DIY Network

Flemish Pearl Bracelet From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-113

	Completed Flemish bracelets.
	The same technique can be adapted to create a matching necklace.

Are you looking for a delicate, elegant bracelet or necklace for your wedding? Here, guest artist Gary Helwig shares a technique for creating a bracelet that would be perfect for a bride or bridesmaid (and can even be adapted to create a necklace).

Materials:
4" 18-gauge wire
30" 22-gauge wire.
4" 24-gauge wire (optional)
(8) 6mm beads (crystals or pearls)
1 commercial clasp
6" medium or fine commercial chain
Round nose pliers
(2) Bent chain nose pliers (2)
Flush cutter
WigJig Delphi (with two metal pegs that come with the Delphi)
Two Super Pegs for the WigJig Delphi both size 3/16" or ¼".
Chasing hammer and anvil (optional)
Nylon jaw pliers (optional)

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The WigJig can simplify wire work.

1. Cut and straighten a four inch piece of 18G wire. Any wire will do, but ½ hard wire works best because it will require less hardening once you are done making the wire component.

2. Make a loop in one end of the wire using your round nose pliers. Make this loop large enough to fit over one of the metal pegs that come with the WigJig.

3. Position two metal pegs and two Super Pegs in your WigJig. (Both Super Pegs must be the same size. 3/16" size is recommended, but ¼" size will work.) See Resources for link to pattern.

4. Place the initial loop in the 18-gauge wire on one of the small metal pegs in the wig jig, following the pattern provided in Resources. Push the wire down as your wrap, and concentrate on holding the wire straight as you wrap.

5. Remove the wire from the jig and cut the excess wire tail with your chain nose pliers.

6. Close the final loop with your bent chain nose pliers. At this point you can use the piece as is, or optionally (and recommended) you can harden the piece by hammering it on an anvil with a chasing hammer.

7. One final option is that you can wrap 24-gauge wire around the middle of the piece to further strengthen this piece. (Instructions for this option are provided on the above web page.)

8. Now we begin to add links to the bracelet. The piece we just made (Flemish Spiral) will become the center piece of the bracelet and we build the bracelet out from the center. First cut six segments of commercial chain to a length of approximately 3/8" each.

9. Using the 22-gauge wire and a 6mm bead, make a wrapped bead link on one end of the Flemish Spiral. Connect the initial end of the wrapped bead link around one end of the Flemish Spiral and wrap that end closed. Add the 6mm bead and begin making the other end of the wrapped bead link. Before wrapping the other end of the wrapped bead link closed, connect it to the end link on one of the segments of 3/8" long commercial chain. Once the chain has been added, complete the wrapped bead link by wrapping it closed.

10. Make a second wrapped bead link between the end link of the commercial chain and the end link on another segment of commercial chain. Use one of the 6mm beads.

11. Make a third wrapped bead link between the end of the second segment of commercial chain from step 9 and a third segment of commercial chain.

12. Make a fourth wrapped bead link between the end of the third segment of commercial chain from step 10 and on the other end put one end of the commercial clasp.

13. Repeat steps 9-12 on the other end of the Flemish Spiral to make the other1/2 of the bracelet.

14. If you chose to use a magnetic clasp for the bracelet, adding a 2" guard chain at the same time that you add the clasp is recommended.

RESOURCES :

Wig Jig Instructions

Peg Placement Pattern

Wrapped Bead Link

GUESTS :

Gary Helwig
Owner
WigJig
P.O. Box 5124
Gaithersburg, MD 20882
Phone: 800-579-WIRE
E-mail: gary@wigjig.com Website: www.wigjig.com