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Cash Anthony
Forum Admin
10 Posts
Houston, TX
USA
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 Posted - 10/14/2006 : 1:04 AM
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Is anyone else trying to crochet with wire? If so, what gauge has given you the best results, and what are you making?
I'm experimenting with it... I think I want to try to make miniature holiday wreaths this way.
Cash
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Cash Anthony
Forum Admin
10 Posts
Houston, TX
USA
Posted - 11/11/2006 : 10:52 PM
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Well, Mom and I took a ride to Old Town Spring today to visit Auntie Beads. She took a class in stringing pearls, and I took one in wire crochet.
By the end of the morning, we both had some skills and two new pieces of jewelry. I was very happy with the class and the teachers were patient and knowledgeable.
We did some shopping as well and found the store to have excellent prices and a good stock of both beads and findings. We noticed, too, that most of the other students had come in from some distance (for us it was 40 miles) to take classes there. Obviously they have a good following!
It was fun, and we found several beaders who were very interested in our Guild idea.
Y'all, join in and let's hear what you're working on.
Cash |
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Cash Anthony
Forum Admin
10 Posts
Houston, TX
USA
Posted - 02/05/2008 : 1:11 PM
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Over the past year and through various recoveries from health problems, I've continued to make jewelry and try to learn some new techniques. I found an answer to the issue of wire gauge for wire-crochet: the No. 28 gold wire seems to work best, in an artisan quality wire.
I also like these necklaces best when the colors of the crystals are related, to keep an overall color in the design, rather than using stones of many different colors.
If you want a very casual piece, you'll probably prefer to do the 'looser' necklace with only three strands, instead of the tighter one with nine crocheted chains in it, that requires 15 yards of gold wire. A photograph of one of these crocheted wire necklaces is up on the first page of the eShop, in the lower right corner.
In terms of what's going on with our beading, I recently went back to Old Town Spring for a bead-making class with my mother, Ellen.
Auntie's Beads, which used to be on Preston, is no longer operating its mortar-and-brick retail store there, but a new shop has opened in Old Town Spring called Spring Beads, on Gentry. Its owners are still getting on their feet but they are nice people, and the shop has a wide variety of beads and materials.
They also sell books and offer classes. Mom and I took a class from a lady named Anky, from Holland originally, on how to make a "Snowflake Necklace." It is made with seed beads, pearls and 4mm crystals, using thread (in fact, using two threads and two needles). The use of two needles made it a little complicated to learn the pattern, but after we got it down, we could make a necklace in two hours or so.
People who have seen one of our samples like this necklace because it has a pleasant 'hand feel' - the thread keeps it light and flexible. In white, it makes a beautiful necklace for a bride.
We're going back to Old Town Spring on February 15th to learn how to make a tassle necklace with crystals and seed beads. It's a long, casual piece and it looks like fun.
If you have checked in for postings, I know it's been a while, but I hope you'll join the conversation this year.
Our eShop is starting to take off with our hand-made original jewelry in new designs and with new books by Houston writers who offer their mystery novels here. Writers, send me an email if you'd like to be added to the site.
And jewelry-makers - happy beading!
Cash |
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Crocheting with wire
