Textile Techniques in Wire

Traditional textile techniques are in common use when creating jewelry.  Many of you will be familiar with weaving with yarn or even basketry materials.  Wire can be used as it if were yarn or thread, but it has some issues you don’t face with yarn.  You can tie knots, weave, braid and do certain lace-making techniques with wire

1. Position the wire where you want it because you have no chance to tighten or move the wire after it is positioned.
2. Once the wire is in position, pinch in place with your fingers.
3. Establish a rhythm in your work and make each move deliberate.
4. It is not stretchy, so the tension needs to be correct as you work.  Don't try to pull it to position it.
5. It likes to kink and the kinks can make marks, so you need to feed it where it needs to go rather than pulling where it needs to go to prevent the kinks.
6. Use your fingers as much as possible and avoid the use of tools to prevent marking of wire. 
7. Most wire weaving can be done very gently - if you are pulling on it and squeezing it too much, find another strategy to get the wire the way you want it. 
8. Many things even have to be done backwards from the way you would do them with thread to create the piece.  This can save your hands.
9. It hardens to some extent as you work, so try to work it as little as possible.
10. It can be even harder on your hands than yarn, so be very careful with your hands.  Read the Safety and Ergonomics article in the Learning Center for more on protecting your most important tools (your hands).