When you're trying something new it's best to find cheaper materials to practice on. You may not like the new craft or you may need to practice a lot before you get it. Just like the teddy bears! Being given a length of stranded copper is even better.
You will want to cut the wire between 1 1/2" - 2". If you don't have access to this type of wire you can buy copper wire in a 22 gauge at the craft store or you could even use copper head pins and cut off the heads.
We'll start with round nose pliers, I'm down about 1/2".
Round the wire over the pliers.
At this point sometimes I find I need to reposition my work...
...and put it back on the pliers to twist.
The flat nosed pliers press it down nice.
And there you go. Gosh, I made it look easy. I must be honest, remember that practice I was talking about, you'll need it. If your loop isn't round, shove it back on your round nosed pliers again. If it's not flat take the flat nosed pliers to it.
You are ready for your first bead!
More tomorrow.
String your next bead and start your next loop.
Attach your next wire...
...and finish your loop.
We're starting to get somewhere.
Add another bead and go as long as you'd like.
When I make my own chain I feel as though I'm doing something that my ancestors might have done, like a lost art. Excuse my being mellow dramatic but this was really cool to learn for me. I can't wait to tell you about my first granny square, my grandmom would be so proud!
Oops, maybe I forgot to tell you to make one loop on several pieces of wire. Take your first wire and string a bead on it. We're going to begin to make a loop on the other side using our round nosed pliers.
Attach another wire that you've made to this partially made loop.
Then using your round nosed pliers take the wire right around to form a loop.
Twist under your loop making sure your first loop is there and out of the way!
Like so.
I'm using my nippers to snip off any excess wire and my flat nosed to make sure it all lays flat.
We'll start with round nose pliers, I'm down about 1/2".
Round the wire over the pliers.
At this point sometimes I find I need to reposition my work...
...and put it back on the pliers to twist.
The flat nosed pliers press it down nice.
And there you go. Gosh, I made it look easy. I must be honest, remember that practice I was talking about, you'll need it. If your loop isn't round, shove it back on your round nosed pliers again. If it's not flat take the flat nosed pliers to it.
You are ready for your first bead!
