Decorations made from thin wire by hand. Wire jewelry: how to weave correctly

Nothing decorates a woman's suit more than unusual jewelry, chosen with taste and in the right place. Meet the Wire Wrap style, wire jewelry. Yes, yes, from wire, albeit jewelry wire: copper, aluminum, brass, silver-plated, gold-plated. Unique hand-made products are created in a single copy. Any other jeweler is unable to reproduce exactly the original piece of jewelry; it will be just a copy.

Quite often, a craftsman working in the Wire Wrap technique is asked the same question: “Why was a metal such as copper chosen? Brass alloy? Handmade masterpieces are created from the simplest materials; something completely different is important in the finished product: the original essence of the jewelry, its energy, positivity, which helps the owner move through life, attracting the attention of others. The direct translation of the Wire Wrap technique means “wire wrapping,” but the ultimate goal of creating a unique product is rarity and originality.

To make a bracelet, ring, necklace or earrings, the author needs to have such serious skills in working with metal as firing, soldering, blackening, patination, and so on. The creator of jewelry works not with a needle, like an embroiderer, or with knitting needles, like a knitter, but with wire cutters, pliers, and a hammer. Serious preparation for the process “produces” such rare products.

In its beauty, jewelry in the Wire Wrap style can easily compete with other representatives of fine hand made jewelry - items made of beads, felt, and stone.

It all started with the idea of ​​a sculptor, artist, engraver and handicrafts master, American Alexander Calder (1898 - 1976), who hails from the city of Lawnton, Pennsylvania (USA). During his life, the author created one thousand eight hundred jewelry in the Wire Wrap style, inserting pieces of ceramics, wood, glass, and leather into copper and brass wire. At first, Alexander gave jewelry to his friends and family. Much later, he became a famous sculptor and created his unique Cirque Calder collection of wire and fabric, which now adorns the halls of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.

His Wire Wrap style jewelry was worn by many celebrities with pleasure, and with his mobile sculptures, “mobiles” that easily changed poses when shown to viewers, he entered art history forever.

The wire design of Wire Wrap is a real find for daring fashionistas, since no other piece of jewelry gives such scope for imagination and self-expression. Unusual forms of jewelry and their bulkiness emphasize courage, sometimes a challenge to society, shockingness. When in contact with the skin, metal wire has a beneficial effect: the properties of copper to increase immunity by affecting the endocrine glands have been known since ancient times. Humanity has been informed about the benefits of gold and silver for a very long time: these precious metals prevent blockage of veins and enhance blood microcirculation, and have bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties. That is why wire jewelry is not only beautiful, but also healing.

Hand-made products in the style of Wire Wrap is not just a tribute to capricious fashion, which quickly changes its vector. Jewelry made of metal wire, created by the founder of a new trend in the art of creating style, Alexander Calder, for his beloved wife Louise, today costs millions of dollars at auctions and adorns expensive private collections.

The article was prepared by Zhanna Pyatirikova.

Key pendants made of wire with stones

Wire is a strong and pliable material that can take any shape. The unique properties of thin metal threads were successfully used by ancient jewelers who wove filigree patterns, creating amazingly beautiful jewelry. The material holds its shape well, has a noble shine, isn’t this a paradise for the modern jewelry industry? Modern craftsmen can, as if by magic, turn a coil of ordinary wire into spectacular and stylish accessories. Do you want to learn how to make exclusive wire jewelry with your own hands? Then we suggest you master the simple ABC of craftsmanship, and use the example of master classes to learn how to create real miracles.

Basics for beginners

The names of the ancient jewelers who successfully embodied their imagination in wire jewelry are unknown to their contemporaries. The art form “wire wrap,” which translated means “wire wrapping,” went down in history under the name of the craftsman Alexander Calder. The master learned to weave original products from an early age. He made his first crafts as gifts to family and friends, and later his unusual hobby turned into his life’s work. Original, original, openwork works inspired many to accomplish creative feats.

Alexander Calder and his work

The main principle of such needlework is to use thick wire for the base and thinner and more flexible wire for braiding products.

Wire wrap style pendant

You can add beads, stones, and all kinds of decor to the weaving. By the way, if the wire is braided on top with a thin thread, then such needlework is called ganutel. To learn how to create beautiful wire accessories, you need to know a few simple secrets:

• Selection of tools. The job requires a small arsenal of tools. Beginners will need round nose pliers, several types of pliers with sharp, nylon, rectangular tips, a wick or sandpaper. To create complex interweaving patterns, experienced craftsmen use anvils, a hammer and a hammer, crossbars and a drawing board.
• So that in the end, homemade wire jewelry has, as they say, a “store-bought gloss,” you can use sulfur liver for coating. Products made from copper, aluminum, brass, bronze wire are patterned with this material to create a noble antique effect.
• It is enough to master the creation of several elements to make an original masterpiece. The simplest elements include a spring, balls and rings.

Wire tools

To make a spring, just wrap a piece of wire around the crossbar. Such an element can be used for braiding or as an independent decorative detail. To make a ball, you will need a burner or gas burner. To make the droplets perfectly even, you will need borax. By the way, you can create new interesting elements from a ball using a hammer and an anvil. Rings are connecting parts that are indispensable in creating beads or bracelets. It is enough to wind the wire around the crossbar, “bite off” the excess and remove a perfectly even ring. The diameter of the ring depends on the thickness of the crossbar. Having obtained the necessary knowledge and prepared the necessary tools and materials, you can begin the creative process.

Using available tools for working with wire

Master classes on creating jewelry

Unusual jewelry made from copper wire, bronze or brass, can take on a variety of shapes. For example, you can make original hair jewelry, rings and bracelets, openwork necklaces or pendants. Beginners should not worry about the lack of practice and experience in creative work; a simple and detailed master class will help in creating an original collection of luxury jewelry.

Earrings made of copper wire with turquoise

Hair ornaments

On the eve of proms, such a master class is especially relevant, because many girls are in a creative search for their image. I want to be the brightest, most beautiful, exclusive. There is a sure way to create an unusual look by decorating your stylish hairstyle with a hand made hair clip in the shape of a flower with an elegant curl. The operating algorithm is as follows:

1. On a piece of paper, draw a sketch of the future product, schematically marking the location of the beads and the pattern on it.
2. We begin the work with a turn, smoothly moving to the outer circle of the product. Place the end in a spiral that is slightly higher. The result should be a round element with antennae. We use the pliers continuously to ensure that the product is neat.
3. We twist the place where the two curls touch with several more tight turns, weave in beads, and then we braid the base of the hairpin with thin wire.

Stylish hair decoration

To make it clearer for beginning craftswomen, we offer an auxiliary diagram:

• six curls between beads;
• ten curls between large elements;
• eight curls between smaller elements.

Simple hairstyle with spectacular decoration

To make the hairpin delicate and have a finished look, we string small beads at the beginning of weaving, and large beads can be woven into the middle.

In a similar way, you can make not only a hairpin. There is an original way to decorate hairpins - simply braid them with a thin metal thread, adding a few beads or seed beads to the weave.

Delicate hair decorations based on hairpins

Luxurious pendant

Copper wire has high ductility, it can be easily cut, heated, and soldered. Thanks to its unique properties, the inexpensive and beautiful-looking material has become a favorite in handicrafts. What can you make from copper wire with your own hands? Yes, everything that your imagination suggests - bracelets, rings, pendants and much more. Luxurious wire pendant master class:

1. Let's prepare tools and materials. You will need a coil of copper wire with a cross-section from 0.1 mm to 1 mm, pearl beads, wire cutters, pliers and a drill.
2. The main part of the product consists of two pieces of 16 cm long and 1 mm thick. We make turns with a thin copper thread of 0.1 mm around the thicker sections, then bend the two braided parts into a ring. We bend the remaining ends into a snail shape.
3. We will wind it thinly onto a piece 0.3 mm thick, the length of the base is 12 cm. We will thread its end between the braided parts and fix it. We make a small break and wrap it around the frame several times.
4. We make the same break in the upper part, and wind the remaining part onto the base. We make a snail from wire 1 mm thick, wind it to one and the other break.
5. A thin wire thread is attached to the upper part, pearls are strung on it, the ends of the wires are braided around the workpiece, and the excess is bit off with wire cutters. So we add all the prepared beads.

Copper wire pendant with pearls

To ensure that the product has an elegant glossy shine, we polish the surface of the pendant with a drill, and then rinse it under warm water. Luxurious, intricate, in the spirit of oriental jewelry of the Magnificent Century, the pendant is ready to decorate any lady’s outfit.

Sweet heart

There are many master classes on making stylish wire jewelry, from which you can learn how to create magnificent designer collections. But a few simple tips will help beginners do the job at a decent level:

• To avoid patination of the wire, non-oxidizing materials should be used. For durability, you can coat the surface with varnish.
• After heating the wire over the fire, rub it while still warm with baby cream, and then wash it with soap and water. Patina is an effect that, as they say, is not for everyone. Many craftsmen prefer to coat jewelry with gold, silver or bronze paint, and top it with varnish for shine.
• Be sure to draw a diagram and sketch of the jewelry before starting work. Working with wire is thin and filigree, requiring attention and perseverance. When you see a wire decoration that you want to repeat with your own hands, mentally divide it into its components, this will make it easier to work with.

Each master has his own imagination, creative ideas and vision of the future masterpiece. All kinds of decor, such as beads, beads, stones and even buttons, are ideally combined with wire. Beginners can use ready-made master classes for practice, and during the weaving process they can supplement the idea with their own details.

Funny cat earrings
Copper bracelets for every taste

Video master class on making earrings from copper wire with turquoise

Video master class on making a rainbow heart

Most people first encounter crafts in childhood, when they need to bring something they made with their own hands to a craft class. You can learn to embroider, knit, sew, weave from threads, beads, and ribbons. What can be made from copper wire? Soft metal makes very successful figures of animals, insects, fish, candlesticks and lampshades, flowers, coasters, money trees, Christmas tree decorations made of copper wire, as well as an endless number of women's accessories - bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces, chains, belts. The simplicity of working with wire and the unusual beauty of the resulting decorative elements deserve to be discussed in more detail.

Wire working techniques and tools.

Wire for making jewelry is made from copper, silver, and aluminum. It comes in different shades and diameters from 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm. The most popular size for weaving beaded jewelry is up to 0.6 mm, and thicker wire makes a good braid for beads, shaped elements for making chains and openwork details of earrings or bracelets. The thickest wire is used to make bases, frames and frames. For beginning craftsmen, copper wire is most suitable, as it is easy to use and not so expensive. There are many techniques for weaving copper wire (for example, wire wrap, chainmail, French), most craftsmen usually use mixed or original techniques.

The set of tools for working with wire is quite standard: regular pliers, round nose pliers with a smooth conical surface, side cutters, a hammer and anvil, and a set of special pins. Wire can be purchased at craft stores; it is advisable to take several spools of different sizes of wire at once. Round-nose pliers are used to create all kinds of bends in the wire, twisting it into spirals and springs.

Crafts made from copper wire can be made even with children, starting from the age of five, when the baby’s fingers have become stronger and perseverance has developed. Children usually take great pleasure in creating all kinds of animal figures, trees, and flowers.

Master class: jewelry made of copper wire for hand.

Once upon a time in childhood, it was very common to put rings and bracelets on hands from soft multi-colored wire. They wove braids, chains, and plaits. At a more mature age comes the desire to decorate your hands with something original, even better in an ethnic style. After all, deep down in their souls, everyone dreams of becoming a creator. Jewelry made from copper wire, which you can make yourself, is perfect for this. Below you can get acquainted with the technology of weaving a men's bracelet and a “Scandinavian” ring, which is suitable for both men and women.

Armor bracelet "Chainmail".

The most popular homemade jewelry is without a doubt the bracelet. Such products made from copper wire will always look stylish and beautiful; they can be decorated with beads, stones, or created in the form of chains of original weaving.

In this master class we will talk about a men's bracelet made of thick copper wire with a diameter of 2 mm. Armored weaving was chosen as the base weave. Each link is made in the form of a figure eight. Type of processing of links - forging. The links are assembled into rings, and the bracelet is closed with an original double hook clasp. The diameter of the future bracelet should be 1.5 centimeters larger than the volume of the hand.

To understand how many links are needed, draw a line of the appropriate length on a piece of paper, onto which we will lay out the finished links.

Before we start working on the bracelet, let's prepare the materials and tools that we will need for our work:

• a coil of copper wire (depending on the manufacturer: diameter 2 mm or gauge 12);
• hammer and anvil,
• pliers, round nose pliers and wire cutters;
• weaving nail.

First of all, blanks for future links are cut from the wire - these are pieces of copper 5 cm long. Using pliers, we make a figure eight from each piece: for this, one end of the wire is wrapped in a ring in one direction, and the other in the opposite direction. We repeat this with each piece. As a result, we will get the required number of links.

The next operation is forging. Each link, placed on the anvil, must be carefully flattened with a hammer so that the surface of the “eight” becomes flat like foil. We forge every detail. After forging, the wire changes its shape and the ends of the rings can move away from the middle. You need to use pliers to close them so that the ends of the rings tightly “lock” the figure eight.

The next stage of work is cutting the connecting links. To do this, the wire must be wound around a nail, tightly pressing the coil to the coil. You should get a spiral with identical rings. To cut a spiral into rings, you need to use wire cutters to bite off each turn in the place where the end of the wire is located. The ends of the rings should point in different directions and there should be a gap between them so that the chain links can be threaded through.

Now let's start collecting. We take two “figure eights” and thread a connecting ring through their centers, then close its ends and clamp them with pliers. The next “eight” is connected with a ring to the previous one and secured again. Thus, all the links are assembled.

The final touch is the clasp for the bracelet. To make it, you need a 7 cm piece of wire, which is bent in the middle so that you get two parallel straight lines. One end of the hook is bent with an inflection, and each of the wires from the other is twisted into a half ring, the “eight” is inserted into its half and wrapped around them, making several turns. The remaining ends are curled into a snail. The bracelet is ready!

"Scandinavian ring".

One of the jewelry that can make a person stand out from the crowd is an unusual ring - after all, our hands are always in sight. Step-by-step instructions are provided on how to make a ring from copper wire in an ethnic style.

The tools and materials that will be needed to make it can be found in your husband’s garage, or, as a last resort, bought at a hardware store.

To make a “Scandinavian ring” you will need:

• wire of several sizes (40 cm - d1.2 mm, 25 cm - d0.7 mm and 60 cm - d0.5 mm);
• used AA battery and adhesive bandage;
• vice, pliers, side cutters, hammer and needle file.

We will need a used battery and adhesive tape (it’s better to take it on a reel) to create a template. We use a thread to measure the volume of the finger on which we will wear the ring, then wrap the battery with adhesive tape until the desired size is obtained.

The ring is an assembly of one braid, two strands and four wire rings. Two more pieces of wire will be needed to forge the mounting plates.

For the braid you will need three equal pieces of 0.7 mm wire. For example, for a ring size 18, the length of the segment will be 6.5-7 cm (about 5 mm will be used as allowances). We clamp one side of the wire in a vice and braid it. The wire needs to be pulled tight to make the weave tight.

For two bundles you will need 8 equal pieces of 0.5 mm wire. We divide them into 4 pieces, fix one end in a vice and twist the tourniquet. The wire is also stretched with each twist.

Cut 4 pieces along the length of the 1.2 mm wire template. We cut the wire to assemble the ring along the length of the template. From two 4 cm pieces we make holder clips that will hold our parts together and hide the sharp wire ends. To do this, on the flat part of the vice, they need to be carefully flattened with a hammer to the state of a flat strip.

We assemble the ring: wire-bundle-wire-pigtail-wire-bundle-wire and secure it vertically in a vice.

The fastening strip is applied at a distance of three to five millimeters from the edge of the ring and bent inward on both sides. The joint should be approximately in the middle of the ring; excess metal can be cut off with wire cutters. Too sharp ends can be filed down. The workpiece is turned over with the other end up and the whole operation is repeated. We use wire cutters to align all the protruding parts and process them with a file so that they do not get scratched.

The blank is placed on a template (battery) and given a round shape. The beauty of this decoration is that if it becomes too small for you, you can bend it a little.

A copper key will become a mysterious and original decoration that will perfectly complement an image in a steampunk or boho style, and can also be used as an interior accessory.

In order to make such a key with your own hands, we will need:

• copper wire: 2 pieces about 40 centimeters long, thick (1.2 mm in diameter) and very thin;
• a flat small bead, about a centimeter long;
• pliers;
• small vise or clamp;
• anvil (you can take any metal block, for me it’s actually a part from a dumbbell);
• hammer.

Making a key from copper wire

First we create the top part of our key. We take the thicker wire, combine the ends and bend it like a fish.

Pull the ends until the loop shrinks to about 1.5 cm in length.

Now you need to make the side loops. Holding the place where the wire crosses, draw one of the tails of the wire in a circle and tighten the loop to the desired size (about 1 cm in length).

We do the same with the second tail. I just do it with my hands, the copper wire is quite soft. But if it seems difficult, you can always help yourself by grabbing the tail with pliers.

The procedure must be repeated on both sides again, resulting in five loops. We place our workpiece on the anvil and start hammering.

You don’t need to hit too hard, the main thing is to keep the hammer level so that it doesn’t hit the edge and leave unsightly dents on the workpiece. The ends of the loops can be flattened more strongly, but where the wire crosses, it is important not to overdo it so that it does not break.
This is roughly what it should look like.

Cunning: You can beat the workpiece only on the side that will then be the wrong side. Then the front will turn out smooth and even.

We clamp the workpiece in a vice so that the ends stick out, and begin to twist them together.

We twist it to the place where the key bit will be (about 3 cm). Then we bend one of the ends at a right angle, and straighten the other down.

Having retreated about 2.5 cm, we grab the lower end with pliers and begin to bend it.

Bend it all the way and press it tighter with pliers.

Again we clamp the key in a vice, trying to press both the bent end and the twisted part.

Now we grab the end of the resulting loop with pliers and twist it, and then bend the remaining tail parallel to the second one.

We cut it to an equal length and carefully give it a rounded shape with pliers.

And again we put it on the anvil and hit it with a hammer. The very tip of the key and the beard can be flattened more, but we try not to overdo it with the rest.

All that remains is to attach the bead. Take a thin wire and cut it in half. We pass both pieces through the bead and place it in the center of the upper part of the key.

Now you need to wrap each end of a thin wire around a thick wire 2-3 times. To get rid of protruding tails, we bend the wires several times at the very base, and they break off neatly.
Ready! You can hang it on a cord or chain and wear it with pleasure.

Probably everyone has tried to make simple wire crafts with their own hands. Remember the improvised rings, bracelets, roses and funny little people that are so easy to twist from copper wire scraps or from thin wire taken from a champagne bottle.

And if you master a few basic elements and get inspired, you can make crafts from copper wire that will become real masterpieces!

Copper wire butterfly

First, you need to learn how to make curls from wire. It is convenient to use special tweezers for this purpose.

Only on the basis of such curls can you make a wonderful version of a wire craft for children - an elegant butterfly with weightless openwork wings.

Twist the second wing using tweezers.

Glue a large bead in the center.

If you stock up on a whole set of tools, you can make much more complex and incredibly interesting crafts. For example, a piece of strong wire can be turned into a dragonfly.

And if you use beads or seed beads in your work, the dragonfly will gain real charm. Crafts made from beads and wire are very popular; they are convenient to use in interior design, creating jewelry and accessories. And making such crafts is not at all difficult - you just need to imagine how you want to see the end result of your work, and at the right moment, string beads of a suitable shape, color and size onto the wire.

You can use not only small beads, but also fairly large beads. It all depends on the type of product and its size.

Souvenir “Heart” made of copper wire

You can combine wire with other materials. For example, a simple but very cute heart made of copper wire can be fixed on a wooden block.

Twist the wire at the base of the heart.

We lay out the wire a second time. We fix the end of the wire at the bottom of the heart.

We make a hole in a wooden cube, pour a little glue there and insert a wire with a heart there. The result will be a wonderful souvenir, which, by the way, can be conveniently used as a stand for notes, business cards and even photographs.

DIY wire pendants

Instead of beads and beads, you can use buttons and glass pebbles from the hole in the middle. They easily turn into part of an original heart pendant

Or a cute souvenir bird.

A pendant in the shape of a rain cloud will look original.

Copper wire pendant “Tuchka”

You can also turn it into a dream catcher.

You can make a very beautiful feather pendant from colored beads and copper wire.

Or a round elegant medallion pendant.

And this luxurious mandala pendant can be hung on the window so that it delights with the shine of its beads and catches little sunbeams.

Wire pendant "Mandala"

Wire crafts for interior decoration

You can make such pendants part of the decor. For example, a cute octopus will feel very comfortable in your bathroom.

And the bird will be a good decoration for the wall - on the terrace, kitchen, in the corridor. Wherever you want to liven up the interior a little.

Wall pendant “Bird”

You can make a Christmas decoration from wire - an angel in a laconic style.

Pendants on wooden planks look interesting. These can be cute figures of people.

Wire pendant "Men"

An incredibly delicate pendant can be made from dark thin wire for a chandelier.

Or flowers, mugs and hearts.

You can also use pendants on a wooden plank as a mobile toy above your baby’s crib. Wire ballerina Wire chairs Wire cacti

Of course, you can use wire and beads to create elegant jewelry and accessories. In this case, you can do without beads if you take bright wire and give it the desired shape. It’s enough just to make a pendant or a beautiful bracelet out of it.