How To Use French Wire (AKA Bullion or Gimp)

Here's How:

1. Cut a piece of French Wire approximately 1/2 inch long for each end of your project.
2. If you are using a crimp tube, place it on the thread or strining wire before you add the spiral of French wire.
3. Place the piece of French wire on to your thread or strining meda, taking care that exposed threads do not catch on or between the coils of the French Wire.
4. Add your finding to the French Wire-covered thread or stringing media.
5. Pass the thread back through the crimp tube you added, pull the thread tight and crimp your tube.
6. If you are using thread and not using a crimp tube, then pass the thread back through the last bead added to the project and knot it tightly, making sure that you have pulled the thread tight and compressed the coils of the French Wire.
7. Repeat on the other side of the project.

Tips:

1. Be careful not to let your needle pass between the coils of the gimp wire, This could cause the thread to break.
2. Don't try to pass the thread through the wire twice to make a closed loop over your finding. The wire will not contract properly and you may end up with a mess. Just make a single loop over the finding.
3. After a few tries, you'll get the hang of how much wire to use and how to pull the loop together. Practice with Nymo and some scraps of French wire a few times before attempting to use French Wire on a project.
4. If you are using Nymo or other beading thread, be sure to wax the thread well before you add the French Wire piece.
5. For jewelry, use the size .340 French Wire. This size will easily cover most stringing media and pass through the loops of most findings.

What You Need:

• French Wire
• Nymo
• A project
• your findings
• glue (optional)