Wire works

With only a few bits of wire you can make the most beautiful decorations for your home. We’ve put together some projects to inspire you.

You will need (general list)
• protective gloves (gardening gloves work well)
• safety goggles
• long-nosed pliers
• wire stripper
• wire cutters
• tape measure
• pencil

Toast rack
A personal touch for your breakfast table.

You will need
• toast template
• 1,25mm-thick galvanised wire
• 0,45mm-thick wire clamp
• 2 small loose planks
• dowel or wooden spoon

To make
1 Cut a generous length of 1,25mmthick galvanised wire – we found that using about 2m at a time worked well. Hold the end in one hand and thread the wire through the fingers of your other hand to straighten it.
2 Fold the length of wire in half and clamp both ends between small planks on your work table. Insert the dowel or the handle of the wooden spoon into the loop formed by the wire, then pull it tight before starting to twist the wire. Keep going until you have twisted the entire length.
3 Photocopy the toast template and enlarge it to the desired size – it should be slightly smaller than a real slice of bread. Use a pair of long-nosed pliers to bend the twisted wire you made in step 2 into shape. Once you’re done, cut off the excess and secure the ends with 0,45mm-thick wire. Repeat to make five more shapes. If you run out of wire, make another twisted length as you did in step 2.
4 Form a rectangular base for the individual shapes, using more of the twisted wire. The length and width of this base will depend on the size of the individual ‘slices’. They should be spaced about 3cm apart, with one at each end. Make sure that the smallest shape will fit on the base. Use more 0,45mm-thick wire to secure the two ends of the base.
5 Make the handles by using more of the twisted wire. Measure the length of the handles by taking the height of the ‘slices’ and adding one-third, plus a little extra for the loop at the top.
6 Use more 0,45mm-thick wire to attach each ‘slice’ to the rectangle, and to secure the handle.

Wire hangers
Delicate – and delightfully tongue in cheek! – decorations for your wall.

You will need
• hanger templates
• 2,5mm-thick soft steel wire (for both hangers)
• 1,25mm-thick galvanised wire (for both hangers)
• 0,71mm-thick galvanised wire (for both hangers)
• 0,45mm-thick wire (for floral-dress hanger)

To make
1 Photocopy the template of the hanger that you would like to make, enlarging it to the desired size.
2 Work on a section of floor where you will have enough space to unroll the wire and form the shape. Keep the template close at hand. Cut a length of 2,5mm-thick soft steel wire that is long enough to complete the outline of the shape. Straighten it as described in step 1 of the toast rack.
3 Using a pair of long-nosed pliers, start with the top curl and bend the wire, carefully following the outline of the template. Flatten the wire as you go to make sure that it keeps its shape. When you’re done, twist the wire around the ‘stem’ of the hanger a few times, then cut off the excess. Follow the instructions below, to complete.

Bow-tie hanger
Cut a length of 1,25mm-thick galvanised wire and bend it into the shape of a bow tie, using our template as your guide. Twist a length of 0,71mm-thick galvanised wire around the middle of the bow tie several times, then attach the bow tie to the hanger.

Floral-dress hanger
Cut two lengths of 1,25mm-thick galvanised wire and bend them into the shape of the dress collar, using our template as your guide. Join the four ends together with 0,71mm-thick galvanised wire. Form the scallops using 1,25mm-thick galvanised wire and twist the ends around the hanger to secure. Decorate the dress with flowers made from 0,71mm-thick galvanised wire and use 0,45mm-thick wire to secure them to each other, and then to the dress.

Vases
Here are three techniques, from simple to intricate, with which to decorate a plain glass vase.

You will need
• glass vase
• 1,25mm-thick galvanised
• wire (for mesh and curled mesh vases)
• 0,71mm-thick galvanised wire (for all three vases)

Vase with twisted wire
1 Cut a length of 0,71mm-thick galvanised wire that is long enough to complete the entire decoration. Straighten the wire as described in step 1 of the toast rack.
2 Twist the wire around the neck of the vase and twist the end around the wire to secure.
3 Bend the wire downwards, to reach about 2cm from the bottom of the vase. Pull it tight around the vase before twisting it in overlapping circles.
4 Finish off by twisting the end around the neck of the vase and affixing it to the previous join. Cut off the ends and firmly flatten the wire against the vase.

Vase with mesh decoration
1 Loosely twist a length of 1,25mm-thick galvanised wire around the neck of your vase and twist the two ends around each other to secure.
2 Cut six lengths of 0,71mm-thick galvanised wire, each measuring four times the height of the vase. Fold each piece in half and hook it around the wire that you attached to the neck of the vase in step 1, keeping the six pieces evenly spaced.
3 Start making the mesh about 4cm below the neck of the vase. Twist the right leg of the first length of wire around the left leg of the second piece. Repeat right round the vase. This completes the first round.
4 For the next round, leave another 4cm space, but this time twist the left and right legs of the same piece of wire together.
5 Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you get to the bottom of your vase.
6 Turn the vase upside down and bend the legs around the bottom of the vase. Repeat another round, then twist the legs around each other for approximately 1cm, to secure.
7 Thread a length of wire around the ends, pull it tight and twist the two ends around each other to secure.
8 Reinforce the wire around the neck of the vase, if necessary. Cut off the ends and firmly flatten the wire against the vase.

Curled mesh vase
1 Follow steps 1 and 2, as you did for the mesh vase above.
2 Start making the curled effect by twisting the right leg of the first length of wire around a pencil to form a small circle, approximately 2,5cm from the neck of the vase. Repeat with the left leg of the same length of wire. Repeat right round the vase.
3 Twist the right leg of the first length of wire around the left leg of the second piece, 2,5cm lower down. Make another circle in each length of wire, again 2,5cm lower down. Repeat round the vase. Continue twisting the left and right legs of the same length of wire around each other.
4 Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you get to the bottom of your vase.
5 Finish off as you did for the mesh vase.

Fireplace
Decorate your fireplace with these swanky swirls that will make staring at the flames even more relaxing and enjoyable. You will probably need help with this project, but it is well worth the effort.

You will need
• 4mm-thick soft steel wire
• 1,25mm-thick galvanised wire
• fine wire mesh

To make
1 Measure the available space at your fireplace and decide on the size of the wire decoration you would like to make.
2 We made each of the two side pieces by using four lengths of 4mm-thick soft steel wire; three of them roughly the same size, the fourth with a larger curl at the bottom to make it stand out more. Bend the wire with your hands, forming any shape of your choice. If you are struggling to bend the wire by hand (smaller curls are sometimes tricky), use a solid cylindrical object, such as an old metal pot, to make it easier. Use wire cutters to cut the wire, and join the four lengths with galvanised wire. Make sure that your design is sturdy, flattening the bottom ends, if necessary. Have the different lengths of wire welded together, if possible, because this will reinforce the design further. Repeat to make the other side section, remembering to make it a mirror image of the original.
3 We used fine wire mesh for added decoration. Cut off a section of wire mesh to fit, then attach it to the three same-sized lengths of wire with short pieces of galvanised wire. Above the mesh we wrapped a short piece of galvanised wire around the three same-sized lengths a few times. Cut off the excess wire mesh as you go, to ensure a neat finish.
4 Repeat to make the two top swirls, but use only three lengths of 4mm-thick soft steel wire; two of them the same size, the third with bigger curls. Remember to make sure that the two top parts fit between the side sections. Decorate the swirls with some fine wire mesh, as before.
5 Put the pieces together using more galvanised wire. First attach the top parts to each other, then secure the side pieces. Reinforce the structure by adding a length of wire between the side pieces, letting it run under the fireplace to hide it from view. Carefully secure the ends to complete.