Home / Jewelry Making Patterns / Vintage Button Ring
Judy Freyer Thompson's Vintage Button Ring, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Texturing. Years ago, people had 'button boxes', a collection of buttons which may have included other fastening items such as zippers or 'frog closures'.

Vintage Button Ring

by Judy Freyer Thompson
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Forging, Texturing
  • Skill Level: Beginner
Years ago, people had 'button boxes', a collection of buttons which may have included other fastening items such as zippers or 'frog closures'. My grandmother had one and my mother still has one. Fasteners were removed from clothing that no longer could be worn. I have quite a collection of vintage buttons, including those made of bone, wood, Bakelite, ceramic and even Mother of Pearl. If you are lucky you may be able to find a 'button box' at a thrift store or Goodwill.

You will need vintage buttons of your choice. I am using two buttons, the larger one has two holes, the smaller one has four holes. Assure that the two hole button aligns with the holes on the four hole button.

Materials

14 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire
H11-14D
  • Lesson Quantity: 12.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $1.83
  • Gold Club Price: $1.37
Out of Stock
Add All Items to Cart

Tools

WireJewelry - Ultimate Wire-Pliers Jewelry Pliers with Case, Set of 5
G15-20
  • G15-20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $170.72
  • Gold Club Price: $128.04
Add to Bag
6PC File Set
FIL-912.10
  • FIL-912.10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $39.97
  • Gold Club Price: $29.98
Add to Bag
Steel Bench Block 4x4 Inch - Pack of 1
G17-10
  • G17-10
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $21.95
  • Gold Club Price: $16.46
Add to Bag
Chasing Hammer - Flat Faced with Polished Wooden Handle - Pack of 1
G3-13
  • G3-13
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $11.97
  • Gold Club Price: $8.98
Add to Bag
Metal Ring Stick--Rosewood Handle - Plain
GAU-350.00
  • GAU-350.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $21.95
  • Gold Club Price: $16.46
Add to Bag
SANDING SPONGES ASST- 5PC- 1EA GRIT 100-400
ABR-600.90
  • ABR-600.90
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Add All Items to Cart
Instructions
Step 1
Clean the wire with the 400 grit sandpaper. Measure and make a mark with the permanent marker at ¾".

Judy Freyer Thompson's Vintage Button Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Texturing, measure the wire
Step 2
Position the base of the round nose pliers at the ¾" mark on the wire and bend the wire around the pliers stopping when the wire meets itself.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Vintage Button Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Texturing, make a loop a the mark
Step 3
Re-position the pliers and make a bend in the opposite direction.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Vintage Button Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Texturing, bend the wire in the opposite direction
Step 4
Continue to bend the wire as in step 4 until you reach the opposite end, your tails will be facing opposite directions and there will be seven bends on one side and six on the other. Trim the tail to ¾".
Judy Freyer Thompson's Vintage Button Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Texturing, trim the tail
Step 5
Hold the wire on the steel bench block and lightly flatted the bends, but do not flatten the tails.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Vintage Button Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Texturing, flatten
Step 6
Adjust as necessary to make the bends touch.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Vintage Button Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Texturing, adjust
Step 7
Wrap the wire band around the ring mandrel, bringing the tails close together.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Vintage Button Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Texturing, wrap around the ring mandrel
Step 8
Remove the ring band from the ring mandrel and use the flat-nose pliers to make a 45 ° bend in each wire tail.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Vintage Button Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Texturing, adjust
Step 9
Slide the larger button on, followed by the smaller button. Slide the ring back on the ring stick and trim the tail to a scant ½" long and file the ends flat. Lay the ring on the steel bench block and flatten the tails.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Vintage Button Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Texturing, flatten the tails
Step 10
Use the round nose pliers to tuck the flattened tails against the top button. Try to make the tucks uniform. Use the 400 grit sandpaper to clean up any nicks from the pliers.
Judy Freyer Thompson's Vintage Button Ring - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, Texturing, tuck the tails

Reviews

Login to post a Review
Login to be the first to review this Pattern!