Copper Wire Basket

Materials:

12-gauge copper wire
16-gauge copper wire
24-gauge copper wire
round nose pliers
needle nose pliers
nylon jaw straightening pliers
flush cutters
liver of sulfur
container of water
fine steel wool
polishing cloth
polymer clay, variety of colors
metallic powders
needle tool
brush
head pins
soft polishing cloth
pasta machine
tissue blade
dust mask
toaster oven

1. Wrap 12-gauge copper wire loosely around round nose pliers to form three loops (figure A) for the rim embellishment. Wrap the wire into the rough size and shape for the basket rim. Add about three inches to the length to form a second embellishment described in step 2. Make a flush cut with flush cutters.

2. Form a small loop around the tip of the round nose pliers for the second embellishment on the other end of the rim, then turn the wire around and create a second larger loop facing in the opposite direction. Turn the wire again and make a third loop, again working in the opposite direction from the loop formed before it.

4. Add 16-gauge copper wire spokes to provide structure to the basket. Make sure the wire is flush cut at the end and wrap the end of the 16-gauge wire around the rim (figure C) with your hands and fingers. Work from a coil of wire so you don’t have to estimate the amount of wire needed.

5. Bend 16-gauge wire so that it roughly forms the size and shape of spokes needed. Flush cut it approximately two inches longer (tail) than the size of the spoke.

6. Wrap the two-inch tail of 16-gauge wire around the rim opposite the first wrap. Flush cut any remaining wire if the tail is longer than needed. Then repeat steps 6 and 7 with a second piece of wire running perpendicular to the first, this gives you two wire spokes that cross each other at the bottom of the wire basket.

8. Pull the wire to the bottom of the basket and make a few loops around the bottom so that it is firmly attached.