as I can collect so our residents can see what beginning wire wrapping is all about for next season.
3. 

   maribel

   November 6, 2014 at 3:17 am

   HI!I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CROCHETED WIRE JEWERLY BUT I DONT KNOW WHAT GAUGE TO USE, COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME?THANKS
   • 

     Rosanne

     December 16, 2014 at 4:09 pm

     I use 28 gauge.