DIY Network

Memory Wire Bracelet by Shari Bonnin From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-403

Materials:

Bracelet memory wire
20-gauge silver craft wire (cut 2 pieces 2" long and 29 pieces 2-1/2" long)
Size 6 seed beads
Wire cutters
Flat nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Ruler

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

Note: Memory wire is a stainless steel hard wire like a spring, and it doesn't lose its shape.

1. Draw your pattern (figure A). This pattern has seven circles because it is seven layers thick. The loops at the end are drawn so that when the bracelet is put together, the loops won't be clumped together at one end.

2. Cut seven pieces of bracelet memory wire so that both ends of each wire overlap 1/4" (figure B). Using your round nose pliers, make a loop on one end of each wire. The loop needs to be in the same plane with the curve of the memory wire. Set aside.

   Tip: You don't want to use your good jewelry cutters on hard-core stainless steel; cutters from the hardware store are fine for this wire.

3. Cut two pieces that are 2" long of the 20-gauge silver craft wire, and 29 pieces that are 2-1/2" long. Take one of the 29 pieces of 2-1/2" wire. With the flat nose pliers, bend one end at a 90-degree angle. Next, take the round nose pliers and form a loop from this 1/4". Put 14 beads on the wire, curve the wire to meet the loop and twist the end tightly around the base of the loop one to two times using your flat nose pliers. Cut off remaining end (figure C). Repeat with the remaining 28 pieces of wire. Set aside four complete loops.

4. Next, take one of the pieces of Memory Wire and string seed beads and three to five beaded loops spaced evenly throughout the wire. (Make two Memory Wires with two beaded loops, one Memory Wire with three beaded loops, two Memory Wires with four beaded loops, and two Memory Wires with five beaded loops.) Leave enough wire at the end and make a 1/4" loop.

5. On one end of each of the 2" pieces of wire, make a loop like you did in the beginning of step two and attach a beaded loop.

6. To form the bracelet, lay out all of the memory wire pieces so the openings are in the same direction. Now, alternate "stringing" a memory wire end, then a bead, a memory wire, then a bead until you have all of the memory wire on one 2" wire (figure D). Form a loop at the end until you have all of the memory wire on one 2" wire. Form a loop at the end and attach a beaded loop. Repeat step four and five with the other end of the bracelet and the last 2" piece of wire.

   Tip: You can use the same technique but use dangles (figure E) instead of loops.

RESOURCES :

Wire and Seed Beads
Beads Galore International, Inc.
Website: www.beadsgalore.com

GUESTS :

Shari Bonnin
Owner
Bonnin Designs
Phone: 714-308-1632
E-mail:bonnindesigns@yahoo.com
Web site: www.bonnindesigns.com