Bead Stringing on Memory Wire

About Memory Wire

Bead stringing on memory wire is popular because it is so easy to use.  It's gotta be the easiest form of bead stringing after stringing macaroni onto plastic lacing. 

The hardest part of working with memory wire is the cutting and bending the ends.  Some people may find this is too much for their hands. Kids will need help, as will anyone with chronic joint pain.

What is Memory Wire?

Memory wire is a very special type of steel-spring wire. It retains it's shape, its very hard and difficult to bend, and is not easily to cut. It's pretty darn hard to break too. 

Memory wire comes in ring sized, bracelet sized, and necklace sized.

How to Make Jewelry with Memory Wire in 5 Easy Steps

To make memory wire jewelry, you need to do the following:

1. Decide how much to use
2. Cut the wire
3. Finish one end
4. String stuff onto the wire
5. Finish the other end

1. How much to use:

No matter what you're making, a good rule of thumb is to use one and a half to one and a quarter coils (full loops) so that there is some overlap.

Bracelets: A bracelet for a single strand would ideally be 1.25 - 1.5 coils. For a bracelet you can add more coils if you want.  The great the number of coils, the more strands your bracelet has.

Necklaces: A necklace should be 1.5 coils. You can't really use more than that.(Otherwise, the weight of the beads pulls it down and off your neck.)

Rings: the same rules apply as for a bracelet.

Wine charms: Use the "ring" size for wine charms.

2. Cutting the Wire:

Important!  Read this before attempting to cut memory wire!

This is NOT the stuff to cut with your good flush cutters (unless you want to ruin them). 

To cut memory wire, you want to use the heavy duty wire cutters from the garage, or use specially made memory wire cutters, not your good flush cutters.

I am VERY SERIOUS about not using any cutters that you will ever want to use again. 

3. Finishing an end:

Bend the end around into a loop to finish or cap with a memory wire end cap and some jewelry glue like E6000.  If you'd like, you can hang a dangle from the end loop.  Of course, don't finish both ends at the same time. 

4. Stringing Stuff:

Pretty self-explanatory.  Bead has hole.  Wire goes through hole.

You can string other stuff too.  You might want to try buttons, bead dangles, plastic tubing from the hardware store...

5. Finishing the other end:

Very important so everything doesn't fall off....  See #3 for instructions.

Done!

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