DIY Network

Knitted-Wire Coil Necklace From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-305

Guest Nancie Wiseman coils and weaves a dramatic necklace in silver, copper and gold.

Materials:

1 Wyr Pak containing 1 spool each 30-gauge Artistic Wire in silver, gold and copper
3 feet each of 16-gauge Artistic Wire in silver, gold and copper
Wyr Knittr by Bond America
Round -nose pliers
Chain-nose pliers
Wire cutters
Ball peen hammer
Small anvil
Sewing needle with eye large enough to accommodate 30-gauge wire

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

1. Using one of the 30-gauge wire colors, and following the Wyr Knittr directions, work about 24" of knitting (figure A). Do not crush the knitting while working with the Wyr Knittr. Cut the wire leaving a 12" tail. Gently thread the tail through the 4 remaining loops of knitting, pulling gently to secure. Cut tail. Repeat for remaining 2 colors of wire.

2. Do not straighten the 16-gauge wire, the natural curve of the wire will help the necklace fit around your neck. Gently coil one end of the wire into a loose flat circle, starting with the round-nose pliers to make a tight loop and completing with the chain-nose pliers to make concentric circles around the original loop (figure B).

3. Concentrating on the circle at the end of the 16-gauge wire, hammer it with the flat side of the ball peen hammer on the anvil until it is almost flat. This will harden the wire so it won't pull out of shape.

4. Thread the corresponding color of knitting over the 16-gauge wire and push down over the outer ring of the circle and secure with a tail from the knitting (figure C).

5. Create a smaller circle at the other end of the 16-gauge wire to match the circle at the opposite end, as you did in step 3. Hammer the wire on the anvil, do not hammer the knitting. Pull the knitting around the outside loop and secure with a tail from the knitting. Gently squeeze the knitting so it hugs the 16-gauge wire.

6. Repeat steps 2 thru 5 for remaining 2 colors of wire, making different shapes at the ends of the wire.

7. Fit the three pieces of knitting together, copper on the outer edge, gold in the middle and silver on the inner edge. Keep them together on a flat surface. Thread a 30" strand of copper wire into the sewing needle and sew the 3 pieces together with a zig-zag stitch on the back (figure D). Finishing off, and adding more wire when necessary to complete the sewing. Gently manipulate the pieces so the fronts lay flat when completed. The wire can be manipulated slightly to achieve the desired affect. Tuck in all the ends, and trim.

8. Place the necklace on your neck and gently bend so it matches the gentle slope of the shoulders and lays flat at the back neck and on the front. You should not have to "open" and "close" the necklace to put it on, it should gently slide over the neck.

RESOURCES :

Wyr Knitter and Wyr Packs
Bond America
Web site: www.bond-america.com

GUESTS :

Nancie Wiseman
President
KnitWise
Phone: 360-678-6378
E-mail: nanciewiseman@earthlink.net
Web site: www.nancieknits.com