Wire Wrapping Tutorial: Geometric Wire Wrapped Beaded Necklace

Today’s necklace is a great project for anyone just getting started in wire wrapping.  The simple geometric design doesn’t take many beads, or much wire – so if you have jewelry-making tools already, you’ll find this to be a very inexpensive project!  Today I’m going to show you wire wrapping tips for making your own wire frame, so you can make pendants in any shape or size.  Adding a few crystal beads gives you color and shine with this minimalist geometric design.  You can make several pendants with 2 coils of wire and one strand of beads, so it’s a great way to make gifts!  You can personalize them with your friends’ or family member’s favorite color – or even with their birthstones!  This amethyst-colored design is great for February birthdays.

Supplies needed to make your own geometric pendant with wire wrapping:

• 18-Gauge Silver Plated Copper Wire
• 22-Gauge Silver Plated Copper Wire
• 6mm Crystal Bicone Beads
• Round-nosed Jewelry Pliers
• Wire Cutters
• 18″ Ball Chain

First – the trick to that evenly-shaped frame.  Just find something that’s the same shape and size you want your pendant to be!  I used a bead container, but other household items like bottle caps work great, too.  Just look around!  You’re sure to find something just right.

Cut 8-10 inches of 18-gauge wire, and wrap it around your object.  At the top, bend one end upward, and wrap the other wire around the vertical wire.  Then, wrap the vertical wire around the round-nosed pliers to form a loop.

Next, wrap both wires tightly around the bottom of the loop, and cut them off with your wire cutters.

Finally, choose a pattern, and add your beads!  Just cut a few inches of 22-gauge wire, and wrap 2-3 times around the frame.  It’s easiest if you leave about a 1/2 inch tail, and wrap the short side.  Trim off the excess wire.  Add your beads, and wrap the opposite end on the other side of your frame 2-3 times.  Cut off the excess, and your pendant with wire wrapping is finished!

Just string it on a chain, and it’s ready to give – or to keep for yourself and admire your wire wrapping skills!

Are you making handmade gifts this year?  What are some of your favorite things to make?

Adrianne

Adrianne is a writer, artist, designer, wife, and mom of 2 kids. She blogs at happyhourprojects.com where the theme is tutorials and recipes that can be made in an hour or less. Her favorite projects are jewelry-making, paper crafts, and recycled crafts. She participates annually in ArtPrize, an international art competition, and she’s the author of the book DIY T-Shirt Crafts: 50 Ways to Recycle a T-Shirt (August 2015).