WIRE BRACELET

Students will learn how to create a bracelet with wire, practice tooling techniques with wire, pliers, and snips, make a clasp and end caps, and document their work using commercial photography techniques.

This unit has four parts: design, wire bracelet, end caps and clasp, and documentation of the finished work.

Overview Unit Goal

Composition Concepts

  • Volume
  • Symmetry
  • Variety & Unity
  • Functionality (size, clasp, flexibility)

Technical Skills

  • Wrapping
  • Coiling
  • Knitting
  • Hammering
  • Soldering

Tools & Supplies

  • Knitting tube or dowel
  • Wire (two gauges)
  • Pliers (round nose, needle nose)
  • Wire Snips

Composition Concepts

Viking Knit

Technical Skills

Viking Knitting with Wire (Video)
Viking Knitting with Wire - Single, Double, Triple (Video)
Kumihimo Bracelet (Video)
Crochet with Wire (Video)
Weaving / Wrapping with Wire (Video)
Coiling with Wire (Video)
Coiling over a coil (Video)
Viking Cuff - Soldered Wrap (Video)

Tools & Supplies

Preparation
  • Watch the videos & decide on technique
  • Measurements (determine the amount of materials needed)
Bracelet
  • Round Nose Pliers
  • Chain Nose Pliers
  • Wire (2 Different gauges: one for knitting, one for flower to start knitting from)
  • Paper tube (or dowel) for viking knit
Clasp
  • Design clasp style
  • Create end caps to create a finished look at the clasp ends
  • Cut, hammer, & form wire to create clasp hook and ring
  • Optional: solder end caps to bracelet wire

Unit Components

1. RESEARCH - bracelet techniques
2. DRAW DESIGN - plan your bracelet design
3. BRACELET - make the bracelet
4. CLASP & END CAPS - make the bracelet functional by creating end caps and clasps
5. DOCUMENTING - photos, reflection, email, & flip video

Research

Research these bracelet types (Technical skills videos can be found above):
  • ​Viking Knit Bracelet [easy]
  • Kumihimo Bracelet [easy]
  • Wire Weaving Bracelet [medium]
  • Viking Cuff (Soldered Wrap) [harder]
​Choose the style bracelet you wish to make

Drawing

  • Based on the bracelet design ideas you researched, draw out the design for your bracelet
  • Draw the clasp type and end cap style you are interested in
  • Label your drawing: 
    • TECHNIQUE FOR BRACELET (ex: single viking knit, kumihimo open weave)
    • TYPE OF END CAP (ex: coiled wire end cap, soldered tube end cap)
    • TYPE OF CLASP (ex: hook & loop clasp, double hook & loop clasp)
    • LIST OF MATERIALS (gauge and length of wire and other materials needed)
  • Measure your wrist (or the wrist of the bracelet wearer) and determine how much material you will need to create your design.

Wire Bracelet

  • Use wire to make your chosen bracelet design
  • Include at least one of the following techniques: wrapping, coiling, crocheting, or knitting
  • Include at least one of the following techniques: crimping, bending, tying
  • Create volume inside your bracelet (it should not be flat)
  • Optional: Use a draw plate to firm up your viking knit 

Clasp & End Caps

  • Create end caps and a functional clasp
  • Your end caps can be coiled wire or soldered sheet metal
  • Your clasp can be wire formed into a clasp with pliers (You can also flatten your hook with a mallet, if you wish to do so)
  • Polish your bracelet with a polishing cloth

Viking Knit Steps

  • MAKE A WIRE FLOWER by looping wire around a sanding stick. More loops makes for a tighter, denser weave. 8 loops is an average number of loops for a 2 cm diameter tube, and would produce an open looking weave that would want to be reduced on a draw plate down to at least 1cm before the weave would start to appear denser
  • KNIT AROUND THE TUBE by looping your wire around the previous loops. Start by looping through the flower loops placed at the end of your tube. After the first row, thread the wire behind the previous loop and continue for your desired length.
  • DRAW PLATE - if you want your knit to be tighter, more dense, with less holes, you can pull it through a draw plate. Start with a hole the size of your knit (the tube you used will work). Pull it through successively smaller holes until you have the desired density and length. Each time you pull it through the draw plate, the weave will change shape and the bracelet will get longer.

TURNING IN YOUR WORK - 4 STEPS

Documenting your Sculpture

  • Use a solid background (no distracting lines, shadows, table, or other stuff) - It is recommended to use the photo cube or the photo station
  • Use quality lighting (soft shadow from sculpture only)
  • Photo should be in focus, with bracelet centered (crop the photo, if needed to focus the viewer)
  • One photo of the bracelet by itself
  • One photo of the bracelet on a wrist (also using a solid background)
  • You can edit the two photos together, but you need to have a consistent border between and around both images and they should be the same height

Written Reflection

Fill out the grading criteria form and answer the written reflection questions. Once you are finished with your email and flip video, turn in your written reflection with your project to the turn in box for your period.

Email Instructions

Click here for the email instructions - be sure you use your personal email and cc Mx. Ross to get credit for the email.

Flip Video

Follow the flip instructions on the class Flip page. Use a photo of your work with audio narration of you talking about your work. Be sure to have your written reflection filled out so that you are ready to narrate your video.

Grading Criteria