Wire for beaded flowers

Hi Ken,

I'm not an expert but I've tried to do flowers with #26 wire. The problem for me was that it's difficult to get it through a small bead more than twice when you have tight curves.

• TL *

Check out the beaded flowers group on Yahoo. I'm guessing your book was printed in another country. They number their wire differently. I'm fairly new to beaded flowers, but #26 wire is good with sz 10 or 11 beads using the French method. You only go through the beads once. Victorian method you need a smaller wire #28 as you will go through more than once.

sheri

Ken Knecht wrote:

Maybe you can tell me: Beaded flower shapes are beautiful, but does that one thickness of #26 wire actually stand up to use? It breaks so easily during construction.

I guess I'm a stickler for durability.

• TL *

Thanks.

The book is _Beadwork_ by Donatella Giotti from North Light Books. Originally published in Italy. I've only skimmed it so far and don't know whether it uses the French or Victorian method. I'll have to look at a project and see whether the wire goes through the beads more than once.

Ken

sheri wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@cyberback.com:

North Light Books is my publisher, too! Great folks!

In my experience 26 gauge wire does not break while making beaded flowers. What brand of wire are you using? I often prefer 24 gauge as it holds the petal shape better and it's a must for larger petals and leaves.

--Caren