When Wire Breaks or Runs Out in the Middle of a Project

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When Wire Breaks or Runs Out in the Middle of a Project

by Angky

Hello, I'm a newbie in accessories. Now I'm trying to make a pendant with wire woven technique.

Can you just tell me how to continue weaving if my wire runs out or gets broken off in the middle, so I can keep the pattern with no big space in between?

I really appreciate if you give me the answer.

Thank you and regards
Angky

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When Wire Breaks or Runs Out in the Middle of a Project

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When your wire does something unexpected
by: Rena

Hi Angky,

It's a little hard to answer your question without seeing what your pendant and wire-weaving technique look like, but here are two tips that you can use in nearly any wire jewelry project:

1) Start out with a longer piece of wire than you think you need. Winding, wrapping, weaving, etc. often take up more inches of wire than we think they will! :o)

And when your design is finished, you can save any leftover wire for a future project.

2) If your piece of wire breaks off or runs out in the middle of your project, think creatively about how you'll add in the new piece of wire to continue the project.

Instead of trying to make the new and old wire ends invisible, consider how you might turn them into an interesting design element.

For example, you might turn the wire ends into a spiral, rosette, vine, coil, or other shape. Or you might use these unplanned wire ends to add a bead or other decorative element to the piece you're creating.

I hope this helps!

Hope I was able to help
by: zoraida

I received the email you sent through my Artfire studio and hope I was able to help you with that.

Good luck.

Practice wire
by: myCorabella

Hi Angky,

If you're using expensive wire such as sterling silver, first practise your design with a less expensive wire such as copper. As Rena suggests, start out with a length of wire that is longer than you think you will need, the MEASURE it and write it down. When you are done making the piece, measure the the remaining length of wire, and subtract that from the starting length to give you the total length used to make the piece. Then record it! Also record the gauge of wire used.

Use this process for anything you make often. For example, for each style of ear wire I make, I keep one as a "sample" and attach it to a piece of card stock with tape or a piece of wire. Under it, I write the length of wire used, the gauge, and any other measurements or notes that will help me remember how I made it. I have several sheets like this: one sheet full of sample ear wires, one sheet of clasps, one sheet of dangles, and so on. Alternatively, you could take photos of the item, both during the process and of the final product, to keep with your notes.

When I want to make something that I already have a sample for, I can cut precisely the length of wire I need, and have no waste. it's also a big time saver!

I find the "sample" sheets come in handy when doing custom orders. For example, I can show the "ear wires" sheet to the customer so they can select their favourite.

I also refer to my "sample" sheets when costing out an item to help me estimate how much wire is required to produce it.

However, when something don't work out to plan, it creates an unexpected opportunity for creativity and growth! Running out of something middle of a project can force you to think creatively, and you many end up with a result that's even more fabulous!

Tracey Morelli
mycorabella.com

Wire breakage and managing long wires.
by: LadyMockingbird

When I'm doing a weaving project that I know will require a really long piece of wire (couple of yards plus) I actually start my weaving in the middle of both the project AND my long wire. This has two effects...

One in only using half of the long length and working outward towards one end the wire won't become as fatigued as it would if I started at one end and manipulated the entire long length of weaving wire.

Second effect is that once I've run the first half of the wire out, even if I didn't manage to wire weave the entire piece, when I work the other half towards the opposite end the result is symmetrical. Which makes it a lot simpler to add in another length of wire without having any 'odd' unintentional looking gaps.

Finally, I've had very little difficulty working in a new piece and hiding it within the weave by simply leaving a couple of inch long tail at the beginning of the new length of wire, and coming back to it once the woven portion is finished and weaving the tail in amongst the older work.

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