Assignment 20 – Dilni Abeyrathne

For this prompt, I will explain how to make an intricate wire circlet, similar to those worn by the Elves of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies. I first made a wire circlet for my fall, or more appropriately Halloween, orchestra concert several months ago. I costumed myself in a black and red dress with the circlet atop my head, pretending to be an arcane sorceress from the kingdoms of old. The circlet I made looks something like this: 

This design is not absolute, however, as the style is flexible so long as the imagination is. Designs aside, I will teach you the basics of how I created such an accessory.

Essential Materials

-Paper

-Writing utensil (preferably erasable)

-Thick craft wire (any color, 12-14 gauge)

-Thin craft wire (thin gauge)

-Ruler (recommended)

-Craft gems (if desired)

-Hot glue

-Wire cutter

-Steady hands

Step 1: Use your head!

-First think of the design you would like your circlet to represent. Would it be intricate? Elaborate? Simple? However, you must beware of only giving the style a fleeting thought. Doing so will only make creating the circlet a difficult, frustrating endeavor.

Step 2: To the Paper of Truth!

-Once you have a concrete design in that imaginative head of yours, immediately grab a clean sheet of paper and a writing utensil of your choice (erasable please!). After gathering the necessary materials, fold the paper in half crosswise, making sure that both sides of the paper are symmetrical with each other.

Step 3: The Pen and the Inkwell (or Pencil)!

-On the crosswise-folded sheet of paper, mark the middle of the fold with your writing utensil and begin sketching one side of your circlet. Be as perpendicular to the paper’s fold as you can. Personally, I recommend lightly marking a line perpendicular to the fold before sketching and erasing once the sketch is done. This will prevent the circlet from drooping downwards.

Step 4: Fun in the Sun!

-Once the half-circlet is sketched on one side of the paper, turn the paper to the other side and hold it up to a ray of sunlight, angling it so the sketch on the other side is visible through the paper. Then, holding it as steady as you can, begin tracing the sketch on the side of the paper facing you. Try to be as precise as you can. I know this step is not fun in the least, as the title might suggest, but fun or not, this is an integral step to crafting a symmetrical circlet. So, have fun knowing you will thank yourself later!

Step 5: Wire Whirl!

-Unfold the piece of paper. You should now have a sketch of the completed circlet on the paper. Now, aren’t you glad you went through all that fun in the sun earlier? Next, bring out the thick craft wire and measure out increments that are close to the length of the circlet’s designs. If the circlet is intricate, as mine is, you may want to cut out several increments of wire in accordance to the designs. Once the wire is cut, take any increment you wish and set it on top of the appropriate design sketched on the paper. Keeping your hands steady, fold the wire piece carefully to match the design beneath it. And yes, this must be done by hand. You may use the wire cutter carefully to shape the wire, but be cautious, as the cutter can scuff the wire. Repeat this for all your wire increments until all the designs of the sketch have been replicated.

Step 6: Labyrinth of Crisscrosses!

-Now comes the hard part. You thought the last part was difficult? Well, prepare to be amazed (or disappointed)! Now that you have so elaborately shaped the wires into a form resembling your desired circlet, it is time to connect them together. It is also time to bring out the thin craft wire and the hot glue gun. Being very careful, take your wire increments and interlock them together. By this I mean locking the wires together instead of laying them, one on top of the other. If this sounds confusing, not to worry! It is rather difficult to explain in words, but the picture of my circlet should illustrate exactly what I mean. Once the wire pieces are interlocked, quickly hot glue the intersections together, as the pieces will slip out of alignment without the glue. Once that is done, wait briefly for the glue to dry. Once it is dry, carefully remove the glue from one section of the circlet (just one spot of glue, mind you). After the glue if removed, tightly wrap that area with the thin wire. Once the wire is wrapped tightly and thickly, cut the wire off and tie it in place. Do this for all glued intersections, one at a time. Go any faster and, believe me, you will regret it.

Step 7: The End of the Climb!

-Now, look at that! You have got a completed circlet in your hands. Now is the relatively easy part of accessorizing the circlet. If you wish to keep it the way it is, then you, my friend, are done with the circlet. If you wish to beautify the trinket, this is the time to do so. Grab the craft gems or other accessories you have set aside for this project and carefully hot glue them onto the circlet. You may use super glue, but be aware that you will not be able to remove the accessories later. Afterwards, place the circlet on your head, with the middle of the circlet centered on your forehead. Placing one hand on your forehead, use your other hand to gently bend the circlet to fit the shape of your head. Once done, carefully remove the circlet and connect the two ends with the thin wire, tightening it so the circlet will sit snugly on your head.

And there you have it – a completed wire circlet!

The going may have been difficult, but you have now reaped the fruit of the journey. Truth be told, I myself was elated when I completed the circlet. However, that elation came with a cost. In crafting the headpiece, I nicked my fingers several times, especially in the places most important to playing my violin. Although the circlet was made for the orchestra concert, it seems as though I hurt the fingers most integral to my playing. Oh well. In the end, the effort and injuries were well worth it! And I’m sure you will reap the benefits as well. For now, I bid you farewell. Good luck in your wirework endeavors!