“Marbles” Tutorial/Pattern

May 16th, 2007

To make the bracelet exactly as shown, it is necessary to have some knowledge of crochet, and the following materials and supplies will be needed:

69 - 6mm Round Glass Beads
1 - Sterling Silver 9mm Toggle Set
30 Gauge Artistic Wire, Non-Tarnish Silver
Steel Crochet Hooks, sizes 00/3.50 & 4/2.00

You’ll also need some kind of needlenose pliers & wire cutter. The one I have is an inexpensive one that is a 4-in-1 tool that looks similiar to this, but not the same brand. It cuts, bends, and holds.

To begin: String at least 21 beads onto the wire. (String less to make the bracelet shorter; more to make it longer.) Using the smallest hook (4/2.00), make your beginning slip knot, leaving at least a 6-inch tail. Change to the larger hook, and begin making a foundation chain as you would with yarn. With the beginning of each chain, drop a bead, working it into the chain. If you’re new to crocheting with wire, try not to crochet too tightly; allow the wire to flow freely through your fingers.

Once all 21 beads have been added to the chain, finish off using the smaller hook to bring the wire in one last time, leaving another 6-inch tail. Pull the wire taunt to close the gap on each end, being careful not to snap the wire into. Repeat this process three (3) more times.

Once you have completed all three of your strands, lay them side by side. Don’t let them twist and turn too much; you’ll want them to be as even and straight as possible. If your tension wasn’t the same on all three, it’s not a big deal. Just put the longest one in the middle. Once you have the strands situated how you want them, string three beads onto the ends of the three strands all at once, so that the three wires go through the middle of the beads. Using one piece of the toggle set, thread the three wires into the connection loop. Try to keep the tension at least a little tight. Too loose will leave the beads room to wander back and forth once the bracelet is finished; too tight will cause them to gather in an unattractive way. Work the wire around the loop, twisting it around at least twice, once on each side of where the wire first entered. (iIi <– Using this as an example, the “I” is where the wire initially entered the loop; the “i” is where you want to wrap it around twice. I’ll try to get an illustration up soon, but for now, that explanation will have to do.)

Once the wire is secured around the loop, bring the three wires back through the beads. Use the pliers to help pull it tauntly through. It may be easier to do this one at a time. Trim the ends of each as closely to the last bead as possible so that the end of the wire is basically invisible. Repeat with the other side, using the other piece of the toggle.

Ta-da! You now have your own “Marbles” bracelet.

For beads exactly as the ones shown on this bracelet, check with Hobby Lobby, which is where I bought mine. I also got the sterling silver toggle set there. The bracelet in the photo measured approximately 8.25″. Again, if you want to make it shorter, omit one or two beads on each strand. Add beads to make it longer. You could also add more beads onto the wires after your strands are made to make it longer. Your tension will play a role in how long your strands will be as well.

I’m probably not the best teacher in the world when it comes to writing it out; I do much better showing than telling. If you see any problems or need some clarification with this tutorial, please contact me and let me know.

Oh…and this is copyrighted information. Use it for your own personal pleasure, but please don’t use it commercially. Also, I’m not responsible for the results obtained from this tutorial. I just want others to have fun with it and enjoy the benefits of working with wire when crocheting.

©2007 by Tracie at Shade Tree Crochet

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

EDIT 08/28/07 - A printer-friendly version of this tutorial can be found here:“Marbles”.

Filed under jewelry, beads, wire crochet, crochet, projects, accessories, tutorials, how-to's | Comments (2)

Tips for Crocheting with Wire

May 16th, 2007

Below is a list of tips I’ve found helpful when crocheting with wire:

Relax. If you can crochet with yarn and thread, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to crochet with wire. If you’ve never crocheted with thread, practice with that first to get used to handling something way thinner than yarn. Size 10 is recommended.
Know that wire isn’t as forgiving about mistakes as yarn/thread is. If you try to frog it, you’re either going to break it, or just end up with a very fragile piece of wire that will more than likely break sometime down the road. Having said that, it’s sometimes easier to cover up a mistake using wire.
Start out using inexpensive wire in a thin gauge. I’ve found that 28- and 30-gauge work best for me. A thicker gauge is sturdier for some projects, but it’s a lot harder on the hands–and hooks. Hobby Lobby has some cheap wire that is great to play around with. If you decide you’re going to stick with it, try purchasing wire from Artistic Wire. It’s a bit more expensive, but you won’t be disappointed.
Wire doesn’t wrap around your hand and move as smoothly as yarn does. You will probably need to find a comfortable way to hold the wire that allows it to move, as well as keeps your tension consistant.
Good lighting can make all the difference in the world.
If making an item that uses a lot of beads, thread more than you think you’ll need onto the wire before you begin. That way, you don’t stand the chance of running out before you finish your item. Too, be sure to thread the beads in the opposite order you plan to use them if you want them in a specific order.
There is no right and wrong. Find what works for you personally and run with it!
Most of all, have fun!

There’s also a couple of books out there that I recommend. One is Crochet with Wire by Nancie Wiseman. It has some great projects in it, and it’s easy to understand. Another is Crochet Jewelry by Sophie Britten. It’s a really fun book with 35 different jewelry patterns–some in wire, some not.

Of course, there’s always the almighty internet, although I’ve found very little on-line on the subject of wire crochet. I’m sure there’s more, but here’s a few links I’ve found:

          Crochet Wire & Bead Bracelet
          “How-to” With Wire
          Wire & Bead Crochet Instructions

Personally, I think that part of the beauty of wire crochet is the “fabric” created with the wire. In many cases, it’s as pretty as–or even prettier–than the beads chosen for a particular piece.

Have Fun & Happy Wire Crocheting!

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Crochet Stitch Markers

May 4th, 2007

Materials:

Silver Coiless Pins
Small Plastic Faceted Beads (or other beads of choice) - 2 for each pin
Letter beads - in letters representing your hook sizes

How-To:

Bend the base of the pin until it’s almost straight, being careful not to break or weaken it. (Yes, it’ll snap in half, believe me. I found out through trial and error.) Place one bead on the pin, pushing it past the curve to the other side. Do the same with the letter bead and the other bead, then carefully bend the pin back to its usual shape. Once closed, pushed gently on the curve to bend it a bit tighter. The curve of the pin will keep the beads from falling off.

The letter on the marker will not only keep your place when you sit your crochet project down, but it’ll also help you recall what size hook you were using when you last stopped working on it.

I’ve found that the smaller pins work better than the larger ones. The markers in the image were made using size 1 1/4″. If larger ones are used, you could add more beads. It’s totally up to you. Experiment with different bead sizes and such. The possibilities could go on and on.