Wire Crochet for Beginners : 19 Steps (with Pictures)

The YoolaTube necklace is a simple yet powerful tutorial

that can be implemented in many designs .

A base is created and the silver, gold or colored

YoolaTube is made from there. The preparation of the

necklace require the materials listed below along with

good hands and sharp vision. You are using a crochet

hook, but it’s more like spool knitting with an invisible

spool.

Finished size: 0.8" x 0.8"( 22X22mm ).

Step 1: Materials for Making Wire Crochet Tube

• 1 crochet hook - size 0.6mm or up to 1mm.

• 1 to 2g of 28 gauge (0.3mm) copper coated wire.

• 12g. 999 silver wire (pure silver) or

dead soft gold filled wire or copper wire.

• Wire cutter or small scissors .

• Jump rings.

• Clasp.

• A draw plate

• S - wire crochet ISK starter – 12 loops

Step 2: General Tips When Working With Metal Wires:

Wire type - When wire crocheting with wire it is important to pick the right materials. Make sure to pick

dead soft wire. It looks almost the same as regular wire but the ability to crochet with it is very

different.

Wire Gauge - Wire projects are often made with higher values. The lowest I use is 28 gauge

(0.3mm). The higher the number, the thinner the wire; the more flexible it is and the jewel will be

softer.

Wire temperature - Keep in mind that metal changes its flexibility and softens with temperature.

Enable the wire to warm up a bit before you start crocheting, do a little project before starting the work

on the actual piece.

Stretching the wire - Another tip to keep in mind is that metal hardens when stretched. Be aware of

it and don’t put too much tension into the wire. Always prefer techniques in which you don’t have to

roll the wire around your finger and keep the wire in tension as you do when crocheting with yarn or

cotton.

Wire remembers... - Metal has memory, so if you bend it or wrap it, it will remember and will tend to

get back into that form.

Hook type – It’s important to pick a good crochet hook that won’t get worn out too fast. The wire may leave its marks and the hook will not be as smooth as it was when you started working with it. It’s not

enjoyable to work with such a hook, it squeak and gets stuck :-)

Edges - When working with metal wires the edges can be a big “thumbs down” to the finished piece if

not handled properly. First of all, make sure to wrap it 2 to 3 times in a hidden place before cutting the

wires; then I recommend to cut the wire by “tiring” it and not by cutting it with scissors. It is done by

moving the wire in circles rapidly until it breaks. This way the edges are much softer and the wire is

much less noticeable.

Crocheting with metal wires is awesome!

Step 3: The Invisible Spool Knitting Wire Crochet Technique

People often ask me about the technique I use. Is it crochet? Is it knitting? What instrument do I use?

How come my loops are so even?

I of course could not explain it with words only. I have described some of my items as knitted; some

as crocheted. No matter what title I use, someone will indicate it’s the wrong term...

Some people say that because I use a crochet hook it should be called crochet, others say that

although I use a crochet hook the results imply that it should be called knitting.

I keep apologizing that I'm not a native English speaker, as if it isn't obvious.... and that maybe they

are right. To be honest it would have been easier in my mother tongue - Hebrew - in which you use

the same verb for both techniques (= SRIGA).

But I have put this behind since one of my discussion on this issue with a very experienced lady, both

with crochet and with knitting, during which we came to term that I was actually working on an

invisible spool....

I immediately fell in love with this term and decided to adopt it. I wondered how it will be accepted.

I hope it will be clear that it is NOT real spool knitting (personally I don't really like spools, especially

with metal).

Step 4: General Remarks Before You Start:

1. Since this technique is different from classic crochet, try to put aside what you know before

following the instructions literally.

2. The stitches are left open during the work.

3. The work is done in spirals, moving in counter clockwise direction (= to the right )

4. It is strongly recommended to avoid wrapping the wire around the finger or holding it at all, it is

best let loose until pulled into a stitch.

5. Keep the hook moving straight, don’t twist the hook in order to catch the wire, find the angle in

which you can pull it without twisting.

6. The stitch is pulled from the center to outside through the loop.

7. It is recommended to push the hook up until its neck when creating a new stitch, this will

ensure your stitches to be round and even.

8. Practice plays an important role...It may take a while for your hands to get used to the

movement and start producing nice and even work.

I suggest coming back to this section after having read the whole tutorial.

Step 5: The Invisible Spool Knitting

Use colored copper wire in a contrast color to the one you will be making the

necklace from.

Hold the ISK starter, the wire and the crochet hook as shown in the first image

below. Hold the ring with your left hand fingers; place the wire outside the ring

leaving a short tail.

Insert the hook into one of the ISK holes and pull the wire from the center to the

outside through the hole. Push the hook through the new stitch on top of the ISK

"top" in order to form its shape.

Take out the hook and slightly fold the new stitch so it stays vertically positioned.

Continue to the hole to the right and repeat the same action. Make sure to hold

the new loop with your left hand fingers so it doesn’t slip open while creating the

following stitch.

Continue creating loops through the original 12

holes in your ISK starter until you have gone

around the circle approximately 6 times.

Step 6:

Step 7: Going Up to the Second Row

Step 8: After a Few Rows

Step 9: Step 4:

Switch to the color you will be using for the YoolaTube Wire crochet Necklace

itself, leave a tail of 8" (20cm) and create invisible spool stitches until you have made approximately 145 rows.

The rows will build up like a spiral, one on top of the other.

When you have reached the length you want,

Leave another 8” (20cm) tail and cut the wire from the spool.

You will end up with a thick and rather hard tube.

Determining the length of the tube for the final piece is a bit tricky and may differ according to the tension of your work, you can always continue working if it’s not long enough.

Step 10:

Step 11: Step 5: Release the Necklace

In order to release the necklace from the base, snip carefully

the last color row you used for the base.

Use the crochet hook to gently release the cut ends.

Step 12: Step 6: Narrowing Down One End

In order to create the

necklace ends, we will narrow down the stitches from 12 to 2.

Insert the crochet hook into 2 loops instead of just one, catch the wire over the hook and pull it through both loops, decreasing 2 loops into one.

Continue to the right and repeat the same reduction going around until you are left with 2 stitches.

Step 13:

Step 14: Wrap the Wire Around Both Stitches to Create a Nice Loop to Connect the Necklace Clasp To, Cut the Wire Short.

Step 15: Step 7: Adjusting the Tube Necklace – or What I Call "the Magic"…..

Insert

the finished end into the largest hole in your draw plate (normally 0.6 inch or 15mm) , pull your tube through this hole by using your crochet hook.

Make sure to pull the tube perpendicular to the draw plate .

After the tube goes through this hole , repeat it using a smaller hole,

You can continue gradually narrowing down the tube diameter until you reach the diameter you want.

Step 16: Step 8: Finishing the Other End

Measure your necklace to find if its in the desired length, if its too short you can continue crocheting .

If its too long you can release a few rows .

Once you reach the desired length , finish the end as you did on step 6.

Remark : if you run out of wire and need to start a new reel ,

Take the new wire and the old one and create 2 stitches with both wires as if they were one. Continue working around with the new wire, once you pass thee 2 stitches with both wires cut the wire short from the inner side of the tube.