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Step 5Weave the middle braid.
This is the most complex part. Read it through a couple of times.
First picture.
Cut 4 10" pieces each of 20 ga brass and copper. Clean and straighten each one. Tape them together, in a straight line, at the bottom with floral tape, alternating the metals. It won't be extremely neat, but don't worry about that; just do your best.
Second picture.
Place into the clamp just above the taped area. Bend alternating pairs of wire (one brass, one copper) in opposing directions. One set forward, one set backward.
Third picture.
Bend the pair on the right all the way across to the left, keeping the wires aligned.
Fourth picture.
Fold the remaining three pairs over the bent wires to the opposite sides.
Fifth picture.
Manipulate the bent pair, formerly the right pair, so that it is now the far left pair. Bend it so that it is parallel with the second pair.
Sixth picture.
Very carefully release the clamp and reset the wires down so that they are just above the edge of the clamp. You will cover the first weave. Tighten the clamp back up.
Continue in this manner until the wires are woven. (Clamp, weave, unclamp, move it down, reclamp, repeat.) Should you need to put down the work, make a note which side is the front so that when you pick it up it will be in front again. (It will create a bend in the work if you weave it backwards.)
Seventh picture.
The wires will stick out the right side of the clamp at an angle as you work on it.
When you cannot weave any more, remove the braid from the clamp and straighten it with the nylon pliers. You may like to hammer it very gently to get any lumps out of it.
Trim the ends to make a 6" piece of woven material. File the ends if necessary to remove any roughness.
I've tried to make the pictures pretty clear. If you are stuck for extremely detailed directions, I am stealing this part pretty much straight from the book "Woven Wire Jewelry" by Linda Chandler and Christine Ritchey. Many libraries have it.
First picture.
Cut 4 10" pieces each of 20 ga brass and copper. Clean and straighten each one. Tape them together, in a straight line, at the bottom with floral tape, alternating the metals. It won't be extremely neat, but don't worry about that; just do your best.
Second picture.
Place into the clamp just above the taped area. Bend alternating pairs of wire (one brass, one copper) in opposing directions. One set forward, one set backward.
Third picture.
Bend the pair on the right all the way across to the left, keeping the wires aligned.
Fourth picture.
Fold the remaining three pairs over the bent wires to the opposite sides.
Fifth picture.
Manipulate the bent pair, formerly the right pair, so that it is now the far left pair. Bend it so that it is parallel with the second pair.
Sixth picture.
Very carefully release the clamp and reset the wires down so that they are just above the edge of the clamp. You will cover the first weave. Tighten the clamp back up.
Continue in this manner until the wires are woven. (Clamp, weave, unclamp, move it down, reclamp, repeat.) Should you need to put down the work, make a note which side is the front so that when you pick it up it will be in front again. (It will create a bend in the work if you weave it backwards.)
Seventh picture.
The wires will stick out the right side of the clamp at an angle as you work on it.
When you cannot weave any more, remove the braid from the clamp and straighten it with the nylon pliers. You may like to hammer it very gently to get any lumps out of it.
Trim the ends to make a 6" piece of woven material. File the ends if necessary to remove any roughness.
I've tried to make the pictures pretty clear. If you are stuck for extremely detailed directions, I am stealing this part pretty much straight from the book "Woven Wire Jewelry" by Linda Chandler and Christine Ritchey. Many libraries have it.
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"I've tried to make the pictures pretty clear. If you are stuck for extremely detailed directions, I am stealing this part pretty much straight from the book "Woven Wire Jewelry" by Linda Chandler and Christine Ritchey. Many libraries have it."
The photos in this instructable are my own, though. Sorry if I was unclear - this instructable was actually more or less a repost from a jewellery makers website where I had entered the exact same instructions as part of a father's day jewellery contest. Most of the readers of that site (which is not up anymore) are familiar with wire weaving techniques. As is often the case, when one is too used to the technique, sometimes you accidentally leave out basic instructions.
Thanks for looking at it, and if you have any specific questions, I'll be happy to try to answer them for you. :)