This is a relatively simple way to wrap wire around the shaft of a feather to make it easy to add to a piece of jewelry.
You will wrap wire around the feather shaft as well as part of the wire, which creates a nice tight wrap that prevents the feather from falling out.
You will wrap wire around the feather shaft as well as part of the wire, which creates a nice tight wrap that prevents the feather from falling out.
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Signing UpStep 1: Gather tools and materials
You will need:
- feather
- 26 gauge wire - your local craft supply store should carry this
- wire cutters
- round-nose pliers
- flat-nose or chain-nose pliers (I used chain-nose)
A note about pliers:
Really, you could do this all with a single pair of needle-nose pliers, the kind you get at a hardware store. You won’t be able to get perfectly round loops, but if you don’t mind the look of a square-ish loop, go for it (I don’t have photos of this). You could also form the loops by wrapping the wire around a thin stick, like a bamboo skewer; the pliers just help hold the wire still while you wrap it.
Also: most pliers not intended for jewelery-making have ridges/serrations on their jaws. These will mar the wire, which is a look you might like, but if not, wrap some tape (electrical, duct, whatever) over the serrated parts to protect the wire.
- feather
- 26 gauge wire - your local craft supply store should carry this
- wire cutters
- round-nose pliers
- flat-nose or chain-nose pliers (I used chain-nose)
A note about pliers:
Really, you could do this all with a single pair of needle-nose pliers, the kind you get at a hardware store. You won’t be able to get perfectly round loops, but if you don’t mind the look of a square-ish loop, go for it (I don’t have photos of this). You could also form the loops by wrapping the wire around a thin stick, like a bamboo skewer; the pliers just help hold the wire still while you wrap it.
Also: most pliers not intended for jewelery-making have ridges/serrations on their jaws. These will mar the wire, which is a look you might like, but if not, wrap some tape (electrical, duct, whatever) over the serrated parts to protect the wire.
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If you have a source for realistic looking artificial feathers, I would love to know about it!
I was wondering though is there a nice way of hiding the cut end of the wire at the end of the coil? Mine seems to stick out and when I try to take my pliers and "tuck" it in there's no where to tuck it.
Thanks again for this awesome tut :)
I suppose you could always cut a little scrap of fabric or ribbon or something and glue it over the end of the coil, too.
The close-up photos probably make it look more eye-straining than it was. I wasn't actually working 3 inches from my nose.