3 Part Series: Getting Started with Wire Wrapped Jewelry [Part 1]
Over the next 3 days I have a special 3 Part Series to help you get started with Wire Wrapped Jewelry.Part 1 is today and it's all about where to get wire, which is one of my most asked questions.Part 2 is tomorrow and we'll talk about the tools you need to get started.And Part 3 will be a tutorial and we'll actually use wire and make a pair of earrings.After you go through the series, I would highly suggest that you invest in Wire Wrapping for Beginners eCourse if you're ready to really dig in and learn how to make lots of components and then put them together to make wire wrapped jewelry, along with lots of inspiration for designing your own unique pieces to express your creativity and personal style.
Today I wanted to give you some suggestions about where to get wire since I get this question quite a bit.If you already have a favorite store for jewelry supplies, start there.For my eCourses and eWorkshops I use 20 gauge wire the most for almost everything. For some projects you'll need a thicker gauge, such as 18 gauge and occasionally you'll need thinner gauge such as 22 gauge.For most everything I teach you’ll use half hard wire.As you get more into wire wrapping and learn more, you’ll find out what other gauges you need and add them.Sterling silver can be expensive and I don’t recommend it if you’re beginning because it can be very disappointing if you mess it up (and most likely you will mess it up when you're first starting.)For silver plated wire:You can find “artist wire” at craft stores like Michaels, AC Moore or Joann if you have any of those stores close by. (It’s usually silver plated copper or sometimes called “German Wire.”)You’ll usually not find a temper (or hardness, i.e. half hard, etc.) on the artist wire, but it typically works like half hard wire.My favorite wire that I most often use Parawire's non tarnish silver plated wire.Fire Mountain Gems has something similar called Zebra Wire, but I haven’t actually used it. It seems very similar.I highly recommend Parawire. I use it a lot and I wear my jewelry pieces a lot and it really holds up with no tarnishing.For copper or brass wire:These are also nice inexpensive alternatives. You can usually find copper at craft stores and also really anywhere that sells wire (like FireMountainGems.com or FusionBeads.com).Typically for brass I have just simply searched for “Brass Wire” on Etsy and purchased it.(Also, I love mixing brass with silver!)Sterling Silver:The options above are all great places to start. As I mentioned above, if you’re new to making jewelry I would start with these less expensive versions of wire for a while.However, when you’re ready to purchase sterling silver, you can find that on the same websites as well. I also recommend Halstead. (Note: they do have a $100.00 minimum order.)Action Steps:#1 In a couple of days we’ll be using wire for a fun tutorial. So if you don’t have wire, purchase some 20 gauge wire. If it’s artist wire or Parawire, it won’t have a hardness. If you do have a choice of hardness, purchase half hard.#3 Wire Wrapping for Beginners eCourse is a great place to learn how to make many components and learn how to put them together to make beautiful jewelry. I also show you ways to customize the jewelry pieces to express your creativity and your own personal style.
This is the first installment of a 3 Part Series to help you get started with wire wrapped jewelry:
Part 1 is this post.Part 2 is about the tools you need to get started with wire wrapped jewelry.And Part 3 is tutorial and we’ll actually use wire and make a pair of earrings. (It is ECT TV Episode 77: Wire Wrapped Chandelier Crystal Earrings)You can find each of these 3 parts free on my website at the links above.However, I know that a lot of you love PDFs that are easier to download and save, so I created a 20 page eBook with all the information (including the step-by-step photos and instructions for the tutorial in part 3), so you can keep it handy.(Note: The information in the eBook is the same as the blogposts; however, it's in one easy-to-access place in this eBook. You can download it and save it so you can find it to access it again and again!)
You can get the eBook by purchasing it below:
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