Basic Weaving 2: How to Add a New Wire

Copyright 2009 Donna Spadafore

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Christine GiererHow to add a new wire - that was a question I remember having when I started wire wrapping. Here's a tutorial showing you how. I'd like to give a special thanks to Donna for submitting so many beautiful tutorials. You can find more of her tutorials on my website linking from the Making Wire Jewelry page

Enjoy!

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Instructions

Basic Weaving Adding New Wire 1This tutorial teaches you how to add a new wire while weaving. It is an addition to the techniques taught my in Basic Weaving Techniques tutorial (you can find that tutorial here:http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/wire-weaving-techniques.html).

As you will see in the illustrations, this does not create a completely seamless look. Therefore it is advisable to only use this technique on inconspicuous areas of the piece you are working on.

The more you practice this the less obvious the joined area will be.

This works best using weave 3 of the Basic Weaving Techniques tutorial.

Prerequisite Tutorials:

  • Basic Weaving Techniques

Materials needed:

  • 16g round wire
  • 26g round dead soft wire

Tools needed:

  • Flush cutter
  • Flat nose pliers

Step 1

When you reach the end of the wire you are working with, wrap the 26g wire onto one of the 16g wires 4 times. Space the wraps so that 1 wire will fit between each one. You don't have to get the spacing perfect as you will be able to move them slightly as you continue with the following steps.

 Basic Weaving Adding New Wire 2

Step 2

Cut the 26g wire and press the end flat against the 16g wire.

 Basic Weaving Adding New Wire 3

Step 3

With a new piece of wire, slide the 26g wire between the 2 16g wires. Bring the wire all the way to the weave.

The shorter end of the wire will be in front of the wire you just finished off. The longer end of the wire should be behind the other piece of wire.

 Basic Weaving Adding New Wire 4

Step 4

Wrap the shorter end of the wire around the 16g wire opposite the one you wrapped while finishing off the first piece of wire. Space the wraps so that 1 wire will fit between each one.

 Basic Weaving Adding New Wire 5

Step 5

Bring the longer wire down over the top wire, in between the 2 16g wires and behind the bottom wire.

 Basic Weaving Adding New Wire 6

Step 6

Wrap the wire up over the bottom 16g wire and bring back in between the 2 16g wires, then behind the top wire.

Make sure that the bottom wrap falls between 2 of the wraps created when finishing off the first 26g wire.

 Basic Weaving Adding New Wire 7

Step 7

Bring the wire back down again, between 2 of the wraps on the top 16g wire, and back through between the 2 16g wires, and behind the bottom 16g wire.

 Basic Weaving Adding New Wire 8

Step 8

Continue weaving in the same manner until you reach the end of the wraps.

 Basic Weaving Adding New Wire 9

Step 9

At this point you can begin weaving as you were before finishing off the first 26g wire.

 Basic Weaving Adding New Wire 10

About the Artist: Donna Spadafore is a self taught jewelry artist who has spent years improving her techniques and creating new, original jewelry designs. She now teaches many of her designs to her students using on-line tutorials available on her web-site. If you are interested in learning new and wonderful jewelry techniques, go to http://www.gailavira.com/tutorials

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