Woven Bow Charm

When I'm upset, I have the urge to create something. Anything.

Anyhow, I've been stressed out and nervous about something recently so I released my frustration in the form of making something inspired by this pin. The top part with the bow caught my eye, as it was something that I thought I could replicate and transform with my skills.

I really liked my first one (the black one) and decided to make a matching one as to form a set for friendship necklaces, one for me and the other for my friend. I plan to give the silver one to her (we have an ongoing joke that of the two of us, she's the more "pure" one), but in the meantime I made a tutorial for making the bows.

• thin and thick wire (I used 20 and 28 gauge silver-coated copper wire.)
• pliers
• paper
• pencil
• ruler
• slim cylindrical object (I used a paintbrush)
• other jewelry findings depending on what you'll be using these charms for (earrings, necklace pendant, etc.)

To make the thick frame of the bow (that you'll be weaving on), begin by using your ruler and pencil to help you sketch it. Use your ruler and pencil to mark points at the 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 inch places. Then sketch a shape like the one in the second picture above, using those marks as guidelines.

After you've sketched out the shape, use your pliers to trace that shape with your thicker wire (in my case, the 20 gauge wire).

Grab your thinner wire (in my case, the 28 gauge wire) for weaving.

Wrap the end of the wire around the top of the thick wire shape and cut off any excess. Then wrap the wire up and around (as in wrap around it once) the opposite side of the frame. Bring the wire up and around the other side, and then up and around the opposite side. See the pictures for better step-by-step instructions.

Repeat those steps again and again until you've gone down the entire length of the frame.

Now grab your thin cylindrical object (I used a paintbrush) and curve the top portion (above the first bulge) down over the cylindrical object. Then bend the middle (hourglass/bottleneck part) in the opposite direction (so the top part is bent toward you). Take the cylindrical object again and use it to bend the bottom bulge in the same way that you bent the first bulge.

Insert the cut end into what used to be the top curve of the frame. Pull the wire tightly and wrap the end around the middle of the bow.

To make the first end of the bow, see above for the shaping.

Wrap the end of your thin wire around the top of the end of the bow and begin weaving like you wove the first part of the bow. When you're done, cut off the excess wire and use pliers to press the cut end as flat as possible.

Shape the thicker wire like shown in the first picture above before using your thinner wire to weave this end like you wove the previous end.

When the weaving is complete, cut off excess thin wire and flatten the cut end with pliers. Wrap the thick wire around the middle of the bow once, making sure that the two ends of the bow are as close to the top butterfly part of the bow as possible.

Cut the thick wire short, leaving just enough for curling into a loop.

Use your fingers to adjust the ends of the bow to your liking. Perhaps you want them spaced out and bent in some place; do any or all of that with your fingers.

Repeat all those steps to make a matching pair if you want. You could use the set for a pair of earrings or alternatively do what I'm doing -- give the other one to a friend like a friendship token.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and want to try it out! Post pictures if you do; it would seriously make my day, and I'll sent you a three-month pro-membership code.

Have a splendid day!