Silver and Gold Bangle BraceletWire Jewelry Making Pattern #150

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Supplies Needed* Complete instructional information and pattern * 1 Length of floral sterling silver pattern wire approximately ½ inch wide and 8 inches long (for thecenter of the bracelet) * 1 five inch length of 16 gauge sterling silver half hard round wire (for the hook) * 4 feet of half round 16 gauge gold filled half hard wire (for the bindings) * 5 feet of 21 gauge gold filled square half hard wire (for the gold trim)

Tools Needed* Round nose pliers * Flat nose pliers * Flush cutter * Chain nose pliers * Bracelet mandrel * Polishing cloth or rotary tool and buffing pad (either one) * Red rouge * Pin vise or automatic wire twister (either one) * Jewelers saw, sheet metal cutters or very large craft scissors

Step 1

Cut a piece of sterling silver pattern wire 1 inch smaller that the length of your bracelet. If you wantyour bracelet to be 7 inches, make this piece of pattern wire 6 inches.

Also cut 3 pieces of 20 gauge gold filled square half hard wire and the center wire will be twisted. Todetermine to the length of these wires, double the intended size of your bracelet and add 2additional inches. If you want your bracelet to be 7 inches, make these 3 wires 16 inches.

Step 2

Use a pin vise or autmatic wire twister to twist one of the wires. This will be your center wire.

Step 3

Start your bracelet in the center of the wires. You will make 6 full wraps around the wires. This willmake the end of your bracelet. Make sure that your wraps are tight and very close together.

Then take each wire one at a time and use the blade of a knife to bend the wire down to a nice "L"shape. Do this with each wire individually until you have a right angle.

Step 4

Now bend the wires down on the other side so you end up with a "U" shape. This will be the catchon your bracelet.

Step 5

Before you start to insert the silver pattern wire, take a look at the pattern wire and make sure theedges are flat and smooth. You may not have to do this, but the flatter the edge on the pattern wire,the better the bracelet will hold together. If you need to flatten the edges of your pattern wire, justtake a file and lightly file the edges until they are flat.

NOTE: You don't want to file down the side of a gold filled pattern wire, because you may filethrough the gold. This is not the case with sterling silver.

Also make sure the end of the pattern wire is cut straight and corners are even. This sterling patternwire is soft, so you can cut it with a good Xuron flush cutter, a jeweler's saw, or an inexpensivesheet metal cutter.

Step 6

Lay your pattern wire in between the completed gold wire harness, and you can begin to wrap in thewire at this time. Make sure your pattern wire fits in snuggly, if not, you may have to make a fewsmall adjustments so it fits nice an easily against the gold wire harness. It's a good idea to tape thewire in with some sugical tape so it will be easy to manage. Just make sure you leave room whentaping so you can work with the wraps.

Step 7

Cut about 14 inches of 16 gauge half round gold filled wire. Wrap the sterling silver in with this wire.Your opening for the catch should be about 1/4 of an inch. Make sure your cut wires are on theopposite side of the pattern or the inside of the bracelet. Cut the wires very short. The shorter theyare cut, the less likely they are to come up and stick your customer's wrist.

Step 8

This is how the end of the bracelet is going to look. WHen you get to the very end of the silver wire,make 1 or 2 wraps on your harness. This extra couple of wraps will hold the silver and keep it fromcoming out.

Step 9

This is the what your bracelet should now look like. Make sure the gold wires are laying flat againstthe silver pattern wire and doesn't overlap. Make adjustments if needed.

Step 10

Start your next wrap about an inch from the other end (hook end) of the bracelet. Where you startthe wrap is really up to you, whatever you think is a better look. Use the same 16 gauge half roundwire as you did on the catch end. Wrap until you reach the end of the sterling pattern wire.

Step 11

Cut the end of your bracelet wires about a half inch from the end of the pattern wire. This is whereyou will attach the hook. After cutting the ends, bend them up in about a 45 degree angle with yourflat nose pliers, then roll them back with your round nose pliers. Make sure you mark a spot on yourround nose pliers so both the hooks will be the same size.

Step 12

Your hook end should now look like the one pictured.

Step 13

Put 4 wraps on each end of the bracelet about 1-1/2 iches from the other end wraps to secure thewires together. You can add more binding wires if you like, but one on each side usually works well.This is what the end of your bracelet should look like. It is now ready to attach the hook.

Step 14

Make your hook with a small piece of 16 gauge round wire. Bend the wire right in the center andsqueeze it down tight with your flat nose pliers.

Step 15

Now take your round nose pliers and roll the tip back to make the hook end. Grab the wire about inthe center with your round nose pliers. You don't want this hook to open up too large or be tooclosed.

Step 16

Then hold the hook with your flat nose and open up the legs by bending the ends out to the side. Atthis poing, the hook should like like this. Make sure each leg is about 5/8 of an inch long. Trim themback with your flush cutters if needed.

Step 17

Roll each end back toward the middle with your round nose pliers to make circles. Your hook shouldnow look like the one pictured.

Step 18

Attach the hook to the cut end wires on the bracelet. Make sure the hook is facing upward (towardthe pattern side). Putting the hook on facing the wrong way is a very common mistake. Take yourtime and make sure it faces the pattern side of the pattern wire. Also, there may be someadjustments needed to the circles on the hook. Three wires have to fit through there, so open thecircles up with your round nose pliers if you need to.

Tighten down the cut end wires using your flat nose pliers. Make sure you leave enough room forthe hook to move around.

Step 19

This is what the finished hook end should look like. Your bracelet construction is now complete, andit should look similar to the one pictured.

Step 20

Now you will need a round object, preferably a bracelet mandrel, to form the bracelet. Start at oneend of the bracelet and press the other end around the mandrel. Then press the other end aroundthe mandrel.

Step 21

The bracelet should now look similar to the one pictured. There is still some hand shaping to bedone.

Step 22

To finish forming the bracelet, you will need to use a pair of pliers. The best pliers for this would beplastic jaw pliers but you can use flat nose. The plastic jaw pliers won't leave any scratches or dentsin the wire. Use the pliers to continue to form the bracelet into a circle.

Step 23

After you have finished forming the bracelet, see if the bracelet is straight or needs any adjustments.

Step 24

The bracelet is now finished, and you can really make it shine using a rotary tool and red rougepolish.

More Jewelry Making Patterns at

http://wire-sculpture.com/patterns/