How to Make Jump Rings for Wire Jewelry

Jump rings are one of the most basic accessories for all types of jewelry making. While you can purchase jump rings in a variety of sizes at most craft or beading stores, it is simple and inexpensive to make your own. Use your jump rings to attach clasps, pendants, charms or create chains in your wire jewelry creations.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wire
• Needlenose pliers
• Wire cutters

1. Select the thickness of the wire according to your particular jewelry project. When using jump rings for pendant earrings, use a lighter wire than you would use for bracelets or necklaces, which tend to put more stress on the chain.

2. Decide how large you would like your jump ring. Grip the tip of your wire with your needlenose pliers, and then guide the wire around the portion of the nose of the pliers that matches your desired loop size.

3. Continue looping the wire around the nose of the pliers until you create a full loop. Snip off the excess wire to finish your jump ring. If desired, you can create 1 1/2 loops to secure your jump rings.

Tips & Warnings

• Open and close the jump rings in the same direction that you formed the loop so as not to destroy the shape of the loop. Slide the jump ring loosely onto your pliers, and then gently open or close with your fingers.