Making Wire Jewelry Blog

The often self-taught art of making wire jewelry is becoming more and more popular these days.  I attend a few festivals during the year that feature handmade crafts and jewelry, and there is a huge market available for people interested in making wire jewelry.  Not only does it make an engaging hobby, but it can also become quite profitable if you so choose.

To get started with making wire jewelry, there’s some basic equipment you’ll need to procure.  For the basics, you can break it down into pliers, wire cutters and the wire itself.  There’s more equipment out there that can help you as you learn, but these are the basic ingredients to get started.

Craft stores sell several types of pliers specific to making wire jewelry.  The two main types are flat and round nose pliers.  Flat nose pliers are obviously straight and angular, so these will be good for straightening wire and bending it into an angle.  Round nose pliers, on the other hand, are great for bends, curves, loops and the delicate details.

You’ll also of course need wire cutter.  This should come as no real surprise.  So, what you’ll want is a flush wire cutter to make sure you get even cuts with whatever metal you’re using.

Wire.  This is obviously the bread-and-butter of making wire jewelry.  The thickness of wire is measured in gauges.  The lower the gauge, the thicker the wire.  You’ll want to start with a high-gauge wire while you’re learning as it’ll be easier to bend and shape.

Also pay attention to wire shapes.  There’s square, half-round and round.  While round is the most popular choice among jewellers, changing the shape of the wire can give designs a unique look and feel.

So we’ve got wire thickness and shape, and the next thing to notice is the type of wire — be it gold, silver, copper or brass.  If you’re new to making wire jewelry, I’d suggest starting with a more affordable wire while you’re gaining confidence in your abilities as a wire jeweller.

There you have the basic list of supplies to get started making wire jewelry:  flat and round nose pliers, flush wire cutters and wire.  As you start making jewelry, you’ll want to think about how you’d like to organize everything.  To start, a couple small tupperware containers may be enough.  It would also be nice to have a separate space where you make your wire jewelry so that once you sit down there, you’re in “the zone” and more focused on your craft.

But those considerations aren’t the most important thing right now.  The most important thing is to get your feet wet, have fun with it and start making wire jewelry!