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Wire Wrapped Pendant Tutorial
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How to Wire Wrap Pendants

Have fun making a wire wrapped pendant! To make this DIY jewelry craft you only need a few simple tools, a piece of wire, and something to wrap.
Active Time20 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Yield: 1 wire wrapped pendant
Author: Debbie Chapman
Cost: $5

Equipment

Materials

Instructions

Step 1: Find what you need

  • Gather your supplies and materials.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant Supplies

Step 2: Make a spiral

  • Begin by cutting a 20 inch piece of wire.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Starting about 4 inches from one end, wrap the wire around the 9mm section of the bail making pliers, creating a loop.
    You can also wrap your wire around a dowel, pencil, wooden spoon handle, etc.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Slide the wire loop onto the 6mm section of the bail tool and wrap the next section of wire (towards the end) around that.
    You should now have 2 loops (the small over the large).
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Slide the wire loops onto the smallest (2mm) section of the tool. Wrap the wire end around it to create a third loop.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Flatten the down the loops to make a spiral.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Use wire cutters to cut the wire off at the center of the spiral, leaving about 2mm extra.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Refine the loops with needle nose pliers and curl the extra wire into the center, following the spiral.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • You should now have a 3 loop swirl on one end of the wire.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant

Step 3: Connect and wrap the wire around the stone

  • Choose which side of the stone you'd like to be the front of your pendant.
    Place the swirl onto the stone where you'd like it to sit.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Hold the spiral in place and begin wrapping the other end of wire around the stone, following the contours.
    Firmly press on the wire so that it turns and conforms to the stone shape as tightly as possible.
    We prefer to start wrapping around the bottom of the stone.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Continue wrapping the wire around the stone, catching the wire on previously wrapped parts and the grooves of the stone. This will keep the wire steady.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Work your way up to the top of the stone, ensuring that your wraps are tight and that they're secure, hugging the stone tightly.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Wrap your stone one last time near the top, ending where you'd like the pendant to hang from.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant

Step 4: Make the bail

  • Start the bail by wrapping the wire around the 6mm section of the bail making tool.
    In jewelry terms, a bail is the secure loop component on a pendant that connects it to a chain or cord.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Wrap the wire around the pliers 3 times to make a sturdy bail.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant

Step 5: Secure the wire ends

  • Once your bail is made and in place, pull the end of the wire down and through a couple of the earlier wraps.
    This will help secure the wire end in place.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Pull the end of the wire taut and ensure that it's secure. Loop it through again, if needed.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Cut the remaining wire off, leaving about 1cm (about 3/8 inch) extra.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Curl the wire end with the needle nose pliers, bending it so that the sharp end goes in towards the stone. This will also keep it from coming undone.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Use the pliers to flatten down the wire end as much as possible.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Add a chain or cord through the bail, turning your pendant into a necklace.
    Wire Wrapped Pendant
  • Your wire wrapped pendant is complete!
    Wire Wrapped Pendant

Video

Notes

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