How to Design Wind Chimes

Glass wind chimes

You can design and make your own wind chimes from items around the house. Consider a whimsical wind chime that includes old, mismatched utensils, costume jewelry or even a collection of old tools. Metal- and thick-glass objects will clang, jangle and tinkle, so you won't need bells for your chimes. Find five to seven items that are similar in size and weight, and make a custom-designed chime for your backyard or garden.

Things You'll Need

• Wind chime items
• Header
• 20-gauge craft wire
• Wire cutters
• Fishing line
• Scissors
• Waterproof adhesive

Instructions

1. Select items for your wind chimes and a header that fits the theme of your other items. If your wind-chime design includes old tools, use a large screwdriver as the header. If your design includes utensils, use a ladle or serving spoon as the header. For wind chimes that include strands of beads or jewelry, use a strip of wood or metal for the header that you can paint or decorate with rhinestones. If you're designing seashell wind chimes, use driftwood as your header.

2. Cut a length of craft wire to wrap around each wind chime object that does not have holes. Or drill tiny holes in each object. This is time-consuming, and you will need different drill bits for different materials. The wrapped wire also adds design interest to your chimes. For seashells, you need to drill holes. To hang jewelry and beaded items, use the holes in the beads--no wire or drilling is required.

3. Wrap the wire around the objects so that it is secure. For example, if you're wrapping a utensil, bring the wire up through the tines in the fork to secure it, or make a tight spiral in the widest section of the spoon before continuing to wrap the wire tightly around the handle. Take advantage of the dips and crevices in the object that you are wrapping to hold the wire in place.

4. Lay the wrapped objects side by side and arrange them as you like, distributing the weight as evenly as possible with your heaviest items in the center. If you place weightier objects on one end, the other end will not hang properly.

5. Cut lengths of fishing line to tie the objects to the header. Your design may include hanging some items lower than others, or hang them all evenly. Tie the line onto the wire in a triple knot, and then onto the header in another triple knot. Apply a drop of waterproof adhesive to the knots on the objects to make sure they do not come loose. Cut another strip of line and make a loop on top of your header to hang the wind chimes.

6. Make sure that your design hangs evenly. Adjust the placement of the objects as needed. When your wind-chime design is as you like it, apply more glue to the knots on the header, and to the header itself, to hold your design in place.

References

• Silverware Wind Chimes

Resources

• How to Make a Wire Spiral