Beady Talk

Crochet with Wire

Crocheting with wire is not a new technique, crocheters and jewelers have been doing it for a long time. A few basic crochet stitches will get you started. My first wire crochet project was a 'Filigree Bracelet', crocheted using colorful Czech glass beads and size 28 gauge wire. Subsequently, I tried other designs and worked with different types of beads.

Crocheting with wire is challenging. There is no going back with wire and it is difficult to unravel the stitches. Other disadvantages include the fragility of wire which breaks easily, the stretching and shrinking of wire, and the difficulty in controlling the size of the loops. But if you do it right, you get a wonderful piece and wounds on your fingers to show for it!

Despite the difficulties, the fun part of wire crochet is getting to play with the endless variation of beads and wire. Any irregularity in the stitches adds character to the overall design. I am always surprised by the unexpected pleasing results of the finished projects. I guess that is good enough to keep me going with this for awhile.

By Cynthia Poh

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