How to Make Curly Wire Napkin Rings

To make curly wire napkin rings, you'll need to create a jig for your pattern. You can make your own design - even using your initials. A jig will allow you to make matching sets of napkin rings.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• 12" x 12" 1/2-inch lumber
• Wire Cutters
• Dowel Rods
• Electric Drill/assorted Bits
• Beads
• Cellophane Tapes
• Paper And Pencils
• Pliers For Jewelry Making
• 14-gauge Jewelry Wire
• Workbenches
• Files
• Headless Nails
• C-clamps

1. Draw the design you wish to make on a piece of paper. It should be the exact size you want the finished product to be.
2. Use a 12-inch-square piece of 1/2-inch lumber to make your jig. This will give you enough space around the board to clamp it to a worktable if needed.
3. Tape your drawing in the center of the board.
4. Use a 1/16-inch drill bit to drill holes around the design. Follow your drawing. You'll need to drill a hole anywhere you want the design to make a turn or a curve.
5. Place headless nails such as a 1-inch paneling nail into the drilled holes. Leave the paper in place so you'll have something to go by.
6. Use a strong gauge of wire such as a 14-gauge so that your napkin rings will hold their shape. If possible, unroll about 5 inches of wire at a time to work around the jig, unrolling more wire as needed until the ring is complete. This will both prevent waste and ensure that you have enough wire.
7. Make a loop on the starter nail and wrap wire around the nail.
8. Follow your pattern.
9. Make a sharp turn by making a loop around that nail and then going on with your design.
10. Be sure to make loops a bit larger than the nail so they'll slip off the jig easily.
11. Continue until you reach the end of your pattern.
12. Remove the design from the jig, leaving the roll of wire attached to your design.
13. Make the rings for the napkin to slide into by wrapping the wire from your roll around a large dowel rod three or four times.
14. Make your design on the other end of the wire the same way you did in steps 7 through 12.
15. Trim the wire and smooth the ends with a burr cup or file.

Tips & Warnings

• Slide beads on as you create your design or when looping on the dowel.
• Lay your design on the edge of a workbench and gently hammer with a rawhide hammer or jewelry hammer to create a hammered-wire look.
• You may need to drill a few holes and place nails in them to perfect your design using some scrap wire before you use your good wire.