Wire Circlets

We going to list a number of ways that our folk have made the circlets. Many of these can be seen in the Scrapbook section, but there are even more tips there that we haven't listed, check out the Elven sections

Getting started bending wire

Many hardware stores or farm co-op stores supply 16 gauge aluminum fencing wire that isn't bad for doing this kind of work. I think there's a number of links in the "maille" section of the website. It's not a bad substitute for silver for costume appearance.

After being bent into the appropriate curves you can hammer flat the wire with a small (4 or 6 oz.) hammer on a small anvil (10 lb. anvils are also available at a lot of hardware stores for less than $15). The wire flattens out and keeps it's curve. You can overlap wires and hammer them in the same position... they'll stay in place due to the groove the wires imprint into each other to get that net overlapping knotwork look. I'd suggest practicing on some very cheap 18 or 20 gauge copper wire sold for picture hanging. If you can master a smooth hammered flat curve on the small wire, the 16 or 14 gauge aluminum will be a piece of cake ;-).

== Adam

I made the circlet out of electrical wire (round sort of flexible wire) spray painted metallic silver and telephone line (the flat non coiled kind) spray painted gold. Advantages: cheap, flexible (you can fit it to your head without worry of cutting or being uncomfortable), you can play around with it until you've got the look you want. Disadvantages: even though it looks pretty real it may not be the level of authenticity you're after, paint might smudge a bit.

Weaving Wire and Crystal

Now if you know some ornate braids this is where you can go wild...fishtail and stuff. I chose a simple 3 strand braid. Make a nice long length of the braid, but be careful, don't plan to cut off more wire than you can handle in your hands for a braid. Braid evenly. cut off the length you will need for each piece of your design and using a stick pin to pry some of the braid apart stick the raw in that gap to attach the pieces. Using your pliers fold over the excess to attach.

You can put beading on the braid depending on the braid thickness. You can either attached your jewels as you go or you can attach them last using little round things called Jump rings. They are in the jewelry section of craft stores.

Christmas wire and beads

I decided to make Eowyn's funeral circlet because it was so leafy and filigree looking. I figured it'd be less difficult to sculpt than something that had to be made out of metal. The first thing I did was take a trip to Michael's (any craft store would do) and had no ideas in mind except for something gold and bendable. I stumbled upon some wired Christmas trim that looked like gold cord, but had a bumpy texture. It looked fabulous for the foundation. One roll of anything you find should do it.

First I cut a length of gold craft wire and wound it around my head, fastening in the back. I used this a guide to the shape of the actual circlet. Then I took three lengths of the gold wired cording (measured using the guide circlet) and braided them together, winding the excess around the back of the circlet and trimming it. I then cut a length of gold craft wire and wove it into the braid I made - every inch or so I strung on five small gold beads to add texture to the circlet. Then at 2" apart sections I strung on a blue bead to simulate the flower "stations". I did this all the way around the circlet but still wasn't satisfied - I needed something to make the flower shapes around the blue beads. I then cut another longer length of the gold wired cord and wove it into what I had already done, and when I got to the blue beads, I wound the cord around the bead several times, going in and out of the circlet for sturdiness, and using my fingers to pinch the top and bottom of the circle I had created to give it a pointy flowered look. Once finished I wound the excess cord around the back where the others were finished off, cut off some gold craft wire, strung my filigrees to cover the messy cords and "pretty it up". Then you have a finished circlet! It's quite time consuming but very rewarding, so be patient :)

Tips on Making the Elven Circlets

Getting started bending wire

Weaving Wire and Crystal

Christmas wire and beads

Step by Step on Galadriel's Crown....