Silver and Gold Bangle Bracelet Wire Jewelry Making Pattern #150 More Jewelry Making Patterns at http://wire-sculpture.com/patterns/ Supplies Needed * Complete instructional information and pattern * 1 Length of floral sterling silver pattern wire approximately ½ inch wide and 8 inches long (for the center of the bracelet) * 1 five inch length of 16 gauge sterling silver half hard round wire (for the hook) * 4 feet of half round 16 gauge gold filled half hard wire (for the bindings) * 5 feet of 21 gauge gold filled square half hard wire (for the gold trim) Tools Needed * Round nose pliers * Flat nose pliers * Flush cutter * Chain nose pliers * Bracelet mandrel * Polishing cloth or rotary tool and buffing pad (either one) * Red rouge * Pin vise or automatic wire twister (either one) * Jewelers saw, sheet metal cutters or very large craft scissors Step 1 Cut a piece of sterling silver pattern wire 1 inch smaller that the length of your bracelet. If you want your bracelet to be 7 inches, make this piece of pattern wire 6 inches. Also cut 3 pieces of 20 gauge gold filled square half hard wire and the center wire will be twisted. To determine to the length of these wires, double the intended size of your bracelet and add 2 additional inches. If you want your bracelet to be 7 inches, make these 3 wires 16 inches. Step 2 Use a pin vise or autmatic wire twister to twist one of the wires. This will be your center wire. Step 3 Start your bracelet in the center of the wires. You will make 6 full wraps around the wires. This will make the end of your bracelet. Make sure that your wraps are tight and very close together. Then take each wire one at a time and use the blade of a knife to bend the wire down to a nice "L" shape. Do this with each wire individually until you have a right angle. Step 4 Now bend the wires down on the other side so you end up with a "U" shape. This will be the catch on your bracelet. Step 5 Before you start to insert the silver pattern wire, take a look at the pattern wire and make sure the edges are flat and smooth. You may not have to do this, but the flatter the edge on the pattern wire, the better the bracelet will hold together. If you need to flatten the edges of your pattern wire, just take a file and lightly file the edges until they are flat. NOTE: You don't want to file down the side of a gold filled pattern wire, because you may file through the gold. This is not the case with sterling silver. Also make sure the end of the pattern wire is cut straight and corners are even. This sterling pattern wire is soft, so you can cut it with a good Xuron flush cutter, a jeweler's saw, or an inexpensive sheet metal cutter. Step 6 Lay your pattern wire in between the completed gold wire harness, and you can begin to wrap in the wire at this time. Make sure your pattern wire fits in snuggly, if not, you may have to make a few small adjustments so it fits nice an easily against the gold wire harness. It's a good idea to tape the wire in with some sugical tape so it will be easy to manage. Just make sure you leave room when taping so you can work with the wraps. Step 7 Cut about 14 inches of 16 gauge half round gold filled wire. Wrap the sterling silver in with this wire. Your opening for the catch should be about 1/4 of an inch. Make sure your cut wires are on the opposite side of the pattern or the inside of the bracelet. Cut the wires very short. The shorter they are cut, the less likely they are to come up and stick your customer's wrist. Step 8 This is how the end of the bracelet is going to look. WHen you get to the very end of the silver wire, make 1 or 2 wraps on your harness. This extra couple of wraps will hold the silver and keep it from coming out. Step 9 This is the what your bracelet should now look like. Make sure the gold wires are laying flat against the silver pattern wire and doesn't overlap. Make adjustments if needed. Step 10 Start your next wrap about an inch from the other end (hook end) of the bracelet. Where you start the wrap is really up to you, whatever you think is a better look. Use the same 16 gauge half round wire as you did on the catch end. Wrap until you reach the end of the sterling pattern wire. Step 11 Cut the end of your bracelet wires about a half inch from the end of the pattern wire. This is where you will attach the hook. After cutting the ends, bend them up in about a 45 degree angle with your flat nose pliers, then roll them back with your round nose pliers. Make sure you mark a spot on your round nose pliers so both the hooks will be the same size. Step 12 Your hook end should now look like the one pictured. Step 13 Put 4 wraps on each end of the bracelet about 1-1/2 iches from the other end wraps to secure the wires together. You can add more binding wires if you like, but one on each side usually works well. This is what the end of your bracelet should look like. It is now ready to attach the hook. Step 14 Make your hook with a small piece of 16 gauge round wire. Bend the wire right in the center and squeeze it down tight with your flat nose pliers. Step 15 Now take your round nose pliers and roll the tip back to make the hook end. Grab the wire about in the center with your round nose pliers. You don't want this hook to open up too large or be too closed. Step 16 Then hold the hook with your flat nose and open up the legs by bending the ends out to the side. At this poing, the hook should like like this. Make sure each leg is about 5/8 of an inch long. Trim them back with your flush cutters if needed. Step 17 Roll each end back toward the middle with your round nose pliers to make circles. Your hook should now look like the one pictured. Step 18 Attach the hook to the cut end wires on the bracelet. Make sure the hook is facing upward (toward the pattern side). Putting the hook on facing the wrong way is a very common mistake. Take your time and make sure it faces the pattern side of the pattern wire. Also, there may be some adjustments needed to the circles on the hook. Three wires have to fit through there, so open the circles up with your round nose pliers if you need to. Tighten down the cut end wires using your flat nose pliers. Make sure you leave enough room for the hook to move around. Step 19 This is what the finished hook end should look like. Your bracelet construction is now complete, and it should look similar to the one pictured. Step 20 Now you will need a round object, preferably a bracelet mandrel, to form the bracelet. Start at one end of the bracelet and press the other end around the mandrel. Then press the other end around the mandrel. Step 21 The bracelet should now look similar to the one pictured. There is still some hand shaping to be done. Step 22 To finish forming the bracelet, you will need to use a pair of pliers. The best pliers for this would be plastic jaw pliers but you can use flat nose. The plastic jaw pliers won't leave any scratches or dents in the wire. Use the pliers to continue to form the bracelet into a circle. Step 23 After you have finished forming the bracelet, see if the bracelet is straight or needs any adjustments. Step 24 The bracelet is now finished, and you can really make it shine using a rotary tool and red rouge polish. More Jewelry Making Patterns at http://wire-sculpture.com/patterns/