03.19.11
In-Depth#5- Wire Crochet
Since two week ago, I’ve gotten two more spools of wire- 26G bare copper and a 28G silver coated copper from my mentor, 3 different sized crochet hooks- 3.5mm, 5.5mm and 6.5mm and a lot more beads.
The first thing I made out of my supplies was another heart, but instead of using my usual 4.5mm hook I used the 3.5mm on with bare copper wire and decided to throw in some seed beads too. It was without doubt the hardest thing I’ve ever tried with wire crochet. All through out the process I was promising myself I was never doing this again. My fingers were sweaty, they hurt from pulling at the wires and not all that pleasant smelling from the copper. I had to fight to get the hook through every stitch, sometime it took more than 3 tries. At times it seemed like it was impossible to pull the hook back up even though I was able to push it through. I knew my foundation stitch was too tight, probably because I was unsure of the considerably smaller hook. But I had already started so it would be a waste of wire if I quit, plus it’ll probably make me feel pretty bad afterwards too.
I did eventually get it done, the sense of accomplishment was enormous. I was really glad I didn’t give up, it actually wasn’t THAT bad when I think back, but I was still pretty hesitant when my sister asked me to make another one for her.
The smaller heart made with a smaller hook.
3.5mm hook on left, 4.5mm hook on right
I also made two more wire beads, with seed beads this time. I was glad to find that my stitches were becoming less choppy and I was able to finish each bead faster without getting stuck as much. I stuck with the 4.5mm hook for both though.
I decided it was time to get a little more creative. Following a suggestion from my mentor, I made a leaf and a flower. I started with a leaf, it seamed a lot less daunting. I chose to still use the 4.5mm hook but decided to experiment with the 28G wire, 28G wire is thinner than the 26G. I found 28G a lot easier to use than 26G, it was softer and more flexible. But this also meant anything you made out of 28G wire was a lot easier to squish and deform.
The slightly thinner 28G wire on top and the 26G below
I used all the same stitches used in making a heart when I made the leaf. I was pretty satisfied with the results:
Then there’s the flower, I got really creative with this. I had made a flower two years ago, but I didn’t really like the way the petals were created. I wanted the petals to be filled in.
So I started off with the same thing but made the petals smaller, closer to the center and double crochet and treble stitched around each of the existing ‘petals’. I had to make a few slip stitches (that probably, strictly speaking shouldn’t be there) here and there to get to where I want. I had also started the very first chain stitch in the foundation row with a big orange bead, so the results look like this:
I liked it a lot but next time I want to add some seed beads or something to the petals, the look a little ‘empty’ to me.
It’s spring break now so I’ll have two whole weeks to start making some proper jewelry (necklaces, cuffs, bracelets…) and start experimenting with the larger hooks: 5.5mm and 6.5mm. I’m also participating in a spring break camp at the Art Centre taught by my mentor on wire crochet. I very excited, I’ll be able to do a lot more practice. Spring break also means more free time so hopefully next time I’ll be able to set up a camcorder and videotape me making something.
My next update would probably be sooner because of the wire crochet lessons over spring break!
March 20, 2011 at 10:27 am
Now you can fly!
Your work is looking gorgeous.
See you next week – I’m hoping to have enough time to teach how to make dragonflies! – more shaping and thicker wire/more painful fingers