Tutorial on making my 2-strand hook-and-eye clasp

[Pearl Dreams]

Thank you Caitlin and Claudenancy! It was fun! I wondered if the number of photos was a bit over the top, but whenever I've tried to learn from books, I always get frustrated by the gap between the photos (how did they get from this point to that point?) So I thought I'd err on the side of too many.

Now to the questions: Round wire, half hard. We have some square wire but I haven't played around with it much yet.

Honestly, as to the marks on the pliers and dowel, I just experimented with cheap copper wire until I found the spot that would give me a loop that was a size I liked. Feel free to experiment and play with the loop size! Post photos of any improvements or variations!

 

[GemGeek]

Congratulations on your tutorial. You know how I LOOOOVE photos, now you just need to add some pearls!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Here is the photo of the pearls for which I designed this clasp! I used gold filled for that one. I've been wearing them all day and they are comfy!

But I notice the gimp is starting to unravel a bit. Never saw this happen before; maybe it needs a spot of glue? What would cause this? Advice anyone?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Okay, what do you all think of this version of a 3 strand clasp? This one is fairly easy.

I made this up quickly; if folks are interested I'll make a nicer one tomorrow in gold filled and go through the steps to make the triple loops part (the actual hook and eye would be made the same as in the 2 strand one.)

 

[dkan 168]

I wondered if the number of photos was a bit over the top ....

Round wire, half hard.

Nah, a pic is definitely better than a thousand words!

I have a project at work to simplify our Standard Operating Procedures, and am planning to introduce as many pictures and flow charts as possible as part of my plan.

It is very difficult to follow wordy and lengthy instructions for the majority of people I know.

As for half hard wire, THANK YOU for letting us know you use half hard wire, as I recently purchase some 14kt WG wire from Bella Findings House. I did not know which to choose out of Soft, Half Hard and Hard. I googled it and read as much information as possible before plunging for the Half Hard one. So glad to hear I have made the right choice

DK

 

[Amrita]

Wow. What a wonderfully done tutorial, Pearl_dreams! Even a non-LB like me feels like trying my hand at this! Please pass on my compliments to your daughter for the professionally done photos! They are great!

 

[jerin]

Hi Loretta
and thanks for a wonderful tutorial on making this clasp. Oh boy, now I have to have a tutorial from your daughter on photographing and doing such nice close-ups as well and you have to explain how to do the posting... I have lots of photos waiting to be posted but as my husband has no time, they will have to wait for another....

I have no anvil and I need to get a hammer as well - otherwise the great explanations make my fingers really itch to start wire wrapping.....

Thanks a lot!
P.S. With these clear and good instructions you perhaps should consider making a living out of it....?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Thank you, thank you and thank you! I will pass on the compliments to my daughter!

If no anvil, a small flat steel block will do fine, as long as it is smooth. You can substitute for the hammer-- a hard smooth plastic object will work to hammer with (test first.) It's the impact that does the trick but you don't need to hammer hard-- just repeat a few times.

Inge--

Here is how to post photos from your computer:
1. Click on "Go Advanced" under the reply box.
2. On the page that comes up, under this same box there is a section with a blue header called "Additional Options". The second option listed is "Attach Files". Click on the "Manage Attachments" button.

A small window will pop up that tells you the maximum number of pixels for different kinds of photo files. For example, my photos have .jpg as file extensions, so I see the photos I post can't exceed 620 x 400.

That means I have to resize my photos before posting them. (You will have to ask your husband how to resize photos using your software; I have a Mac so my method of resizing may not work for you.)

Once you have photos somewhere on your computer that are sized correctly, you can use that same pop-up window to upload photos. Click the "Choose File" button. That will open a window where you choose the photo file from your computer. Then click the "Upload" button and wait for the file to upload and be attached. (Sometimes I have to press the "upload" button twice.)

So now the photo is attached. To see it before posting it, under your post there is a "Preview Post" button. Click that and you'll see the post with the photo. If you like it, you can click "Submit Reply". If you don't like it, you can edit or remove the photo file (see the pop up window again for a button to remove the file.)

If your photos are stored on another website, you can upload from there instead.

 

[claudenancy]

Oh Loretta!! Thanks for answering my questions, and I love the three strand clasp. You are so generous. This afternoon instead of starting to string another necklace I am going to practice. If I can make these beautiful clasps it will be a MAJOR step forward for me. Thanks again!!!

Beth

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Beth,

Want to try the 3 strand? My daughter isn't here to take photos but maybe these drawings will help.

Use an extra inch of wire-- 5 inches for the hook, 4 inches for the eye.

Edit: After making it in Argentium I found I could make a 1.5 inch total length 3-petal clasp which required an absolute minimum of 3.5 inches of silver wire for each half of the clasp. See next page for photo. With gold-filled I needed 3.75 inches for each part and it was stiff! End edit.

Make the marks on the pliers halfway between where I showed you in my photos and the tip (you will want to make smaller loops for the 3 strand.)

Make the hook and eye parts as in my photos, and use these instructions for the loops.

In each drawing the red line shows the new action for each step. Basically you make the center loop first; then make the right loop and the left loop as a figure 8, then wrap.

step 1 Make a hook
step 2 Bend wire over pliers
step 3 Make loop by bending wire to the left (counter-clockwise) over pliers
step 4 Make 2nd loop over pliers by bending wire to the left (counterclockwise)
step 5 Make 3rd loop over pliers by bending wire to the right (clockwise)
EDIT: Added step 5A Break the neck of the wire before wrapping it.
step 6 Wrap tail of wire snugly and clip excess

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Here are steps 4-6.

I added 5A when it became apparent that it is necessary to "break the neck" of the wire prior to wrapping it (that is, bend it).

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Now that is low-tech!

 

[pattye]

So, so, helpful! Many thanks! It's a lovely clasp!

 

[Hanaleimom]

Hello Pearl_dreams,
You and your daughter have done such a remarkable job of providing detailed instructions with step-by-step photos. I was interested in the double strand clasp. Now I think the triple strand clasp is even more attractive. Thank you very much.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Thanks-- I kind of like the 3 strand too!

If the diagrams don't do it for anyone, please post and I'll get my daughter to take a few more photos when she gets home from school.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

It looks a bit like flower petals to me. Heh heh -- the "Flower Petals Clasp" anyone?

Seems to me you could just as easily use it for 2 strands-- stringing only onto the 2 side loops and leaving the smaller center loop for decoration. You could make the first (i.e. the center) loop deliberately small for that purpose. I'm going to work one up in gold-filled and see how it looks with a small center loop.

 

[Sueki]

Pearl_dreams,
It just gets better and better - I love this one - looks like a three-leaf clover or shamrock flower....
Thanks again for your pics. and instructions.
One question - I don't suppose you know how thick 20 gauge is in mm. ??
Just that U.K. suppliers sell by the size in mm., not by gauge....

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Going to check...

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Found this gauge to mm conversion chart:

http://www.nezumiworld.com/crochet_068.htm

 

[Sueki]

Thank you Pearl_dreams,
You're a star !

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