Wire weaving frustration

[michelle]

I’ve picked up my wire again, and was once again confronted with frustration of tangled wire. I bought some bobbins and that helped somewhat. But I have trouble with my foundation wires bending too - usually because I end up bumping the ends. Any tips or tricks for taming these issues? 

[caeterle]

I don't know if that really helps or if I'm imagining it, but I bend the foundation wires where I go in with the working wire, kind of like of this, but only at the ends of course, not the complete length of the wires.

[DawninCal]

Michelle, I know how frustrating that can be.

I've had the best luck letting long wires dangle over the side of work bench. If they can just hang loosely and curl in the direction they wish, they tend not to get tangled up or kinked. It seems like any time I fight the wire and try to bend it to my will, is the time when I have problems.

When I want to work with a certain wire, I start at the top and run it through my fingers until I get to the end. If I start at the end first, that also often leads to trouble. Not sure if I described that very well, but that technique has worked well for me in the past.

If I think of anything else, I'll come back to post it. Good luck!



Dawn

[michelle]

Thanks Cat and Dawn! My wires typically do look like yours, Cat. I thought there was a problem with what I was doing because everybody’s demonstrations pics and videos show the wit-res as being so straight. And you may have a point, Dawn, about me fighting the wire too much. I want it to be well behaved. LOL!

[caeterle]

For me it's easier to use them like this, Michelle. That way I have enough space to go in with the working wire, I just have to be careful that the wires are straight where I weave.

[michelle]

Yes, that being straight where you weave can be the tricky part. I know you’re going to think I’m crazy, but I got out the stainless steel. It’s much better behaved than the copper. Ha!

[caeterle]

Crazy, no, but very brave!

Both of my thumbs have been acting up again lately, I can't even think about wire weaving even if the master would allow me to do it in peace. Doing it with stainless steel, no chance at all *mad laughter*

[michelle]

I’m sorry your thumbs are acting up. Ouch! I’m about half done with the piece. I must be too hard on the wire, because I end up bending the copper foundation wires or breaking the weaving wire accidentally. Not so with the stainless. I’m hoping once I get enough practice I can try the copper again.

[caeterle]

Yeah, the arthritis keeps acting up more or less, also depending on what else I do. Working with wire makes them hurt much more quickly than beading.

Do you use masking tape or something to hold the foundation wire together, by the way? (I don't, but maybe I should to make it easier for my left hand.)

[michelle]

I tried using masking tape when I was first learning, but it didn’t seem to help then. I do wonder if it would help more now that I know what I’m doing. I may try that next time.

[DawninCal]

Michelle, your comment about being too hard on the wire got me thinking. For a very long time, in my quest for perfection, I often pulled my wires much too tight as I did my weaving. My thought was that pulling it tight would make for uniform weaving, but in reality I ended up with distorted pieces as the foundation wire would get pulled out of shape by the too tight wire.

While it's counter intuitive, making the weave a bit looser ends up with a piece that isn't brittle and misshapen. If you think that might be the case with your weaving, you might try putting less tension on the wire as you weave. Copper is very soft and it's really easy to be too rough with it when weaving or wrapping.

I bow to your ability to weave with stainless steel!

Sorry about your thumbs, Cat. I have some arthritis in my fingers, but it's usually the worst when I wake up and it sorts itself out as it get moving during the day.



Dawn

[michelle]

I think you’ve analyzed my experience and thought process perfectly, Dawn. You’re right, I equate tight with accurate, and then I distort my foundation wires. I’m going to remember that when I try copper next time.

[DawninCal]

I think that it's our inclination to think that tight wire is going to make a sturdy well made piece, but in reality as the weaving gets further along everything starts to get too tight. A looser weave will also tighten up eventually, but by purposely making a looser weave, we leave room for that tightening to take place so that it all ends up just right when the weaving is finished.

But, it goes against all my instincts to go loose and I have to constantly remind myself not to put too much tension on the wire.



Dawn

[Irith-Rita]

Sometimes I use wire with my jewelry. What I was taught to do was to heat it very carefully because if the heat is too strong it might melt the metal. Usually heating softens the wire. Bending or hammering it makes it harder. I only wonder how you could heat your wire to soften it without a torch. Perhaps You Tube "how to" has a solution for this?

[DawninCal]

Irith, while a torch would probably be too hot for wire, I wonder if it couldn't be softened by placing the wire in a hot oven.



Dawn