Making Wire Rings

Wire Heart Ring

2014-03-02T13:00:00.001-08:00

Perfect for Valentine's Day or anytime you want to show some love.

This wire heart ring is very easy to make and doesn't require too many tools.

There is no soldering required, just wire wrapping.

You can find the free step by step heart ring tutorial here.

There are two alternatives for securing the end piece of wire. It can be flattened against the ring band (or shank) or it can be wrapped around the band.

I like to use 18g wire, but you can make them in 20g for a daintier look. You need to use a tumbler to harden the wire though or it may bend out of shape.

You could try using 16g wire, but the wire would need to be very soft and the finished ring will be much larger. It would make more of a statement, but probably be very cute.

Adding a dangle from the point of the heart would also be a nice addition.

Free Rustic Multi-Row Wire Wrap Ring Tutorial

2013-07-08T20:50:00.002-07:00

I have been having so much fun making these copper wire rings. They give the look of a stack of rings, but it is a single wire wrapped around the mandrel multiple times. They are really simple to make using this free tutorial for the Bold Copper Weave Stack ring from York Avenue Studio. You need to know how to solder a single joint to make these rings. It's a good ring to practice on if you are a beginner with the torch.

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How to make a Rosette Ring

2013-07-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I posted a link to a Free Rosette Wire Ring tutorial and some rings that I made using the tutorial. My rings looked more like spirals than a Rosette, so I figured I would make another quick try using the 22g wire they specified in the tutorial and making the center a little smaller and less wide.

Aside from the fact that I ran out of wire, and marred the band a bit with my pliers - I think it did turn out much more like a Rosette.

So, if you want a spiral, make the swirls flat and close. And if you want a rosette, keep them tight in towards the center and keep the overall swirl small.

Let me know how yours come out!

Free Rosette Swirl Wire Ring Tutorial

2013-07-03T19:34:00.001-07:00

I love this ring!! It is so simple to make, but looks so great on! The free tutorial is by McFarland Designs and once you've made one, you will be hooked!

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How I made a Cocktail Ring with a Braided Band

2012-09-07T12:11:00.001-07:00

I didn't set out to make a cocktail ring - it just happened. One of those ideas that just got bigger than I ever expected.

I made this ring for a swap with one of the online jewelry groups I belong to. The theme was 'Back to School'. It was a tough theme, but I decided it reminded me of the turn of seasons from Summer to Fall.

I love the way the band on this ring turned out. I used a jump ring to start and folded the wires in half over it. I think I started with 3 groups of 3 wires (9 wires) of equal size in 26g silver. I put them through the jump ring and folded them in half. Then I braided them to the length I needed to make a size 7 ring. The braid came out really nice and neat.

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Star Freshwater Pearl Ring

2012-09-05T16:29:00.002-07:00

I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to post this ring!

It is one of my absolute favorites and I almost always sell it right off my hand - especially during the summer or winter holidays.

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Herringbone Weave Gemstone Ring

2012-07-19T13:08:00.003-07:00

This ring style is so versatile! It can be used with smooth or faceted round beads (up to 6mm), or regularly shaped flat coin style beads (up to about 10mm). The bead size probably depends on the size of your fingers - but these are the stone sizes I found worked the best for me.

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Silver Swirl Smoky Quartz Ring

2012-07-11T13:15:00.004-07:00

This ring design is from the book Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders: Creative Wirework Projects for All Levels by Irena Miech. It is made with 16g silver wire for the ring shank and a smoky quartz focal bead that is attached with 24g wire. The book gives the basic technique, but I found the measurement information confusing, so I just winged it.

Gemstone Flower Ring

2012-06-26T09:54:00.001-07:00

I have been playing with these gemstone flowers in earring designs for several months now and I still can't get enough of them. I think they remind me of the daisy chain flowers I used to make as a kid - but they seem sophisticated and fun in gemstones.

The flowers are so easy to make, but the ring connection on the back could use a little bit of work. It's smooth and doesn't poke - but I'd like it to be a little cleaner looking. I'm going to try and refine it a little. Then maybe I'll try my hand at a tutorial for it. Until then - I love wearing this silly (but sophisticated) ring!

Wire Ring Tutorial link

2012-04-30T07:13:00.000-07:00

It's always nice to find a well explained tutorial - and this one really does the job well. Step by Step pictures and a really nice result. It is very similar to my simple ring, except it wraps the center stone. It looks very nice and this style is simple to master. Here's the link to the tutorial at Lytha Studios: Simple Wire Wrapped Ring Tutorial. I'll make a few and post them this weekend when I have my picture studio set up. If you make some, you can send me the pictures or a link to them and I'll be glad to add them here.

Braided Wire Band

2012-04-25T20:27:00.001-07:00

A new simple ring style. This is made from 26g wire, braided and then joined in the back. No picture of the join - it's not especially neat, but it is comfortable and it has grown on me. I really like the ring stacked with my other simple rings. It's comfortable. The ring is hammered on the mandrel to flatten the join and the braid. I didn't use all 3 wires from each side to make the wrap like you might expect. I tried that at first, but the wrap was waaaay too big. Instead, I clipped two wires from each side at the join and left one wire on each side long. The long wire from each side was used to join the two sides and wrap over the join.

Here is the ring as part of a stack. The other style is the simple ring I previously made, but with a heavier gauge wire. I think it is 20g which is much thicker than I usually use. I also added some small silver beads on the side. Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Helping Others With Your Craft

2012-04-21T13:32:00.004-07:00

I promised some new rings last week and I did make them. This is not your typical "but the dog ate my homework" story. It's a story of how your craft talent can help others, and I really want to share it - in hopes that you will share too.

There is a girl at my children's middle school who was recently diagnosed with cancer. It is a rare cancer and understandably - she is too young and vibrant to have something like this happen to her. But, it has happened, and there is nothing we can do but accept it. But, we all know that nothing can help someone feel strong enough for a goliath fight than knowing that other people support you and stand ready to help.

So, last weekend, that was where all my rings went. I packed them in a box, about 100 of them, and brought them to a community event to help raise money for her. Today, I looked at the pictures from the event on facebook, and it brings tears to my eyes. So many people hope the best for Jessica and her family. It makes me feel good to know that we could do some little thing to help. It makes me feel good knowing that I live in a community where hundreds of people came together to donate hair, baked goods, crafts, talent and their friendship to support their neighbor. I wish Jessica and her family strength to face the road ahead.

Look for some new rings on my blog tomorrow. Look around your community and see how you can use your skills to help someone else. Be grateful for all your blessings.

New Rings Coming Soon!

2012-04-13T08:27:00.003-07:00

After a flurry of activity making rings the entire months of December and January, I just had to take a little time to breathe and try something different. I joined the Year of Jewelry challenge and it really has kept me motivated and focused. You can see my projects on my other blog. But, my sketch pad has some new simple ring designs, so I'm going to make at least one this weekend. I'll also try to take pictures as I'm making them - a new ring and a tutorial all in one. Yay!

Simple Ring Design

2012-03-25T15:06:00.001-07:00

This is one of the simplest ring designs that I make.

I use whatever size wire fits in the beads best. I thread the beads on the wire and wrap it around the ring mandrel twice.

Then I bend the wire a little to keep the beads in place and remove it from the mandrel. This is the most difficult part - keeping the beads snug and keeping the wire ring from getting larger. Then I wrap the wire tails around the ring wires a few times and snip the ends.

I know I should draw a picture or take a few pictures while I'm making one - but I'm not prepared to do that today. I'll do it the next time my photo studio is set up.

Wire Basics: Gauge / Diameter

2012-02-06T22:05:00.000-08:00

Before you can buy your wire to make rings, you'll need to know a little bit about wire gauge. The gauge is the diameter of the wire. Typical wire gauges used in jewelry making range from 32 gauge (abbreviated g) to 10 gauge. The higher the gauge, the thinner the wire will be. It would be difficult to make a wire ring with anything thinner than 26 gauge.

Unfortunately, I can't say there is a 'typical' size wire for rings. A big part of the reason for this blog is to experiment with designs using different types, sizes, colors of wire and different types of beads. For now, know that you will need multiple sizes of wire in order to make rings. I typically use 18-26g but I know lots of people who prefer heavier jewelry and don't use anything thinner than 22. Invest in a few different sizes and you can't go wrong.

Let me know what size wire you typically use for rings. I love get different ideas!

Wire Needed to Make Wire Rings

2012-02-05T11:24:00.000-08:00

Before you can start to make wire rings, you will need some wire. Ideally, you want some jewelry grade wire. There are so many options these days, it is really easy to get started with this as a hobby. Your choice probably depends on the look you want to achieve or on your eventual jewelry making goals. I recommend you consider the following types of wire to start learning:
- Colored Craft Wire: These are usually copper base with a (semi) permanent layer of color. The color can scratch off though, so you need to be careful. It's a good way to learn to be careful with your tools. Some to try are Artistic Wire by Beadalon or ParaWire.
- Copper Wire: Just like it sounds, this is solid copper wire. If you want to save money you can buy electrical wire by the yard at a Home Center and strip it. If you buy the really thick wire, you'll find that you'll get several different gauges at once. I'll have to post more about this later.
- Sterling or Gold-Plated wire or Nickel Silver Wire: All of these are great substitutes for precious metal wires and can look like the real thing. I like the Beadalon brand. It is slightly more brittle than sterling, but otherwise very similar to work with.

Colored Artistic Wire

Absolutely avoid plastic coated wires (telephone wire) or wire from the craft store that has a coating on it. It can be hard to detect the coating, but this wire is totally unusable for anything but the most amateur jewelry making. It does not have enough stiffness to simulate more expensive wires so doesn't give you the experience you need and your projects will not hold their shape. It's just a waste or your time and money.

10 Reasons for the Make Wire Rings Blog

2012-02-03T08:13:00.000-08:00

1. To improve my jewelry making skills
2. To explore a particular style (rings) to its fullest possible extent
3. To have a visual diary of how small changes impact a final design
4. To provide design alternatives when you don't have the materials a design calls for
5. To help others learn to make wire rings
6. To expand my creativity and help others do the same
7. To dedicate my time towards a goal
8. To meet other people who like to make jewelry
9. To get feedback on my designs and concepts
10. To provide (and get) helpful tips that make jewelry making easier and more satisfying or improve the final result.

I hope you share at least some of my goals when you are reading this blog. Please take the time to tell me what your goals are in reading this blog and in jewelry making so I can make it as helpful and fun to read as possible.