These narrow, stack-able bracelets are fun to make, comfortable to wear and look great in different metals. This basic design can be used on any metal you can manipulate as long as it is not brittle and is able to withstand the bending and hammering. They can be left bright and shiny, oxidized or colored with a patina. You can add more binding wires anywhere you like, dangle a bead or charm from the little loop or make the loop bigger. They can be worn with the clasp on top or bottom as well. They can be made to be worn snug like a cuff or loose like a bangle. You even change the shape from oval, like these, to round. I’m sure you can come up with even more variations.
Supplies:
16 gauge round, soft wire 15″ (small 6″ wrist) to about 19″ depending on wrist size and whether you want these oval or round.
18 or 20 gauge half round wire for binding. The length depends on how much binding you’d like to have.
Bracelet mandrel or other oval or rounded shaped solid object to form the shape. It should withstand some hammering.
Chasing hammer or other type of small hammer for hardening and texture.
Wire cutters, nippers
Need file or cup burr for smoothing ends of wire
Round nose pliers for forming hook on clasp
Flat nose pliers for holding wire
Medium bail making pliers for creating a loop for the clasp. Size of loop is optional.
Steel block or anvil for hammering surface
Fold the 16 Gauge wire in half
Bring the wires close to each other and align the ends
Create a little dip on either side of wires, center loop and check for wire alignment
Hammer loop clasp
Bracelet on mandrel.
Remove the bracelet from the mandrel. It should look oval or round with the clasp in the center.
Bracelet off the mandrel. The ends are aligned.
Hook
the half round wire, flat side in leaving a tail to hold onto. I will
later wrap that section of the tail up around the wires as well.
Wrapped wire leaving 3/4″ unwrapped for hook.
With the round or flat nose pliers, create a small hook outwards by grasping both wires (hold the bracelet firmly so the wires stay aligned). This loop should be no bigger that 1/4″. You can make in face inward if you prefer. It works best when made into a “U” type shape so don’t make it circular.
Hook on end of wires
Move both ends of the bracelet slightly to bring the hook to the center of the “eye” loop. You would giggle this as you would when opening and closing a jump ring.
Hooked clasp on bracelet to be filed smooth with needle file.
Place the bracelet on the (smallest) side of your wrist by gently moving one side of it up and the other down. It will look a little out of shape. Not to worry, when you hook it, it will easily align again with very little effort.
All done! Make several more bracelets and stack them on your wrists. These were left shiny with a protective sealant – ProtectaClear from Everbright Coatings.
Stacked up bracelets, hook side under.
