Knitted Wire Heart Pendant

You don't need expensive materials and special equipment to make jewelry. At my disposal was only copper transformer wire with a diameter of 0.5 cm, a pair of rhinestones and a few beads. I decided to try knitting using this wire. In my opinion, knitted wire jewelries look amazing. Of course, it all depends on the quality of knitting.

I decided to knit a pendant in the form of a voluminous heart. This heart needs to be knitted on the rounds, like socks. For such knitting you need four knitting needles, pointed at both ends. I used bicycle spokes sharpened on both sides. They fit perfectly.

The usual knitting practically does not work with the copper transformer wire. So I had to figure out how to solve this problem. And, as you may have guessed, I did it. In this instructable, I have shared my method with you.

This Knitted Wire Heart Pendant is 3.5 cm wide, 4 cm long and 1.8 cm thick (including beads).

You need:

wire with diameter 0.5 mm, I used copper transformer wire from a damaged radio,

four knitting needles 2 mm, I used bicycle spokes sharpened on both sides,

crochet hook 1.5 mm,

2 rhinestones with diameter 0.5 cm,

2 beads transparent crystals, I used one with diameter 1 cm and one 0.8 cm,

2 mother-of-pearl beads with diameter 0.8 cm and 3 mother-of-pearl beads 0.5 cm, I used plastic beads from a necklace,

pliers,

wire cutters or scissors.

You have to know how to do cast on (I used Longtail Cast On) and how to knit in-the-round using 4 knitting needles. There are already great instructables about it:

https://www.instructables.com/Knitting-Instruction... ,

https://www.instructables.com/How-to-join-Double-P...

When knitting with wire do not try to pull the wire out using a knitting needle. Do this with a crochet hook! Pull out the loop of the desired length using crochet hook, then put the loop on the knitting needle. In this case, you will get a tight knit. Just pull the wire loops well with the crochet hook. That is, when I write in this instructable knit stitch/knit (k), I mean pull a wire loop with the crochet hook and put this loop on a knitting needle.

When knitting in-the-round, make sure that loops of the Stockinette stitches do not twist. This can happen when transferring the loops from the crochet hook to the knitting needle.

String the beads onto the wire: first a big mother-of-pearl bead, then two rhinestones, then a small mother-of-pearl bead (see photo).

Cast on 5 loops.

We will knit only front, in-the-round, the result is Stockinette stitches.

1st round (rnd): remove the first stitch on a working knitting needle, knit 4 stitches (k4). In total you have 5 stitches.

You have to distribute the stitches on three needles: 2 stitches on one knitting needle, 2 stitches on second knitting needle, 1 stitch on third knitting needle (2 + 2 + 1; in total 5 stitches).

Now you will expand the heart using increase stitches (inc). I used the Yarn Over technique, but not to make holes I formed a loop from the wire by scrolling counterclockwise once and put this loop on the knitting needle (see photo).

2nd rnd: Continue working in-the-round, pushing the knitting needles to the opposite end. * k1 , 1 inc. Repeat from *. (4 + 4 + 2; 10 stitches in total).

3rd rnd: k to end of round. (4 + 4 + 2; 10).

The 3th and 8th stitches will be the sides of the heart. I tied green threads to these loops.

Since I decided to make the heart not symmetrical, therefore the increase stitches will not be mirror-like.

4th rnd: k2, 1 inc, k2, 1 inc, k6. (5 + 5 + 2; 12)

5th rnd: k to end of the round. (5 + 5 + 2; 12)

6th rnd: k3,1 inc, k2, 1 inc, k5, 1 inc (on the last knitting needle), k2, 1 inc. (6 + 6 + 4; 16)

7th rnd: k to end of the round. (6 + 6 + 4; 16)

8th rnd: k4, 1 inc, k2, 1 inc, k6, 1 inc (on the last knitting needle), k2, 1 inc, k1. (7 + 7 + 6; 20)

9th rnd: k to end of the round. (7 + 7 + 6; 20)

10th rnd: k4, slide in the small bead, k3, 1 inc, move to next knitting needle, k1, 1 inc, k12. (8 + 8 + 6; 22)

k4, slide in one rhinestone, k to end of the round.(8 + 8 + 6; 22)

k3, slide in the second rhinestone, k4, 1 inc, k2, 1 inc, k2, 1 inc, k2, 1 inc, k2. (9 + 9 + 8; 26)

k4, slide in a large bead, k to end of the round. (9 + 9 + 8; 26)

Now you will continue to knit one half of the heart. Since this heart is not symmetrical, then divide the stitches in this way:
4 + 5 + 3 = 12 (on three knitting needles) for one half and 14 loops for the other half.

Fix the rest of the stitches with a piece of wire - pass through the loops and twist the ends.

Further, the halves of the heart will narrow due to decrease stitches.

Decrease stitch (dec): remove two stitches on a working knitting needle, 1k, pull this stitch through the two not knitted stitches, put on the working knitting needle. Of course, do all this using the crochet hook.

Knit first half of the heart in-the-round.

14th round: k5, 1 dec (3 stitches together), k1, 1 dec. (4 + 3 + 1)

15th round: k to end of the round. (4+3+1; 8)

* 1 dec, k2. Repeat from *. (2 + 2 + 2; 6)

Cut the wire, leaving a small end.

Pass the wire alternately through the loops on all knitting needles and tighten.

Cut off the excess of the wire.

Using pliers hide the end of the wire.

Spread out the heart to give it volume.

Insert the remaining beads inside. This will not only decorate the heart, but also help it maintain volume and add weight.

Attach a wire and continue knitting the other half.

Distribute the stitches on the needles as follows: 5 + 5 + 4 = 14

14th rnd: Knit second half of heart in-the-round. k5, 1 dec, k1, 1 dec, k1. (5 + 3 + 4; 12)

15th rnd: k to end of the round. (5 + 3 + 4; 12)

* 1 dec, k3. Repeat from *. (3 + 2 + 3; 8)

Cut the wire, leaving a small end.

Pass the wire alternately through the loops on all knitting needles and tighten.

Cut off the excess of the wire.

Using pliers hide the end of the wire.

Add the chain and enjoy.