Wire Wrap Technique for Beginners
Over the past few years, handmade products have gained huge popularity. However, most techniques and materials are designed for “frivolous” crafts or require a lot of free time. Most – but not all. For example, the wire wrap technique allows you to make unique jewelry, the likes of which are not found in any jewelry store. Actually, making jewelry from wire is a revival of the traditions of the early period of jewelry craftsmanship.
Jewelry in the Wire Wrap technique
The wire makes it possible not to limit your imagination – even after mastering one or two simple techniques, you can create a personal masterpiece that will not be shameful to wear even with strict business suits. This is what attracts more and more new fans to the ranks of fans of this technique.
However, the hobby is really “not for everyone”, because in the process of creating another ring, even observing all imaginable and unimaginable precautions, it can easily lead the appearance of ladies’ fingers into a completely obscene state. If the prospect of parting with long nails for a while (and if it drags on forever), buying a dozen or two calluses and scratches does not frighten, it is worth taking a closer look at this type of needlework.
The main material, as it becomes clear from the name of the technique, is wire – copper, brass, silver-plated. Copper wire remains the most popular due to its softness, pliability and relatively low cost. In addition, copper products are very beautiful. In needlework shops there are wires with colored coating of all colors of the rainbow.
Usually, two types of wire are used for jewelry – a thicker one (about a millimeter) for the main parts and a thin one – 0.3-0.4 mm for connecting parts and braiding. They complement wire weaving with almost everything that comes to the hand of the master – from beads and beads made of various materials, to rhinestones and semi-precious stones. However, you can do without additions – the wire is quite self-sufficient material.
Tools.
With little effort, copper jewelry can be made with a minimal set of tools:
wire cutters (for cutting wire);
pliers – they are convenient not only to hold the workpiece, but also to level the consequences of not quite successfully executed bends;
miniature round pliers (the usual ones from a construction store will also work, but you will have to forget about small curls);
sandpaper for grinding the tips and polishing.
At the initial stage, this is quite enough to create beautiful and original jewelry that has no analogues. To make flat parts, you will also need a hammer, a small anvil (which will be replaced by any sufficiently solid and stable object) and a burner.
Wire processing.
Despite the fact that the decorations created with the help of a basic set of tools and wire look very decent, you can make their appearance even more original with the help of various types of processing – patination, blackening, aging. So the product can be given a more “ancient” look, emphasize chiaroscuro, apply an additional pattern. However, it should be remembered that all materials for metal processing – GOI paste, sulfur liver and others – are quite toxic and require great care when working.
The process is quite simple – depending on the material and processing technique, the product is coated or immersed in the substance for a certain time, and after the expiration of the time necessary for the oxidation process, the excess is removed and cleaned with sandpaper or a drill. It should be remembered that any additional materials should be added to the product after processing – otherwise they will be hopelessly damaged.
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