Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf, Wire Jewelry Design. Design. This project will utilize the natural bending of the wire on its coil to create a sketch-style leaf grouping.
Sketch Style Wire Leaf
by Lilian Chen
  • Category: Design
  • Technique(s): Design
  • Skill Level: Beginner
This project will utilize the natural bending of the wire on its coil to create a sketch-style leaf grouping.

Materials

21 gauge Flat Wire copper and brass
  • Lesson Quantity: 5.00 feet
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
26 Gauge Copper Bezel Wire - 10FT
H30-11B
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $7.97
  • Gold Club Price: $5.98
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26 Gauge Red Brass Bezel Wire - 10FT
H30-3B
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $7.97
  • Gold Club Price: $5.98
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Other wire options
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Tools

Ultimate wire-pliers Set
G15-20
  • G15-20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $99.95
  • Gold Club Price: $74.96
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Add All Items to Cart
Instructions
Step 1
Measurement: For this project you will be using the wire's original coils directly from the spool instead of measuring like you would with a traditional ruler. Depending on the size of leaf that you are creating, you will either use one full coil, 1/2 coil or a 1/4 coil. With this type of measurement, there is no need to straighten your wire to determine the length for your piece. The jaw of the flat nose pliers is also a part of the measurement.
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Coil for measuring
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Pliers jaw
Step 2
Straighten: You will want to use the original coils of the wire as it comes off of the spool. Instead of straightening the wire as you would in traditional wire wrapping, just straighten the ends gently coming out of the circle shape to increase the size, and make it into a fluid curve.
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Straightening coils
Step 3
Bending: To form the wire coil by Horizontal position or Vertical position ( as shown in the illustrations below). The original coils give your final design a more free form artistic look and can create a more interesting shape without soldering or wire wrapping.

Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Using pliers to bend
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Oval wire shape
Step 4
Instructions:

Step 1: Work directly from the wire spool, without cutting.

Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Coil of flat wire
Step 5
Step 2: Use the Measurement technique mentioned above. Begin by finding the ½ way point on the coil from the end of spool.



Note: This is free stye making method; measurement could be change, as you need for or less wire.
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Copper flat wire bent
Step 6
Step 2a: Form the leaf shape by following the natural curve of the wire and vertically bending the wire, then turning it from the vertical position to the Horizontal position, (Grasping the angle of the leaf, while you turned the end.) lay the wire back across the coil.
Step 7
Step 3: Using the Pliers, find the place where the jaw crosses the wire, and using this space, make a vertical bend to form the leaf shape on the other side. Always follow the natural bend of the wire.
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Flat copper wire
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Plier jaws
Step 8
Step 4: Following the same angle as the first leaf, repeat step 2 to form another vertical bend and create a second leaf.
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Flat copper wire leaf
Step 9
Step 5: Repeat step 3 to finish second leaf . Now you've have your first grouping of leaves.
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Copper wire leaf
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Copper wire sculpture
Step 10
Step 6: Find the ¼ point in the coil from the angle of the leaf, and make a vertical bend by reversing the coil.
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Copper wire sculpture
Step 11
Step 7: Repeat the step 3 to 5 to finish the second unit of leaves.
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Copper wire sculpture
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Copper wire sculpture
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Copper wire sculpture
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Copper wire sculpture
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Brass wire sculpture
Step 12
Options:

1. By changing the lengths of measurement, it will create a different shape and look to each leaf.
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Copper wire sculpture
Step 13
2. You can use both ends of the spool to create leaf groupings.

3. You can connect multiple leaf units together to create any shape you would like
Lilian Chen's Sketch Style Wire Leaf - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Finished flat wire sculpture