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Fibula Pin: A combination of PMC Clay Forms and Traditional Wirework by Mary Ann and Ken Devos |
The easiest way to learn making hinges for your PMC pieces is to start with a flat PMC piece, such as a pin or pendant. If you make the pin, you can include a fibula pin as the means to attach the pin to your clothes. The flexibility of the fibula design allows you to create both PMC piece and pin to match in a wide range of combinations. This is how you can form the fibula portion of the project.
Observations & Alternatives
The fibula pin is a spontaneous creation that is never the same twice. The only critical feature is that the last 1” (2.5 cm) from the sharpened end should be straight and the very end must fit into the catch. As long as the spirals give enough spring to hold the pin in the catch, you are free to create.
The fibula pin is a fastener taken from ancient times. You know it as the safety pin. Our fibula pin becomes an integral part of the creative design and often contributes as much to the decoration as the pendant itself. A major benefit is, no soldering required.
1. This process requires only the most basic jewelers tools: round nose pliers, flat nose pliers, metal file, sandpaper, and polishing cloth. The materials are 16-gauge sterling silver wire and various beads and other embellishments that you care to add.
2. Cut a 10” to 12” (25 – 30 cm) length of sterling wire. 16 gauge works well. With a metal file, smooth one end of the wire and sharpen the other end into a point. Use the sandpaper and polishing cloth to smooth the pointed end. It should be smooth enough to go through cloth without snagging.
3. Using the round nose pliers, bend the blunt end of the wire to form a loop. Use the flat nose pliers to create a spiral.
4. At this point you can add beads or other items to the fibula. In fact you can add them at any point in the process.
5. With the pliers, make some patterned loops and bends in the wire next to the spiral.
6. With the flat nose pliers, bend the wire 90o from the main part of the wire, close to the area just shaped. Bend the wire 180 o, doubled over about 1” from the 90 o bend so that the wire returns. Make a 90 o bend at the end of the doubled wire section. Use round nose pliers to bend the doubled wire over 180 o to form the catch. Make the bend about 1/3 of the way from the doubled over bend. (See sketch.)
7. Add your PMC pendant to the fibula at this point.
8. At about the middle of the wire, form a series of loops over one jaw of the round nose pliers. This will form the spring to provide tension in the fibula to hold it closed in the clasp. The pliers should be held so that the loops create a form like a safety pin. The sharpened end of the wire should point toward the spiral end of the wire.
9. The pointed end of the wire should extend slightly beyond the catch element. If the end of the wire is farther than this, you can add another loop to the spring. You can adjust the size of the spring loops to adjust the positioning.
These instructions provide the basics for creating a fibula. As I said earlier, the design of the pin is very flexible and can reflect or complement the design of the PMC portion. Be as imaginative as you can. As long as the basic parts are included (catch, coiled spring, straight rod to go through the cloth and a sharpened end), anything else is decorative. Have fun.
(Text by Ken and samples by Mary Ann)
Mary Ann Devos-Director of Education for PMC Connection
Ken Devos-Program Coordinator for PMC Connertion
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