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

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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.

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time.

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring.

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row.

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves.

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body.

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy.

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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