Wire Clovers and Such.. HELP?

[Virtuous Jewelry]

Is anyone familiar with doing these techniques?
I've been messing around with my copper/silver wire spools making clovers and butterflies recently to master the technique and they're turning out pretty good. But I have a question, I was browsing the web for tuturials for these techniques and I found a site that said I needed a WIGJIG tool... Can anyone tell me if that's an essential tool to use? I've just been using my chain nose pliers, and round nose pliers and the clovers and butterflies look okay but I haven't tried the earring technique in the picture.

[LaurenP]

I don't do wire wrapping but I've looked into it and I do know that a wig jig is pretty darn helpful. It's like a board you put little posts in then wrap your wire around the posts to get the desired style so it would be a lot more easy than your round nose pliers. Though I do give you a round of applause for trying to do it all by hand.

Check this out http://www.firemountaingems.com/search.asp?skw=wig+jig

It's a link to the wire wrapping tools on fire mountain gems. Good luck.

[Saniki Creations]

I do a few things with wire and at first started with the wigjig thing to get some practice and an idea on how to curve the wires. It is a great little tool to have. After many practices, you probably won't need it anymore. One advantage of the wigjig is that all the shapes you create will look uniform and the same, whereas without it, the shapes could look different.

Hope that helps.

[ManicButterfly]

Your handmade ones look great! I think if you were planning on making a lot of them for a project a wigjig would be easier on your hands. You'd probably get a smoother curve using one for something with large curves, othewise it looks like you're doing a pretty good job by hand :D

Suzanne

[taszel14]

The wigjig tool is a precision gadget ( tailored made for this looping activity ) you can use to make perfectly measured uniformed loops for your clover designs. It holds the wire in place so you can see where to turn and how to manipulate your design. It's far much better than just the round nose pliers alone.

[Sirona Jewelry™]

The wig jig and tutorials on Jewelry Lessona by Eni Oken & friends at http://www.jewelrylessons.com/jewel/ may help. There are free tutorials and some for pay, but the cost is really minimal. Good luck!

[ManicButterfly]

Another place to check out: http://www.wigjig.com They have tons of FREE tutorials and designs for wigjigs-they also sell the original WigJigs there :D

Suzanne

[Michelle]

I do mainly wire wrapping and I really prefer my round nose tool. Like some said above, you really have to practice using the Wigjig. I have one buried somewhere in my things? I do love the website though... lots of wonderful tuts.