Working with wire

[pootlepod]

Have just started working with wire, but want to know the best tips. Do I really need to get any tools for it? Or can I do most things using a pen/needle etc? How can I do a flat spiral?

Not sure what you mean by flat spiral, but it gives a nice effect putting it through a paper crimpler! Wind round a fine knitting needle or evena cocktail stick!

Hi Pootlepod.I've just got a fine round nose pair of pliers to use with wire.The type you get for jewellery making.It helps quite a lot.

I have just stolen a small pair of round nose pliers from DH!! He has so many tools in the garage, he will never know, he is a bit like gadget man! he will never find then hidden in the depths of my craft goodies either!!

I haven't tried them yet though!

It just so happens I'm going on a metal & wire workshop for card makers this Saturday morning for 2 hours. If I get any good tips I'll share them. I did see in a cardmaking mag were someone drew a shape a heart and there was a simple pram as well then shaped the wire round the drawing

But magazines have been my problem.. all the shapes look so wonderful and then when I try and recreate them, my wire shape just looks like an amoeba!

I've got the pliers which are great and I can wrap it around things which look very effective. Do you think it's a case of practice?

I liked my first attempt at a dragonfly. But his wing were rather wobbly! perhaps it is just practice makes perfect!!

Know what you mean about the amoeba shapes thats why I'm going on the work shop to see how the experts do it.

Just thought what about small biscuit cutter for heart or teddy shapes wrap the wire around the out side of the shape.

I know AQ was going to buy one of those wire jig things from Lakeland, but I'd heard that the pegs had a tendancy to keep popping out! I don't know if she ever got it, or how she's doing with it if she did!!

Yes I bought one of those don't bother the pegs do come out I even tried putting blue tack underneath for the pegs to stick in more trouble than it's worth

and it wasn't cheap it came with a gadget with green wire on a spool attached to it. It's in my "I may need this one day" box

DONT buy the wire writer frm Lakeland....ITS PANTS....take it from one who knows and has spent many a happy hour throwing it at the wall in sheer frustration!!!!
Hubby made me an alternative which is much better....just dont seem to have the time just lately though to "play".

I made a flower using that new gadget bow maker you know the block of wood with two sticks to put in the holes.
I put the sticks in the closest holes wrapped the wire round in a figure of eight three times then wrapped the wire it over in the middle tight a couple of times cut the wire pulled the whole thing of the two sticks of wood & spread out the loops to form a flower.

You can try say drawing a simple heart the size you want it and then wrapping the wire around the drawing if that makes sense.Not that I'm an expert or anything but I read it in a magazine where they had printed a template and that's what they told you to do.

Email Lakeland and complain about the wire jig thingy - they'll refund you the money and suggest you donate the item to a charity shop! Their customer service is superb. They refunded me the cost of their cookie press not long ago because I complained that it wasn't worth the money.

Thanks Soup dragon....AQ told me to do the same thing....not very British me...I never complain...but maybe this time I will!

Oh, I know - I'm the same! But Lakeland are just so nice about it!

JM, I know that you wont be the first one to complain about this, quite a few people on the other site I use have complained too! The design is obviously at fault.

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