How to Make Hand Crocheted Wire Jewelry
Crochet is a traditional handicraft that looked like a lost art until something new and unexpected developed: crocheting with wire instead of thread. Crocheted wire jewelry making uses beads and wire to create crocheted strings or patterns that look like a more complex piece of jewelry. Making hand-crocheted wire jewelry requires only basic crochet stitches, pliable wire and any combination of beads to create striking bracelets and necklaces.
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Things You'll Need
- Favorite necklace
- Measuring tape
- 28- or 30-gauge wire
- Wire cutters
- Size I crochet hook
- 47 to 62 glass or art beads
- Needle-nose pliers
- Toggle clasp
Instructions
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Hand Crocheted Wire Necklace
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1
Measure a favorite necklace with a measuring tape to determine the length you need to make the crocheted wire necklace strings.
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2
Pull the wire from the spool and string 15 to 20 beads, then move them down the wire out of the way.
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3
Place the crochet hook over the wire and make a wire loop around the crochet hook. Twist the crochet hook around in a circle to tighten the starting loop.
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4
Place the wire over the hook and pull the wire through to make the first chain stitch. Chain 14 more chain stitches, depending on the length you want.
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5
Take one of the pre-strung beads and slide it to the crochet hook. Put the wire over the hook and pull the wire through the loop to make a chain with the bead.
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6
Make another chain stitch, then slide the next bead over to the hook and chain the wire through with the bead. Continue this pattern of one crochet chain; slide the bead over and chain until all 15 or more beads are crocheted in the wire. Check the string to see if you need to add more beads for more overall length.
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7
Chain crochet 15 more stitches using the wire, then clip the wire with the wire cutters, leaving about 4 to 5 inches extra length. Put the wire over the hook and pull the wire all the way through to secure the string.
Finish the Necklace
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8
Crochet two more wire crocheted strings using wire and 15 or more beads exactly like the first string.
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9
Lay the three crocheted wire strings next to each other and align the beads. Holding the three strings together, twist the wire ends together on one side.
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10
Take the twisted wire end and make that the “top” of the braid. Braid the three crocheted wire strings together as a single strand. At the end of the braid, twist the wires together like on the other side.
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11
Trim the wire ends so they are even. String a single bead on one side of the twisted wire; then using needle nose pliers, make an open loop past the bead and put one side of the toggle clasp in the loop. Take the wire; close the loop and wrap the rest of the wire securely behind the clasp
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12
Go the other side and again string a single bead; make an open loop and add the other half of the toggle clasp. Close the wire loop and wrap the rest of the wire behind the toggle clasp to secure it.
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1
Tips & Warnings
String extra beads onto the wire to adjust the necklace length depending on the beads and final length. You don't have to use all the pre-strung beads on the necklace.
Practice crocheting with wire, using cheap wire from the hardware store until you get used to wire instead of thread.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
