NEST RING tutorial

As an Easter Special ...
and following some requests,
here is my tutorial to create
your own little
NEST RING.

So ... if you're comfortably seated
and you have to hand:

0.4mm & 0.8mm wire, selection
of beads for nest, ring mandrel, chunky
knitting needle (or Coiling Gizmo),
chasing hammer, round- and
chain-nosed pliers, plus some
wire cutters ...

We are ready to begin!























1. Working directly from a spool of 0.8mm wire, wrap
the wire approximately 4 times around your ring mandrel
and cut from the spool, leaving a projecting tail of about
7" (17.5cm) to 8" (20cm).























2. Using the tips of your chain nosed pliers, wrap the
cut end around the circular wire coils to secure as one.






















3. Wrap the longer projecting wire tightly around all the
coils, binding the entire circular frame together in a very
random fashion.



















4. Once all the wire has been used up and wrapped around
the coils, secure the end and neaten. Place the bound ring
back onto your ring mandrel and hammer until the ring
becomes work hardened and all the wires are compacted
together. Place aside.























5. To create the 'nest': wrap some 0.8mm wire around a
chunky knitting needle or use the large handle of a Coiling
Gizmo to make an even coil of approximately 2" (5cm).





















6. Hold each end of the coil and ... p u l l ... stretching the
wire out until it is a long, wavy length (but don't flatten it!).
Beginning at one end, start making a circle with the curly
wire and then continue to wrap the rest of the wire around
this 'circle' so that the wire catches onto itself, to create a
wire 'pom-pom'.




















7. Once you've wrapped all the wire around itself, push
the cut end into the 'pom-pom' and spend a little time
re-adjusting and squeezing the ball of wire with your fingers.




















8. Place the 'pom-pom' of wire onto a flat steel stake or
hard surface and firmly holding the outer frame with
your fingers, hammer the centre with the 'ball' end of
your chasing hammer to create a recess within the wire
ball.























9. Cut approximately 6" (15cm) of 0.4mm wire and use this
to attach beads within the centre of the 'nest' frame - just like
sewing them in!



















10. Once you've filled the nest with your chosen beads,
use the rest of the wire to attach it to the ring shank that
you created in steps 1-4. You can always cut and add
another length of 0.4mm wire for a firmer, more secure
binding, if you feel that the 'nest' requires extra security
on the front of the ring.























11. 'Et Voila'!! There's the finished ring ready
for wearing! ... but watch out for magpies!!









Experiment with this design with different coloured
wires and beads ...






Or, create it
as a pendant
or, brooch
design!
















HAVE FUN MAKING SOME NESTS OF
YOUR OWN and ENJOY A RELAXING
BREAK OVER THE EASTER WEEKEND!


















EGGXELL YOURSELF WITH SOME
EGGSELLENT WIREWORKING!!