Wire-Wrapping Tutorial

Here's a step-by step explanation with photos of how I create the majority of my jewelry pieces.

Tools needed:

Round-tipped pliers
Bent angle tip pliers
Wire cutters



Supplies needed:

Wire – half-hard, 24-gauge is my preferred (you can use any gauge you want, but get much bigger than 24 and you'll have trouble finding beads drilled wide enough to fit on the wire) I advise you to start with base metal, not precious (copper or brass or nickel instead of sterling or gold). Note - the smaller the number, the bigger the gauge, or thickness, of the wire. 20 gauge is much larger in diameter than 24 gauge.

Drilled beads



Method:

1. Grip the wire with the round-tipped pliers approximately ¼” from the end. Bend at a 90 degree angle.





2. Wrap the wire around the bottom prong of the pliers, forming a loop



3. Change the pliers’ grip to the outside of the loop instead of the inside



4. Twist the short end around the wire to form a “noose,” twisting away from the noose



5. Use the bent pliers to crimp the edge in (apologies for the lack of picture for this step, because it takes two hands to hold both pliers and I couldn't find the tripod for the camera)



6. Add bead
7. Grip the wire again with the round-tipped pliers just above the bead and bend to form another 90 degree angle.



8. Wrap the wire around the top prong of the pliers, forming another loop.



9. Change the pliers’ grip to the outside of the loop instead of the inside
10. Twist the end around the wire to form a second “noose,” twisting towards the bead.



11. Cut the wire as close as possible with the wire cutters



12. Use the bent pliers to crimp the edge in



If stringing beads together, or if combining welded chain and wrapped beads, when you start wrapping the next bead, make sure to slide the noose from the previous bead or the end of the chain into the loop before twisting it closed