Florist's Wire Gauge

[Elmsley Rose]

Susan Elliot, at http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2011/06/bobbinet.html

mentions "(I use Japanese paper-coated floral wire like the kind you can find here.)" and she's going to make some detached petals using "and I think that perhaps a mixture of silk tulle and the cotton bobbinet, both fused over silk organza...might give me some variability and might even be better. I'm not sure I'll know that until I make a few petals using varying combinations of tulle and/or bobbinet and organza." - so that should be interesting to follow :-)

 

My question is - I have one size of paper covered florist's wire, and I haven't a clue as to it's gauge. Does anyone know of a sizing chart on the Net or somewhere which will tell me? And show me the thicknessness of say, the very thin 33 gauge wire Susan is going to use, as opposed to 18 gauge, which is the biggest I spotted on the site she links to,

 

best,

 

Megan/Elmsley Rose

[Elizabeth Braun]

The only thing I can think of is to pay a visit to a local florist and, if they are willing, compare your wire with their supplies???

[Elmsley Rose]

Er-hmmmm.....that's where being 95% housebound becomes a problem! I go on my fortnightly shopping trip to the supermarket with a carer, and to medical appmnts, and that's about it! (Tho I get lots of friends coming to visit me :-)

 

I haven't been inside an *embroidery* shop since I took up embroidery!

 

But that was a very sensible idea! What I need is a website that shows the sizes....

[Elizabeth Braun]

The problem with the website idea is that sizes onscreen will often vary according to the size of the screen itself and so getting it to be exact would not be easy.  Perhaps you could try e-mailing any business you can find online that does wire and see if they can help?

Also, consider making a pleasure trip when you go out.  You are entitled to have more fun with your time out of the house, it shouldn't be seen as 'business only or I shouldn't do it' - that's what starts up this type of illness in the first place and perpetuates it.  I speak from experience as I used to have it too, but I only got better when I sorted a few things out....=)  (Yes, I *really* had it!)

[Liz in Kansas]

Megan, there are many sites on the 'net with wire gauge charts (here is one of the simplest: http://www.cattlecorner.com/conversions/wiregauge.htm ), but as Elizabeth has said, it is pretty hard to really judge the sizes when you are dealing with a chart or picture.  If you don't have something to base a comparison on, a measurement of 0.0118 inches (dia. of 33gauge) is not very useful!  ;-)

 

Susan mentions in her post that the wire she plans to use is close to the thread size in the lace.  That may be the best clue.  I have some 32g wire (tho, not paper covered) and it is quite flexible and covers nicely with stitches.

 

Hope this helps a little anyway.

[Elmsley Rose]

Yep - looked at the list and went "huh" ? I started a seperate conversation (should have put it in here) that you can buy a sampler pack of different wires from Jane Nichol's shop here in Australia. So that's what I intend to do! :-)

Thanks for your help, anyway

best,

[Rachel Wright]

Thread or wire sizes are usually measured by weight per length, or alternatively (less reliably but easier to manage informally) by wrapping it around something and measuring the number of wraps per inch/centimetre/decimetre Susan might be willing to do that with one of her pieces for comparison?

[Elmsley Rose]

I've always used a #30 gauge I think. For what reason would I want other sizes? Lighter ones for organza work is the only thing I can think of. Or maybe a heavier one if the structure is in a gold metal thread filling?

[Gill Kriehn]

I have only bought wires in packs labelled with all sizes in white, green or beige from our local cake shop.  This shop makes wedding, birthday, christening cakes as well as supplying all the items needed for those to make their own.  The wires are used to create icing flowers etc.   I find the the white wires can be easily coloured before use.

 

Gill Kriehn