Hair Barrette or Shawl Pin Tutorial

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Level: Beginner
Page count: 21
Steps: 26

This lesson teaches you how to make 2 styles of hair barrettes or shawl pins, using only 2 types of wire to make an attractive accessory. One a double spiral and the second uses a looped pattern. It also includes detailed instructions for hammering the wire, which is used for 3 reasons:
1. To flatten and harden the wire
2. To shape and form the pin and barrette
3. To add a textured finish

The tutorial is broken down into 3 sections, the first looks at shaping the 2 different barrettes and their pins. The second details the hammering process and the third explains the binding and wrapping, securing your barrette together.

The double spiral barrette measures 3” across and 2 ¼” tall, the pin is 4 ½” long. The loop barrette is 2 2/3” long and 2 2/3” tall and the pin is 4 ¼” long.

These designs use only 2 gauge of wire, this minimal requirement for materials, makes them a very costs effective design to make.

This is a great project for getting used to heavier gauges of wire.

As with any written instruction, please read through at least once before starting.

The materials listed below are for both barrettes

Materials:
• 53” 12 gauge soft round wire
• 56” 24 gauge soft round wire
Tools:
• Chain nose pliers
• Round nose pliers
• Wire cutters
• Flat nose pliers
• Chasing hammer
• Anvil
• File
• Sanding pads (3 grits)
• Nylon jaw pliers
• Tape measure
• Ring mandrel (optional)