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Book Review:Wire Jewelry VISUAL Quick Tips by Chris Franchetti Michaels

May 12, 2009 by Vikram Goyal

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Wire Jewelry VISUAL Quick Tips by Chris Franchetti Michaels

  • Spiral-bound: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Visual; Spi edition (January 9, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0470343842
  • ISBN-13: 978-0470343845 
  • Just like Visual Quick Tips Beading book I reviewed last month, author Chris Franchetti Michaels  Visual Quick Tips Wire Jewelry book is a winner!!!!

     

    Along with tons of tips, tricks and how to’s, it  also has the  coil wire binding so it can lay flat while you have 2 hands full of wire and pliers. I really think ALL jewelry instruction books should be bound this way!

    As with the Beading Visual Quick tips, this book has lots of  detailed color photos and concise instructions so you never have to second guess how to bend a piece of wire or guess what size gauge you have in your hand. This book  is a MUST for anyone who wants to start making wire jewelry or as a handy reference guide for more advanced wirewrappers.

    Chapter 1 is all about jewelry making wire-types of wire, wire shape, gauge, temper finishes and care.

    Chapter 2 goes over wirework tools. From pliers to wire cutters, hammers, block, mandrels, files and more. There are pictures of each, so you can tell the difference between a rubber mallet and a chasing hammer.

    Chapter 3 is all about safety, storage and organization-all important!

    Chapter 4 is when you start working with the wire-Basic wirework includes making jump rings, eyepins, basic wire clasp and more.

     Chapter 5 is more advanced techniques. You’ll learn how to make a wrapped briolette, wave finger ring, herringbone wrap and more. 

    Chapter 6 is wire chain. Make S hook chain, double spiral chain, byzantine chain and other fun chains.

    Chapter 7 is using a wire jig. From basic techniques to wire jig patterns.

    There is an appendix with the American Wire Gauge chart, coils per inch reference char, millimeter and inch conversions, oxidation methods, polishing techniques and resourses. I love this book and you will too.

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    Have you read?

    A Whimsical Sock Pattern to Blow Your Mind

    You probably know by now if you’re a regular reader (and if you’re not, welcome!) that I love a knitting pattern that’s a little silly or a little different from the usual. Classic patterns are great, too, but sometimes you just want to make something with a bit of whimsy. And when it’s super functional, too, that’s even better.

    That’s the case with the Bananen-Socken pattern from Susanne Shahin. These banana socks are one of those patterns no one seems to be totally sure where it came from, and this free pattern on Ravelry explains how she makes them based on how she learned it.

    It’s a sock that’s curved and when not on a foot it looks rather like a banana. There’s no heel, and you can use whatever number of stitches you need to make it fit your foot. If you’ve knit enough socks to know how many stitches you like you can just use that number, or the pattern notes include sizing charts to help. (It needs to be multiples of 2 for the ribbing.)

    After working a traditional cuff, the body is made with ribbing on the back and welts (or what the pattern calls horizontal ribbing) on the front, which is what gives it the curved shape. There’s no heel, but there is toe shaping, but for the leg and the foot you just keep working the same pattern as long as you like.

    I’m a little skeptical about how these socks will feel with ribbing on the bottom of the foot, but I’m definitely intrigued and will probably give them a try. 

    The pattern notes are available on Ravelry in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish. If you head to the pattern page you can see a photo of what it looks like on a foot, and it just looks like a normal sock.

    Have you ever knit banana socks or do you want to now? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

    [Photo: Susanne Shahin]

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