Encyclopedia of Wire Jewellery [Paperback]

All you need to know to produce beautiful jewellery made with wire. Discover how to knit wire bracelets, work with gems and stones, shape wire and much more in this fascinating book. Includes lots of tips and techniques with good photography and how-to instruction.-KarenPlatt.co.uk The Encyclopedia of Wire Jewellery by Sara Withers explores a range of different wire working techniques. This includes the basic as well as more advanced techniques and is ideal for beginner wire jewellery makers. More experienced wire jewellery makers may also find plenty to interest them in the book. The illustrated step by step instructions are easy to follow and enough information is given to clearly explain a technique without getting bogged down in irrelevant detail. The book includes a brief section about some key silversmithing techniques. While this is useful to read, readers interested in silversmithing are likely to require more detailed reading on the subject.-Suite101.com Most jewelry involves wire even if it is just a jump ring or link, and here is a whole book filled with advice on how to achieve many different effects. Hammer it, twist it, make fancy chains, wrap stones and even knit with it to enhance your creations. This is a book aimed at both the more casual jewelry maker and those who have invested in the more advanced trappings of silversmithing. If this is not you then this is less than a quarter of the book, taking the reader from the more basic techniques to the world of metalworking. So in a way the book can serve as a bridge between two crafts as well as teaching even a novice jewelry maker the basics. From choosing tools that are going to serve you well to making jump rings, through using jigs, selecting wire for knitting and crochet, bending it into fancy shapes, making clasps and working with memory wire. I was impressed by the fact that unlike many craft books this really is one to grow with the crafter as they progress from simple beginnings to the more advanced techniques. There are projects to make, photos of finished pieces to inspire and lots of helpful staged methods with plenty of captions as well as clear colored photographs. At the back is a gallery of what can be achieved, much of it if you work through the chapters and a helpful list of suppliers and societies in both the UK and US. I certainly learned a lot, and however many books there are on the market about beads there are not many on this topic, which is fundamental to being a fully fledged jewelry maker.-Myshelf.com By definition, an encyclopedia is a reference work giving information on all branches of knowledge of one subject. Does Sara Withers' book do this? In short, yes. The book aims to show the reader basic wirework techniques that will help build wire skills. Packed with ideas, tips and techniques, this book is written in an easy-to-read style. The step-by-step instructions, accompanied by photographs, take you through each stage of a technique and do not leave you wondering how you moved from step to another. To clarify some techniques, there are also at-a-glance sequences of pictures. Each new technique is accompanied by a simple project idea. You learn how to make various findings, a multitude of shapes, and chains using decorative links and chain maille. Wire twisting techniques and how to wrap and coil wire around numerous shapes are shown as well as knitting and crochet. The techniques learnt are then expanded upon with instructions for various jewellery pieces, such as a spiral wire-wrapped ring, a flower brooch and pendant shapes filled with beads. The final section on silversmithing is a good taster aimed at bridging the gap between wirework and metalwork. Basic skills such as annealing, drawing down wire and soldering are introduced. This book is all about teaching you wirework and basic metalwork techniques, which can be a springboard to exploring your own creative ideas. What I found most astonishing was the price. I expected to pay far more for such a comprehensive book. High recommended!-Bead Society of Great Britain

Whether you are an experienced jewellery-maker looking to move up to the next level, or a complete beginner, "The Encyclopedia of Wire Jewellery Making Techniques" is an invaluable resource. Using this book you can: learn how to manipulate wire to create elegant structural designs for earrings, rings, pendants, necklaces, tiaras and brooches with clear, illustrated instructions; combine wire with beads and stones through threading and wrapping for an intricately embellished look; have fun experimenting with different types of wire, from precious metal to electrical and recycled wires; and, progress from basic wire-working skills to more advanced techniques, such as making linked jump-ring chains, simple soldering, and using chemicals to alter the wire finish.