06/14 Snake Skin Pattern

Saturday, June 14, 2025 
10:00 am - 1:00 pm PDT 

Instructor: Jennifer Stenhouse 

You can easily make patterned metal in your studio with wire! This technique of patterned metal can be a beautiful addition to your work making it truly unique! This workshop will focus on using wire to create fascinating patterns, like “snakeskin,” for sheet stock that can be used for all types of jewelry. Students can work with scrap wire, sterling, fine silver, copper, brass, even gold or gold-filled wire. We can keep the metal experimenting on a budget! Instruction will include information that will familiarize you with how to create a series of wire twisting patterns that create a number of different finished looks. Students will learn through instruction, demonstration, and practice the techniques using wire to construct sample sheet stock pieces that can be used for all kinds of jewelry & wearable art. The focus will be on the steps of development to create various patterns. Also, the proper use of tools, hammers, rolling mill equipment, patinas, and finishing techniques. 

Beginning to Intermediate Level

All classes include the video recording, which you will have access to for 60 days after the class. The Zoom link, handouts, video(s), and other important information can be found by clicking on the individual class link on the "My Courses" page. The Zoom link and handout (if any) will be available 24 hours before the class starts.

You also get 1 free session of Open Studio Access (OSA) in the month following your class, the Zoom link can be found on the course video access page.

The class supply list is below and contains links to buy the supplies you need.

Supply List for Students

The links below will take you to RioGrande.com or other suppliers. To see prices for precious metal items, you need a free Rio Grande account. Students in the Rio for Schools program enjoy wholesale benefits for six months (instructor code = RFSLMF). This site may contain Amazon and other affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, at no cost to you, we may receive a small commission on qualifying purchases.

Recommended Materials

Stop by a hardware store for a roll of 16-20 copper and 16-20 brass wire and some 8-12 rod in brass or copper. You can also use fine and sterling silver, gold fill or if you have scrap or old gold jewelry, this can be a fun way to reuse scrap material. You can check out pawn shops or goodwill to find scrap or old jewelry too! You will also need lots of wire hard solder.

A variety of wire gauges. The more different color wires you have the more complex pattern you can make. Larger gauge will make distinct patterns that can be milled or hammered down:

• 16 to 20ga round wire, Fine and sterling, at least several feet
• 16-20ga range Brass/Copper round wire, a coil of at least several feet
• 8 to 12ga range Brass rod and wire, a foot or so
• Sterling rectangle wire, 1x4mm
• Sterling square wire 12 or 14ga
• Gold-filled wires, scrap, or a small variety can add color.

Solders

• Hard silver solder, several feet. You will be flooding the wires to join seamlessly and using it as an additional color.
• Yellow silver paste solder, good less expensive option and additional color.
  https://www.riogrande.com/product/paste-solder-for-brass-bronze-copper-and-yellow-gold-filled/503053

Options For the Flux

• Paste Flux (or a Borax and water-based flux.)
• Stop-Ox II from Rio Grande. This is water-soluble and non-flammable. I have a small spray bottle from the drug store I use to spray it onto the items before soldering.

Recommended Tools

These tools are available from Rio Grande and other suppliers local and online for your convenience. But, if you have your own tools or want to add to your kit, this is what we will be using.

• Jeweler saw & 2/0 blades
• Small hammer
• Small tweezers
• Hand drill, Dremel or flexshaft
• Bench pin
• 6” half round file
• Flush wire cutters
• Magnifiers

Items from the hardware or drugstore

• Emery paper, 200/400/600 or emery boards
• Hammer
• Center punch/scribe
• Safety glasses
• Brass wire and rod

Additional Tools

• Torch and soldering set up. (If you don’t have a torch and set up, check out the starter set from Seattle Findings!
  Use the code ME20 for a 10% student discount when ordering from Seattle Findings!). They also have some good starter kits for students.
• Here’s a good basic student kit from Rio Grande
• Rolling mill
• Planishing Hammer