Copper Knot Ring

Skill Level: Intermediate

Technique: Forming rings

Make a unique ring with a braided twist with this simple wire wrapped ring pattern. Try using a different metal for the wrap wire, such as silver on copper or gold on silver, for an elegant look.

Materials

• 16- or 18-gauge round half hard copper wire, 1 foot (used 18-gauge)
• 16- or 18-gauge half round half hard copper wire, 6 inches (used 16-gauge)

Tools

• Flat nose pliers
• Round nose pliers
• Wire cutters
• Chasing Hammer
• Rawhide Mallet
• Anvil or Bench block
• Wire Twister
• Ruler
• Sharpie marker

Instructions

1. Measure your round wire and mark it at 6 inches. Now take your round nose pliers, and grasp the wire deep in the jaw, on the mark. Bend the wire in half around the round jaw.
   
   
   
   
2. Now your wire has a loop on one side, and two ends on the other side. Place the two ends of the folded wire in the wire twister, and tighten the wire twister. Remove the round nose pliers and grip the loop made, with flat nose pliers. Twist the wire evenly.
   
   Then remove it from the twister and flush cut the ends.
   
   
3. Place the twisted round wire on a bench block or anvil, and hammer to the look you want. Be careful not to over-hammer it, or else it will become fragile and break.
   
   
4. Next, place the middle of the hammered wire on the ring mandrel, at the size you want to make, and form the wire around the mandrel until the wire meets itself. Take the end with two wires and insert it through the wire loop. Hammer with a mallet to shape the ring.
   
   
   
   
5. Now take the end that you pulled through the loop, and form it in a loop heading the other direction, bringing the wire down. Trim so that the wire is 1/2" long, measuring from the loop intersection to the end of the wire.
   
   
   
6. Cut your half round wire in half, at 3 inches. Bend the half round wire in half with flat nose pliers and place it on the ring, about 1/4" away from the cut wire. Squeeze with flat nose pliers to form a wrap, then and wrap it 3-4 times as desired. Trim any excess wire. Repeat with the remaining 3" of half round wire on the other side of the ring, where the loop begins to twist.
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Now place the ring back on the mandrel and beat with a rawhide mallet to finish shaping and sizing. Remember, too much hammering will cause the ring become fragile and break, especially using thinner wire, so be careful!
   
   And there you go, you have a nice, simple ring.
   
   Here are ideas you can do, too. Go ahead and experiment with different gauges of wire and try making other pieces of jewelry. Have fun with the idea, try different gauges like 14 and smaller, or wire on some beads for decoration. I thought it was pretty cool.
   

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