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Where do I buy the wire to make crocheted jewellery?
I simply order online
I buy most of the wire for my crocheted jewellery at http://www.wires.co.uk/ , a division of Scientific Wire Company ( http://www.scientificwire.com/ ). Sometimes, I use my local suppliers for larger gauges which are more common and easier to find. But when I want smaller gauges (usually 0,2 mm) and I need to be sure I’m buying nickel-free wire, I simply order online.
I had a really hard time to find an online shop not based in the USA and selling such an astonishing variety of craft wire. Please, don’t misunderstand me: I have nothing against buying in American online shops. But being in Europe, it’s more complicated as it involves Customs’ issues, delivery takes longer and shipping costs are more expensive, so I don’t find it appropriate to buy just a few jewellery supplies for personal use. But, even though I was determined to buy inside European Union and there are many online shops selling jewellery supplies in Europe, I found only a few selling craft wire and even less selling the smaller gauges. The truth is WIRES.CO.UK was the only one I found that sells the really smaller wire gauges. So, if you happen to know others, please let me know!
My supplier
Nevertheless, I’m quite pleased with WIRES.CO.UK. Both their products and their service corresponded to my higher expectations. They have better prices than my local shops. They sell different kinds of wire and they have a fine assortment of craft specific wire that comes in a nice variety of colours and gauges (even the really smaller ones). I’m particularly fond of their assortment of enamelled copper and enamelled silver plated copper, but I have plans to try other metals too.
Once, I even bought them a little quantity of gold wire just to experiment if it can be crocheted. As I learned from that experiment and from a goldsmith’s explanation, it is probably possible, but first it would be necessary to soften the metal by annealing it, which means applying heat at the right temperature to get the right degree of malleability. I didn’t give up the idea yet. I’m investigating. If it can be done at home with simple and not very expensive equipment and if it can be learned without requiring very specialized skills, I’ll come back to this project.
Although this experiment wasn’t very well succeeded at this first attempt, something good came out from buying gold to WIRES.CO.UK: it strengthened my trust in this supplier. I had ordered 13 feet of gold wire (approximately 4 m) but something went wrong and I received only 2 feet (about 50 cm). When I communicated this to WIRES.CO.UK, even though they found it strange and couldn’t identify what went wrong, they promptly dispatched the right amount of gold and didn’t even want me to send back the 2 feet. They state on their site that they guarantee our satisfaction. I think they mean it!
I have to let this very clear: I’m not endorsing or recommending this supplier. I’m just telling my experience, because I’m happy with them and things have worked well for me personally. But it’s not my job to guarantee that they’ll satisfy all customers. It’s theirs. All I’m saying is that I’m satisfied, at least for now. Nevertheless, I incite everybody to visit their website, not to buy anything, but to take a look at their Craftwork Gallery and see the beautiful things that can be done with craft wire.
Technorati Tags: Bijouterie, bijouterie crochetée, bijutaria, bijuteria, craft wire, croché, Crochet, crocheted jewellery, jewellery
Tags: Bijouterie, bijouterie crochetée, bijutaria, bijuteria, craft wire, croché, Crochet, crocheted jewellery, jewellery
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