Mei Tan's Wire Fish Charm, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire. A minimalistic charm/ keychain/ pendant design with simple steps for beginners.
Wire Fish Charm
by Mei Tan
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Lashing, Wrapping, Weaving
  • Skill Level: Beginner
A minimalistic charm/ keychain/ pendant design with simple steps for beginners.

Materials

18 Gauge Half Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-18HRH
  • Lesson Quantity: 18.50 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $12.82
  • Gold Club Price: $9.62
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28 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-28D
  • Lesson Quantity: 16.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $2.53
  • Gold Club Price: $1.90
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Tools

Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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90 Degree Bent Nose Pliers
G2-66
  • G2-66
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $7.97
  • Gold Club Price: $5.98
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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
  • PLR-487.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.97
  • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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Premium Steel Bench Block 2 1/2 X 2 1/2
G17-9
  • G17-9
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $15.97
  • Gold Club Price: $11.98
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Chasing Hammer with Wooden Handle, 1 1/8 Inch Face
G3-27
  • G3-27
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $13.95
  • Gold Club Price: $10.46
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Stainless Steel Ring Mandrel Sizes 1-15
G7-2
  • G7-2
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Instructions
Step 1:
Cut and mark the 18 g wires
Measure and cut 10 cm and 9 cm of 18-gauge wire. Find the center point of the wire, then mark the point with a marker pen.
Mei Tan's Wire Fish Charm - Cut and mark the 18 g wires, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wire fish charm
Mei Tan's Wire Fish Charm - Cut and mark the 18 g wires, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wire fish charm
Step 2:
Forming the fish shape
Grip the wire with sharp nose pliers at the marked center point.
Bend each side of the wire by pushing it down with your fingers to form the fish shape or rounded "V" shape.
Adjust with your fingers until you are satisfied with the shape.
You may use a ring mandrel to shape as well.

Continue bending so that both wire ends intersect and create a fish-like shape.
Mei Tan's Wire Fish Charm - Forming the fish shape, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wire fish charm
Step 3:
Harden and flatten wire
harden and flatten one side of the bend with hammer. When you hammer the bend, the wire may straighten a bit. If this happens, use your fingers to reshape the "fish mouth".
Repeat with the other side and the tail ends.
The center (fish mouth) is not hammered yet so that you can reshape the wire back to the fish shape where both wire ends (fish tail) intersect each other.
Hammer the fish mouth
Mei Tan's Wire Fish Charm - Harden and flatten wire, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wire fish charm
Step 4
Repeat Steps 1 to 3 with the shorter wire (9 cm) to create a smaller variant of the fish shape.
Cut the 28 g wire into 4 pieces of about 10 cm each.
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Mei Tan's Wire Fish Charm - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wire fish charm
Step 5:
Wrapping the 2 fish together
Place the smaller fish above the larger variant and coil the wire 4 or more times around the 2 tail intersections.
Repeat the coiling with the fish body intersections as shown.
Mei Tan's Wire Fish Charm - Wrapping the 2 fish together, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wire fish charm
Step 6
Attach the completed fish charm to the keychain ring with jump ring.
Done! Completed Fish Charm.
Variations as necklace, bracelet or face mask connectors.
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Mei Tan's Wire Fish Charm - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wire fish charm
Mei Tan's Wire Fish Charm - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wire fish charm
Mei Tan's Wire Fish Charm - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wire fish charm