Coloured Craft Wire

Wire is extremely versatile and can add colour, texture and a stunning focal point to your projects.  Wire can be incorporated into embroidery, textile art, crafts and card making.  For something a little different try making jewellery, a tiara or a fascinator.

Suggestions

1.  Spring  -  Wrap the wire around a darning needle or knitting needle, depending on the size of spring required.  This can be couched, laying it straight or curved.  Springs can be used as beads.

2.  Spiral  -  Grip the end of the wire tightly in a pair of flat nose pliers and begin carefully winding the wire around itself.  Keep curling continuously using your fingers to guide it.  Cut the wire when the spiral is large enough.  Alternatively leave a long end of wire and it looks like a flower.  Attach by couching.  The spiral can be tight or fairly open, depending on the effect required.

3.  Twist  -  Twist the wire to create texture, add body to the wire and make coiling and bending much smoother.  Twist two pieces of wire, keeping a tight texture.  Try using two colours, eg gold and silver.

4.  Cut a piece of wire, thread on a bead or beads and fold in half.  Hold the bead or beads and twist the wire.

5.  Use the wire with Knitted Coloured Wire.  Place the wire inside the tubular Knitted Coloured Wire and gather the Knitted Coloured Wire.  Pull the Knitted Coloured Wire to the shape required.  See Free Design October 2007.

6.  Thread beads on to the wire and leave straight, spiral, curl or twist.

7.  Wrap wire or twisted wire around large flat beads in an abstract design and use as a focal point.