Memory Wire for Bracelets and Jewelry

Memory wire for Bracelets and Jewelry
acculon 3 ply beading wire

Memory wire is a coil of loops of wire that go back into the coil shape on it's own that's why it is called Memory wire. It gees in different sizes. You can buy memory wire for rings, toe rings, bracelets, and choker necklaces. Memory wire gees in Youth size memory wire for bracelets, which is about a 7" bracelet. The adult memory wire size is about an 8" bracelet. It is a stong wire but yet small enough for 2mm beads. It is 2 and 1/2" size wire for the youth or small bracelet. The small bracelet is small enough for a child but will fit a 7" bracelet size for an adult. It gees in copper, a dark grey metal, gold plated, silver pleated, also sterling silver. Usually it gees in loops of 12 prepackaged, but here on okay you can purchase many different amounts. I prefer the 50 loop a package myself. But I have bought it in 70 loops and 20 loops.

Memory Wire
memory wire loops
Memory wire can be used with 2mm, 3mm, and 4mm beads. It can hold the weight of this size beads. Anything heavier and the memory wire will not spring back to it's original shape. I use 3mm bead end caps for my bracelets made using memory wire. They are not so big they look gawdy they finish the ends of the bracelet perfectly. You can cut memory wire into as many loops as you want. I use one loop which I cut about 1/3 to 1/4" more then the single loop. Or I use three loops for a multiple wrap bracelet. Memory wire is sold in packages or coils of loops, usually with seventy to ninety loops. You can buy bigger lots of it though.

Memory wire loops
Memory wire for bracelets
Memory wire for rings

Memory wire is easy to work with and works well with most beads in 2mm, 3mm and 4mm sizes. It cuts easily with a pair of wire cutters. To finish off these bracelets they have Memory wire bead end caps. I used the 2mm size on my memory bracelets. They are small enough even for the dainty bracelets yet they do not take away from the bold beaded bracelets. They are glued on the ends of the memory wire to finish off the bracelet. Memory end bead caps are a small spacer round bead which is drilled half way through to fit on the end of the wire to finish off the rough edge.

Memory Wire
Gemstone beads work well with this wire in a 4mm size. The gemstone chips do not work as well. This is because of the hole sizes and the angles of the holes. They often will not go on the wire. So unless you want to lose half the amount of your beads because they do not fit, do not use gemstone chips. These beads below are more examples of a 4mm bead you can use on the memory wire to dress up a nice gemstone or crystal bead you choose for your wrap bracelet. They can be found here on okay under sterling silver beads or spacer beads. Check out some of our okay links below for your sterling silver beads or spacer beads.

Sterling silver spacer beads
These beads work well with the memory wire also, they are the sterling silver mesh ball round spacer bead. They fit easily onto the wire without being too big. They really dress up the bracelet giving it a more elegant look.

I found memory wire works really well with 4mm crystal beads, and spacer beads and bars in 2mm, 3mm, and 4mm sizes. Freshwater pearls also in 4mm and even the heavier jade beads will work with memory wire as long as you don't go over a 4mm size. With gemstone beads I wouldn't go smaller then the 4mm because of the hole size varies just enough some may not fit. Here is another example of 4mm beads called rondells, they also will dress up a bracelet and work well on the memory wire. Find these beads on okay under sterling silver beads and spacers.

Plated gold and silver spacer beads
These beats also work well with memory wire. They are the star dust spacer rondelles. They work well with this wire and are usually in 3mm or 4mm size.
Not all our memory wire wrap bracelets are made with sterling silver, we do have silver and gold plated beads and spacers too. Up above the link will take you to our big selections of spacers and beads in silver and gold plating.
Memory wire for rings work best with the tiny 2mm spacer beads and just one or a few different 3mm beads for decoration. Otherwise the ring would be too bulky and very ungefortable to wear. You can still experiment alot even in this size with the different spacer beads and bars and also different 3mm beads on the top.
With the Memory wire for Choker the same rules work well 2mm, 3mm, 4mm bead sizes. With Chokers you can experiment more with a special bead or charm in the center of the choker for all different styles. To go bigger with the beads you would lose all your flexibility of the memory wire.

Crystal Beads
In the picture above you see examples of the beautiful Swarovski Austrian Crystal beads, you pay a little more for these beads but they are well worth the money. They are very brillant in their rainbow of colors as you look at the crystals in the light. Above the link will take you to all our crystal beads not just our Austrian Crystal or Swarovski or Czech. We have a vast selection of crystal beads here on okay.
You can try all different patterns to make very different looking bracelets. I put all my patterns down on paper. Just to see the difference in the size of my spacer beads and bars to the size of my beads. The size of the spacer bars can really make a difference in the style of your bracelet. To make bracelets that look bigger you can use 4mm spacer beads and it makes a bigger sturdier bracelet. For a daintier bracelet the 4mm crystals look beautiful with the tiny 2mm spacer beads with the 2mm spacer bars. This gives you an idea of size, placement and approximately just how many beads and spacers you will need.
The different styles of bracelets can be endless. I have about 20 to 25 different patterns down with very little different beads and spacers and bars on hand. You can use so many different beads in this 2mm, 3mm and 4mm size.
I had alot of fun just experimenting with crystals at first. Then I changed them with a variety of 2mm spacer beads and bars. I also tried the bigger 3mm and 4mm spacer beads and bars. I even made a much sturdier bracelet using 4mm Garnet gemstone beads and mesh tubes and also mesh spacer beads for a thicker sturdier bracelet.

This is just one example of some of the memory wrap bracelets we have here on okay for sale. We have many different styles and kinds of bracelets. The link below will take you to auctions for many of our Memory wire bracelets.
Memory wire bracelets
I enjoyed working with the memory wire, it is easy to work with and makes a very attractive bracelet. I like the Wrap bracelet alot because the do not have fasteners which can be hard to fasten and these bracelets wrap easily around your wrist.

Memory wire bracelets examples

This bracelet above is an example of how using smaller beads how dainty you can make your bracelet. Using all different beads you get many bracelets with very different looks.

I hope this article has helped some of you beginning beaders. I know I didn't know anything about beading wires when I started. We do not have alot of guides out there for this so I though I would at least be helpful to all the beginners.
Rule of thumb #12 wire works well for earrings and light bracelets, stick to the 2mm, 3mm and 4mm beads.
This wire doesn't say #12 on it but it is the 3 strand wire that is very flexible, you may notice sometimes the auctions for the wire does not put the number 12 on the listing. Three ply or strand is a good ply for small bead bracelets and earrings. You will need the 7 strand flexible for heavier bracelets.

acculon beading wire 3 strand
#14 and above wire for heavier bracelets. Then you can use the heavier beads but some of the 2mm and 3mm beads may not fit. This wire is usually 7 strands in one wire where the #12 is usually 3 ply of wire in one strand.