Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle Wire Weave Tutorial
I think it’s about time we make a bangle bracelet, don’t you? I’ve wanted to revisit my pretty Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle for a while now. They all sold out before I could snatch one up for my myself, and I’ve been itching to make one, just for me, ever since. So that’s exactly what we’re going to do today, friends. Let’s make some bangles!
Copyright & Use Info
You’re welcome to make and sell products from this tutorial on the condition that you credit Wendi of Door 44 Studios for the design and link back to this page.
When it comes to my written tutorials, on the other hand, I reserve exclusive rights to all images and written content. You may not reproduce or redistribute any portion of this tutorial in any way, shape, or form. Furthermore, you may not teach the designs contained within this tutorial without my written permission.
This copyright applies to the printable PDF version of this tutorial as well, and it’s included therein. You may share the free version of this tutorial only by linking directly to this page.
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Alright. Let’s get started!
About The Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle Tutorial
I’ve always been fascinated with connections. I see connections in everything, and in a very practical sense, I’m drawn to crafts that involve physical connections. When I need a break from wire weaving, or even when I get the itch to make a multimedia piece, I enjoy working with
This pretty Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle bracelet is the happy result of one of those experiments. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make this bracelet, and it’s just as easy to wear. What I love most about this bracelet is that it has the look of separate bangles, but all three pieces are joined with a simple hook and loop clasp. So, you’ll never lose one of you pretty bangles, and they’ll always go on your wrist in the proper order.
My mother-in-law has one of these bracelets that she wears frequently, and it’s taken on a gorgeous patina with regular wear. When you wear your copper jewelry frequently, the contact with your skin will give your jewelry a pretty patina that is uniquely yours. I don’t know if copper really has healing properties as some claim it has, but I personally find it to be a very soothing metal – both to work with and to wear.
Getting Started on Your Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle
For best results, use copper wire for this tutorial. We’re going to tie the 18ga core wires in knots. This can be done with sterling silver wire, but you’ll likely need to anneal even dead soft sterling wire in order to make it soft enough to get a tight knot. So, be sure to use dead soft wire for the knotted band of the bracelet. If all you have on hand is half-hard wire and you have a micro torch, you can anneal your half-hard wire to soften it.
The half-hard 16ga wire used for the outer core wires and the clasp gives the bracelet the strength necessary to maintain its shape. If you’d like to learn more about which jewelry wires work best for my tutorials, you’ll find a very detailed discussion about jewelry wire here.
Tools & Materials
- 16ga, 18ga, and 28g dead soft wire
- Stepped Bail-Making Pliers
- Wire Cutters
- Nylon Jaw Pliers
- Flat Nose Pliers
- Chain Nose Pliers (you’ll need two of these, or use your Flat Nose Pliers and one set of Chain Nose Pliers)
- Chasing Hammer
- Bench Block
- Fine Point Permanent Marker
- Ruler
- Bracelet Mandrel
- Rawhide or Nylon Mallet (Optional)
- Kumihimo Bobbin (Optional)
Material Specifications by Size
Small
- 18ga dead soft wire – 18 inches
- 16ga half-hard wire – 16 3/4 inches
- 28ga dead soft wire – 12 feet
Medium
- 18ga dead soft wire – 20 inches
- 16ga half-hard wire – 17 1/4 inches
- 28ga dead soft wire – 14 feet
Large
- 18ga dead soft wire – 22 inches
- 16ga half-hard wire – 17 3/4 inches
- 28ga dead soft wire – 16 feet
Determining Size for the Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle
I’ve written the instructions for three common bracelet sizes: Small (7 inches), Medium (7.5 inches), and Large (8 inches). These measurements are based on the inner circumference of the bracelet. All critical measurements for each size will be indicated throughout this tutorial as follows: S(M-L). The measurements for the clasp are the same for all three sizes.
Size is a very personal choice for people. Some like a close fit (that would be me). Others like a looser fit. If you need a larger size or a half size in between the three sizes specified, I’ve provided a very useful size chart at the end of this tutorial. Scroll down now to review that chart if you need a different size than the three standard sizes in the tutorial instructions. Based on the information given, you can quickly determine how long you need to make your bangle wires in order to achieve a perfect fit.
The printable PDF version of this tutorial includes an expanded version of the size chart provided here. If your wrist measurement is larger than eight inches or if you plan to make several Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangles, consider spending a few dollars on the printable PDF version of this tutorial as that table will ultimately save you time and frustration.
Skill Level: Intermediate
This is a more challenging project that involves wire weaving. It can be achieved by someone who has some basic wirework skills.
This tutorial uses the Modified Soumak Weave for two core wires. Other skills required are shaping the wire for the clasp and frame and texturing wire with a hammer. I have a two-part series on mastering your chasing hammer that includes planishing and texturing wire. Just click the links above to review those tutorials.
Making the Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle
This tutorial is written for three sizes with the measurements for each size shown throughout this tutorial as S(M-L).
The measurements for the clasp apply to all three sizes. Also note, the Medium bracelet is what is shown in all work-in-progress images.
- Measure and Cut the Knotted Core Wires
Measure and cut two 9-inch (10-inch – 11-inch) pieces of dead soft 18ga wire.
TIP: Learning to knot these core wires correctly takes some practice, so I recommend using some scrap wire to practice the next five steps before proceeding with the two core wires that you just cut. You can use any sort of dead soft wire for practice. Or even two pieces ofstring will work. The main thing is that you need to make sure you thread the two knots together correctly in order to get them to line up next to one another neatly. - Begin First Knot
We’re now going to tie a simple overhand knot on one piece of 18ga wire.
Begin by forming a large loop with one core wire. Cross the left end of the wire over the right end, as shown. - Tie First Knot
Wrap the end of the wire on the right side around and through the wire loop, as shown. Then gently begin tightening your knot.
Try to keep the knot near the center of your wire as you gently work it tighter. I like to offset my knots on this bracelet, but this works best if you aim to keep the knot centered to start with. - Tighten Your Knot
Once you’re satisfied with the general position of your knot, pull the knot snug (but not tight) using two pairs of pliers. Be sure to leave enough slack in the knot to thread your second core wire through the center, as shown.
- Begin Second Knot
Thread your remaining 18ga core wire through the knot you just finished from back to front, as shown.
Repeat Steps 2 through 4 on the second core wire until you’re satisfied with the general position of the second knot. - Finish Tightening Both Knots
Use two pairs of pliers to pull each knot tight. If you’ve tied your knots correctly, they should snug up close together, and your two core wires should be roughly parallel.
- Trim the Core Wires to Size
We’re now going to trim the core wires to 7.25-inches (7.75-inches – 8.25-inches). Determine where you want your knot to be, and then trim the core wires to the appropriate length for the bracelet size that you’re making.
I like to keep my knots slightly off center, as shown. Sometimes the core wires will dictate the knot placement. The two core wires need to be exactly the same length, so if your wires are offset by a significant margin, that can limit your knot placement.
Again, getting this knotting technique down takes practice. Don’t be afraid to generate some scrap wire while you master this technique. - Mark the Knotted Core Wires Where You Want to End the Weave
Measure and mark the two knotted core wires 3/8 of an inch from both ends. This is where you’ll break your weave later on in this tutorial.
- Prepare the Hammered Bangle Wires
Measure and cut two pieces of 16ga half-hard wire to 7.25-inches (7.75-inches – 8.25-inches).
- Mark the Points Where the Frame will Flare Out
Lay the two 16ga wires next to the knotted 18ga wires. Be sure to align the ends of all four wires.
Using your permanent marker, mark the 16ga core wires on either side of the knot, as shown. We going to create bends that will frame the knot at those marks. - Begin Forming the Frame
Using your stepped bail-making pliers, center the 6 mm step between the two marks on one of the core wires. Then use your fingers to create a soft curve at that position on the wire.
- Continue Forming the Frame
Without removing your pliers, rotate the pliers slightly until the 4 mm step is centered on one of the marks you made in Step 10.
Use the 4 mm step to create another bend in the opposite direction of the first bend. - Finish Forming the Frame
Again, without removing your pliers, rotate the pliers so the 4 mm step is centered on the second mark that you made in Step 10 and repeat Step 12.
- Form the Second Frame Wire
When you’re finished, your core wire should look like the one shown here.
Repeat Steps 11 through 13 on the remaining core wire. - Flatten the Frame Wire
Starting at the bend and working out to the ends of one frame wire, use your chasing hammer and bench block to flatten the entire length of the wire.
The wire will tend to curl while you do this. Gently straighten the wire out as you go and try to keep the long sections of the wire on either side of the bend as straight as possible. - Texture the Frame Wire
Once the entire length of your first core wire is evenly flattened and straight, use your bench block and the ball end of your chasing hammer to evenly texture the entire length of the wire.
Again, this may cause the frame wire to curl. Just keep working out the curl as you go until the entire length of the wire is evenly textured and the wire is straight. - Flatten the Remaining Frame Wire
Flatten the entire length of the remaining frame wire as instructed in Step 15.
Before texturing the second frame wire, place it next to the first wire. Align the two core wires so that the two bumps form a frame. This will help you identify the correct face of the wire to be textured. - Texture the Remaining Frame Wire
Once you’ve correctly identified the surface to be textured, repeat Step 16 on the second frame wire. Your two frame wires should now look like those pictured below.
- Prepare to Weave the Knotted Core Wires
Cut a 12-foot (14-foot – 16-foot) length of dead soft 28ga wire.
TIP: Instead of cutting my weaving wires to length, I work off of a plastic bobbin filled with weaving wire.
Just wind as much small-gauge wire onto a plastic Kumihimo bobbin like the one shown here. I fill my bobbins between 1/4 and 1/3 full, which is probably between 50 and 100 feet of wire, depending on the gauge. If you wind too much wire on your bobbin, it will become heavy enough to slip and unwind as you work with it, which can be annoying. You want enough wire to finish several inches of weaving, but not so much that your bobbin becomes difficult to manage.
This is a tip that I picked up from Sarah Thompson of Sarah-n-Dippity afew years ago, and it’s a good one. If you struggle to keep your wire from kinking while you weave, give this technique a try! - Begin Weaving the Knotted Core Wires
Starting as close as you can get to one side of the knot, anchor your weaving wire with three wraps around one core wire. Leave a long enough tail that you can easily break later on. Then begin weaving the two core wires together using the Modified Soumak weave.
Continue the weave until you reach the marks you made near the ends of the core wires. Bind off your weaving wire with three tight wraps around one core wire and break your weaving wire. - Finish Weaving the Knotted Core Wires
Flip your knotted core wires over and repeat Step 20 on the other side of the knot.
After breaking your weaving wire at the cut ends of your core wires, break both starting tails on either side of the knot. - Prepare the Wires for Your Clasp
Using 16 ga half-hard wire, cut the following lengths for your clasp:
– 1 piece at 3 inches (this will be the hook)
– 1 piece at 2.5 inches (this will be the loop)
– 2 pieces at 2 inches (these are your hinge pins) - Form the Hinge Pins
Measure and mark the 2-inch pieces of wire at 1/2 inch from one end.
Align the mark on one piece of wire with one edge of your flat nose plier jaws and grasp the wire firmly with the tips of your pliers.
Use your thumb to bend the long end of the wire all the way around the lower jaw of your pliers until the two ends of the wire are parallel to one another, as shown.
Repeat on the remaining 2-inch wire. - Begin Forming the Hook
Measure and mark the center of the 3-inch piece of 16 ga wire. Then, using your flat-nose pliers, form a sharp “V” at that mark. Continue working your wire into a neat point until the two ends of the wire are about 6 mm apart.
- Work Harden the Hook
Use your bench block and chasing hammer to flatten the tip of the “V”. Then measure and mark both arms of your hook 1/4-inch from the tip of the “V”. This is where you’ll bend the arms to form your hook.
- Begin Forming the Hook
Align one mark on your wire with the edge of your flat-nose pliers. Grasp the wire firmly with the tips of your pliers.
Use your thumb to push the long end of the wire all the way around the lower jaw of your pliers, as you did for the hinge pins in Step 23. - Finish Forming the Hook
Flip your wire over and repeat Step 26 on the remaining arm of the “V”.
- Complete the Hook Component of the Clasp
Measure and mark both arms of the hook at 7/8-inch from the front of the hook. Trim both arms at the marks.
Use the 2 mm step on your Bail-making pliers to form a tight loop on both arms. Make sure the loops are on the same side as the catch point on your hook, as shown. - Begin Forming Your Loop Component
Measure and mark the center of the remaining 2 1/2-inch piece of wire. Center the mark on the 6 mm step of your bail-making pliers and bend both
of the wire around that step until the two arms are parallel to one another.end - Work Harden Your Loop
Using your chasing hammer and bench block, flatten about 1/4-inch of the loop.
- Trim the Arms of the Loop
Measure and mark both arms of the loop at 7/8-inch from the tip of the loop, as shown.
- Finish Forming the Loop Component of Your Clasp
Trim the arms of the loop at the marks made in Step 31 and use the 2 mm step of your Bail-making pliers to form tight loops on both arms. Make sure both loops are facing the same direction, as shown.
- Trim Your Frame Wires to Length
Position your two hammered wires next to your knotted and woven centerpiece. Make sure the bumps on the two hammered wires frame the knot evenly and then trim the hammered wires to the same length as the knotted and woven core wires.
- Form Loops on Both Ends of Your Bangle Wires
Use the 2 mm step on your bail-making pliers to form tight loops, as shown, on both ends of all four core wires. Make sure that all loops line up evenly so you can easily feed your hinge pin through the loops. Also, make sure that all loops are facing the wrong side of your bangle wires. As we form the bracelet, you’ll want those loops to be on the inside of the bracelet curve.
- Attach the Loop Component to Your Bangles
Line up the small loops on your Loop component with those on one end of your bangle wires.
Feed one of your hinge pins through all six loops, as shown.
Trim the short end of the hinge pin at the center point between the two 18ga core wires. - Secure the Loop Component to the Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle
Bend the straight piece of the hinge pin around the small wire loops and trim at the center of the bangles.
Use your flat-nose pliers to tighten the bends on the hinge pin and make sure that the ends are aligned neatly. - Secure the Hook Component to the Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle
Repeat Steps 35 and 36 on the other end of the bracelet to secure the Hook component with the remaining hinge pin.
Make sure the catch on your hook is facing the wrong side of your bracelet. This will prevent the hook from catching on clothing and such while worn. - Form Your Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle Bracelet
If you have a bracelet mandrel and a soft mallet, use them now to form your bracelet. I use a solid wood oval-shaped bracelet mandrel to form my bracelets, but this is something I did by hand for years. You don’t really need a bracelet mandrel or forming pliers to shape a wire woven bracelet, but these tools are worth the investment if you make a lot of bracelets.
The ends near the clasp often need to be shaped with the assistance of pliers. Wrap the jaws of your pliers with masking tape and use them to gently grasp the bracelet. This trick will prevent tool marks on your finished bracelet while you form those stubborn ends near the clasp. - Make Any Final Adjustments
Try your bracelet on for size and test your clasp. Make any final adjustments as needed.
That’s it! Your new Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle is ready to finish and polish.
Next Steps
If you enjoyed this tutorial, be sure to check out the companion tutorial, the Lover’s Knot Bracelet, which is very similar to this one only the three bands are bound together into a single more stable bracelet with less movement.
Both versions of my Lover’s Knot bracelets stack beautifully together if you enjoy wearing an armful of stacked bangles.
Finishing Your Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle
I patina all of my copper and silver jewelry with Liver of Sulfur (LOS), and then I burnish the patinated pieces with super fine steel wool (Grade #0000) in a warm bath of water and original Blue Dawn dish soap. The steel wool brings back the bright copper highlights on the high spots.
Once that’s done, I rinse the jewelry thoroughly to remove any particles of steel wool, and then I put the jewelry in a tumbler barrel filled with warm water and a generous squirt of Blue Dawn. I tumble all of my finished jewelry for a minimum of two hours.
If you’re new to wire weaving, read this detailed tutorial that walks you through my 7-step patina process. If you’d like to learn more about why I recommend tumble polishing specifically, check out this post. And if you already own a tumbler, make sure you clean your stainless steel shot regularly so you’ll always get the best finish on your tumble-polished jewelry.
One last bit of tumbler advice before you go. Always make sure that any beads or stones that you use for your jewelry are safe to tumble. I don’t recommend tumbling natural pearls, soft gemstones, or glass beads with polymer coatings, such as glass pearls and certain frosted-look glass. If you’re not sure if your beads can handle the tumbler, run a test tumble with a bead that you’re willing to sacrifice.
Variations of the Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle
There are lots of things you can do to make this bracelet uniquely your own. One variation that I make frequently is basically the same as this stacked bangle version only I lash the two 16ga frame wires to the knotted and woven core wires in the center to make a one-piece band. This makes for a slightly more refined bracelet with a lot less movement. If you’d like to make that variation, it’s called the Lover’s Knot Bracelet.
Resizing Recommendations
Bracelet sizing is sort of an elusive art. People are very particular about how their bracelets fit, and no two wrists are alike. We’ve all grown accustomed to wearing ill-fitting bracelets when it comes to commercial jewelry, but the beauty of handcrafted jewelry is that it can be custom fitted. If you sell your wire jewelry, this can be both a marketing advantage and an operational challenge. You’ll need to decide how many different bracelet sizes you want to keep in stock and how willing you are to offer custom or semi-custom bracelet sizing as a service.
The other challenge with bracelet sizing is that tools do make a difference. I can repeatedly achieve the same size bracelet using these written instructions and my tools. Meanwhile, you can follow these instructions using your own tools, and end up with a slightly different sized bracelet. If you follow the instructions carefully, however, you should be able to repeat that same size over and over again.
Keep this consideration in mind as you refine your bracelet sizing skills. The finished bracelet sizes listed in this tutorial are based on the results that I achieve consistently with my tools. Your finished sizes may vary slightly, but if you always use the same measurements, you should be able to make multiple bracelets that are consistently the same size.
Also, make sure that you always finish your clasps exactly the same way. When your clasps are consistent, your bracelet measurements will be more predictable. And it’s super easy to adjust the overall bracelet size by simply shortening or lengthening the band.
Quick Reference Size Chart
The following chart will help you determine how long you need to make your band in order to achieve a perfect fit based on your wrist measurement and fit preference. There is an expanded version of this size chart in the printable PDF version of this tutorial, which includes all measurements for wrists up to 9 inches. Or just read the general sizing rules below to determine the accurate band length for larger wrists.
General Sizing Guidelines for the Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle
I break down bracelet fit into two general categories: close fit and loose fit. And I’ve learned through the years that most people’s fit preferences fall into one of these two categories. I personally prefer a close fit, which is why my bracelets tend to run
As a general rule, you’ll add 1/2-inch to the actual wrist measurement for a close fit and 1-inch for a loose fit. I have a 6 1/2-inch wrist, so I can wear either a Small (7-inch) or Medium (7 1/2-inch) bracelet. Because I prefer a close fit, however, I nearly always choose the Small size.
Here are the basic steps for perfectly sizing this bracelet every time:
- Measure your wrist using a flexible measuring tape. Let’s use my 6 1/2-inch wrist for our example.
- Decide if you want a close fit or a loose fit and add the appropriate length to your wrist measurement (1/2-inch for a close fit or 1-inch for a loose fit). We’ll choose a loose fit in this instance.
- 6 1/2-inch wrist + 1-inch for a loose fit = 7 1/2-inches. This is the target measurement for our finished bracelet.
- Add 1/4-inch to your finished bracelet measurement to determine the correct length for your knotted core wires and hammered bangle wires. 7 1/2-inch + 1/4-inch = 7 3/4-inches.
The example above happens to work out to a Medium size Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle, and the measurements for that size are included in this tutorial. However, you can apply this same formula to any wrist measurement, and you’ll find that you can consistently achieve the perfect fit for any combination of wrist measurement and fit preference.
Discover More Behind Door 44
Thanks so much for joining me today. I hope you enjoyed creating my pretty Lover’s Knot Stacked Bangle. If you’d like a printable PDF version of this tutorial, you can find it here.
Want more free wire jewelry tips and tutorials?
I like to share useful wire weaving tips and tricks on my social media channels, and we have some great conversations about wire jewelry in my private Facebook Group. Also, be sure to connect with me @door44studios on Instagram, and Facebook to keep up with everything that’s happening behind Door 44. And if you haven’t already done so, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel where you’ll find new wire jewelry videos weekly.
Until next time, my friend, go make something beautiful!
Love your tutorials! So easy to follow. I have really enjoyed making a bracelet for myself! Now I am going to figure out how to add my lampwork beads to them.