Cafe Noir Beaded Cab Cuff

Designed by Susan Blessinger

This is a great project for our advanced and experienced beaders. You need to know how to do the right angle weave and peyote stitch to complete this project.

By Susan Blessinger

Supplies Needed:

One package 9″ 3001 Black WireKnitZ
One Package 9″ 4002 Silver Plate WireKnitZ
One 1-1/2″ square Cabochon
Five Grams #8 Flat Black Seed Beads
Five Grams #11 Flat Black Seed Beads
6 lb. Smoke Fireline – braided bead thread
#10 beading needle

Directions:

Unroll both pieces of WireKnitZ and insert the 4002 Silver Plate inside of the
3001 Black WireKnitZ.
Gently ease out the creases with your fingers and create a tube bangle.
Fold the 3001 Black raw ends over 1/4″on each side. Do this twice.
Fold both the Silver and Black about 1/2″ toward the center so they meet.

Cut a 30″ piece of Fireline and attach the needle. Using the #8 Seed Beads,
Right Angle Weave one strip until it will wrap around the perimeter edge of the
cabochon minus one final stitch. You may find it helpful to place a 1/8” wide strip
of double stick clear tape around the cabochon to hold the first strip of seed
beads in place while you make the beaded bezel. Place your strip of right angle
weave stitching around the cabochon and make the final Right Angel Weave
attachment with two beads. Starting on the back side of the cabochon, step
down to #11 seed bead to make a bezel. One round should be enough. Needle
to the front of the piece and peyote stitch one row of #8 seed beads. Step up to
two rounds of peyote #11 seed beads and you’re ready to attach to the bangle.
Needle down to the base of the #8 beads.

Place the cabochon in the desired position and going through the # 8 beads
closest to the WireKnitZ, sew through the WireKnitZ and up through the #8 beads
surrounding the cabochon. Knot and tie off. Using Fireline, whip stitch the black
folded edges for a professional look. Enjoy your Cafe Noir Bangle!

Maribou and WireKnitZ Brooch

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to attend the Martha Stewart show– it was so exciting! And I think that there must be some kind of unwritten law that you should wear something handmade to show off. (Well, at least that’s my feeling!) So I asked the marvelous Eva Sherman to design something to wear with my new blouse. Here’s what she came up with:

Designed by Eva Sherman

I just LOVE the colors! And Eva made it so I could wear it in my hair or as a brooch. If you’d like to make one, Eva generously made this video:

Here you can see it on my shoulder while on camera:

And here’s a better photo of me and Martha herself…and again, you can just barely see the brooch peeking out!

Didn’t Eva do a marvelous job?

WireKnitZ as a Wearable {Jacket}

Today while tooling around on the web, I came across this fabulous jacket make-over by Vicki O’Dell, the Creative Goddess.

Image from Vicki O'Dell The Creative Goddess

Overlapping the image of the Buddah on the left hand side is some WireKnitZ! To read how she made the jacket, just click the link or image and you can get the details.

Isn’t it cool how she used WireKnitZ like a piece of tulle? Fabulous!

18 Inch Braided WireKnitZ®Necklace

This necklace is so versitile- you can wear it with jeans and a while blouse or with your favorite little black dress for a night on the town!

By Norma Melton

● Basic wire wrapping and beading skills required ●
Note: Necklace length will vary depending upon size of clasp, findings, and stretched length of WireKnitZ®.

Materials

•    3 – 16 inch lengths of #2000 Series WireKnitZ® – colors of choice
• Finished necklace materials:  1 – 16” #2001 Black and 2-16” #2003 Black & Silver Stripe
• Tutorial colors:  16” of #2001 Black, #2007 Gunmetal, #2008 Champagne
•   2 – Large cone ends approx. 25 x 13 x 13 mm
•   1 – 28 – 34 mm toggle clasp
•   2 – 5 or 6 mm Bicone crystals
• 60 (approx) 2.5 & 3.0 mm beads of your choice
•   2 – 5 inch pieces of 20 or 22 gauge wire
•   2 – Jump rings
•   2 – Spacers
•   Braided bead thread to secure beads to WireKnitZ®

Tools

• Scissors for cutting WireKnitZ®
• Measuring tape
• Awl
• Clamp or masking tape
• Round-nose pliers
• 2 – Chain-nose pliers
• 1 – Sewing or beading needle that will easily pass through your beads
• Clear drying glue of your choice for securing knots in thread

1. Begin with three equal lengths of WireKnitZ®.  Grasp each end with both hands and stretch in length until the knit is about 1 1/2” inches wide.

2. Softly roll each length individually between the palms of your hands, making a rope-like strand.

3. Align all three strands at one end and tightly twist about ¾-inch to 1-inch of the end.

4. Clamp the twisted end to a secure item (here we’ve used a patio umbrella) and braid.

Twist the opposite ends when your braid is approximately 17 inches long.  To determine the length of your braid, subtract all of the finishing components from the finished length of 18 inches.  e.g., cone ends●, bicone crystals, spacers, wire wraps, jump rings, and clasp.

● The twisted braid ends will fit inside of the cones – only subtract the part of the cone that is not accommodating the braid to determine length.

5. Gently push the awl through the center of the twisted end.

6. Feed 1 ¼-inches of the wire through the hole made by the awl.  Wrap the short wire once around the twisted knit.  Bend the long wire 90° toward the tip of the twist.  Finish wrapping the short end around the twisted knit and over the long wire.  Bend the end of the short wire approx.1/8 inch from the end using your chain-nose pliers and bury the wire end inside the twisted knit, locking the wire in place.

Repeat #5 and #6 at the opposite end.

Note: The cone end may appear too large…don’t worry – the beads will fill it in.

7. At one end feed the cone end, Bicone crystal, and spacer on the long wire, and proceed to make a snug wire wrapped loop against the spacer bead.  Attach one side of the clasp with a jump ring.

Repeat at the opposite end.

8. Near one cone end, inconspicuously pass your threaded needle through the inner braid without pulling the thread through, and make a double overhand knot.  Do not cinch the knit by pulling too tight.

Repeat knot and glue.  Stitch your beads in and around the cone end, filling in the gaps where the braid meets the cone.

Repeat at the opposite end.

Be well and stay wired!

http://www.WireKnitZ.com

Spiral Cuff Bracelet

Straddle the line between sweet and edgy with this spiral cuff designed by Norma Melton.

Materials

• 1 – 9-inch length of 3000 Series WireKnitZ®
• (#3008 Champagne Tight Knit shown in photo)
• Braided Beading Thread or 28 – 30 gauge craft wire
• Approximately 39 – 3.5 to 4.0 mm freshwater pearls
• Extra fine beading needle
• Scissors (you may want to dedicate a pair just for WireKnitZ®)
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Flat utensil 

1.  Begin with one 9” length of WireKnitZ®.

2.  Lay the knit on a flat surface and without stretching, find the center point by folding the 9” length in half, and press flat.  Fold knitted wire 1.5-inches or so from each side of the centerfold and press, resulting in 3 equally spaced distinct creases. 

3. Place a flat utensil inside the knit to open the knitted tube.  Starting with the center crease on the outside

fold, grasp the fold between your thumb and index finger and pinch the crease along one side.  Remove the

utensil.  Hold the knit on the pinched side between your thumb and finger; with your other hand pinch the

crease on the other side, creating a continuous raised crease.

4.  Repeat for the other two creases.

5.  Manipulate each crease one at a time by pinching with both hands on opposite sides.  Pinch and rotate several times around each crease, creating three uniform creases.

6.  With creases in place, open one end of the knitted tube.  Place fingers from both hands back to back inside the end with thumbs on the outside, and gently pull and rotate the opening, allowing the edge to roll back on itself  a couple of times, all the while coaxing in place with your thumbs.  This action will automatically curl the opening, creating a rolled edge – no need to stitch the end in place!

 7.  Repeat on the other end.

8.  Stitch pearls, beads, whatever you prefer to the creased edges.  For a tidy edge, keep stitches near the creased edges.

9.  The finished piece will measure 3.5 – 4-inches long, depending upon the rise of your creases

 

WireKnitZ 7″ Theatre Glove

“On a Roll” Cuff Bracelet Tutorial

Materials

Note: #2005 Light Gold fine gauge used on the outside of this cuff can be substituted with the 3000, 4000, or 5000 heavy gauge Series for texture and durability, if preferred. 

•  1 – 9” length of #2005 Light Gold Tight Knit
• 1 – 9” length of #3001 Black Tight Knit
• Option: For bulkier cuff ends, insert a 4 ½-inch rolled piece of 4001 Black Coarse WireKnitZ® inside each rolled end.
• Clear drying glue (if using thread to secure)

 Tools

• Measuring Tape or Ruler
• Scissors 
• Cooking Tongs – Optional
• Wrist Mandrel – Optional

 Cuff Setting Options

• Sewing Needle and Braided Beading Thread -or-
• 28 – 30 gauge Craft Wire

 

1.  Begin with two equal lengths of WireKnitZ®.

 2.  Gently open the lightweight gold knit and slip the black knit through, aligning ends — taking care not to snag the wire edges.  This is where the cooking tongs are useful.

3.  Open the layered tube at both ends to fit your hand through with some ease. This is where a wrist mandrel or conical object comes in handy.  Clip off any pulled wires at ends. 

 4.  At one end, roll the layered knit over the outside of the tube making a ½-inch cuff, and gently massage it into place.  Roll the same cuff two more times, evening the cuff each time.  Repeat at the opposite end.

5.  After making your rolled cuffs at each end, notice the bracelet diameter is smaller.  Size the opening by using the wrist mandrel or manually stretching each end to snuggly fit over your hand.  DO NOT OVERSTRETCH THE CUFFS.

6.  At this point, your bracelet should measure about 4 inches in length. 

7.  Roll each end one more time.  Adjust and position both ends, making your bracelet about 2.5” in length.  Size openings once again slightly smaller in diameter than is necessary.  To set your cuffs, select braided beading thread or craft wire and inconspicuously stitch each cuff end along the inside rolled edge.  If using thread, tie off with a double-overhand knot, or bury wire end inside cuff.  This will allow the bracelet some expansion room, but with a limit!

Enjoy wearing as it is, or add embellishments!

Helpful Hint: Slip your hand in a knee high stocking, or large plastic baggie, and then coax the bracelet on by gently rotating it over your hand.  Remove the baggie…Voila!  

Polymer Clay and WireKnitZ by Susan Bailey

Stay Tuned, Stay Wired!

Hello, friends! Welcome to the NEW inspiration blog for WireKnitZ! We are going to be sharing some wonderful projects with you, introduce you to amazing artist and crafters, and take you with us on our travels to shows!

Please bear with us while we assemble our design team and get ready to rock your world with all of the possibilities with WIREKNITZ!