How to Make a Circular Windchime
Add a whimsical element to your outdoor decor by hanging a wind chime on your patio or from a tree limb in your garden. You can make wind chimes using crystals that tinkle lightly as they throw rainbows around your space or old forks and spoons that clang together noisily when the wind blows. The wind chime header determines the shape of the chimes; a craft ring works to make a circular wind chime. One circular wind chime design is made with crystal bead strands that graduate from short to long to create a spiral design.
Things You'll Need
- 7-inch diameter craft ring
- 24-gauge craft wire
- Wire cutters
- Fishing line
- Scissors
- Crystal prism drop beads
- 4mm, 6mm and 8mm crystal beads
- 1-inch long bugle beads
- Clear waterproof construction adhesive
- Small S hook
Instructions
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1
Cut two 11-inch long sections of 24-gauge craft wire. Wrap one end of one wire around the craft ring. Stretch the wire across the center of the ring and wrap the opposite end securely to the ring. Attach the second wire across the center of the ring so that the two wires make a cross in the center of the craft ring. The wires make the hanger for the circular wind chime.
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2
Cut a 14-inch long strand of fishing line. Thread a crystal prism drop bead to the center of the fishing line. Bring the two ends together to double the line and hold it together at the top of the prism.
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3
Thread any combination of 4mm, 6mm, 8mm and bugle beads over the double line, to the top of the prism bead. You could separate each of the crystal beads on the strand by the bugle beads and arrange the crystal beads in successively smaller sizes up the strand from the prism. There is no right or wrong way to make the wind chime strands, so get as creative as you like. Leave 2 inches of line open at the end of the strand.
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4
With the open end of the fishing line, tie the beaded string around the craft ring in a triple overhand knot. Leave a eighth-inch space in the line between the ring and the first bead on the strand. This will help the line swing better in the wind.
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5
Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 to make as many strands as you like to fill the perimeter of the craft ring circle. Cut the length of each strand 1/2-inch longer than the last strand to make the circular wind chime have a spiral shape.
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6
Cover each knot around the top of the ring with a drop of clear waterproof construction adhesive. Cut the excess line. Hang the circular wind chime using a small S-hook beneath the crossed wires in the center of the craft ring.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit wind chimes image by david hughes from Fotolia.com
