How to Prepare Headpins for Beaded Jewelry

Headpins are an essential part of jewelry making. You can buy them in a variety of styles and materials or make your own. Preparing a headpin depends upon your jewelry design, beads, and the condition of the headpin. Here are some tips on how to prepare headpins for beaded jewelry.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Headpins
• Jewelry polishing cloth
• Beads
• Bead ream (If any beads have holes that don't fit the headpin)
• Wire - 24, 22, or 20 gage, hard sterling silver or gold-filled. (Only for making your own headpins.)
• Needle nose jewelry pliers (Only for making your own headpins.)
• Wire cutters for jewelry (Only for making your own headpins)

How to Prepare Premade Headpins for Beaded Jewelry

1. 
   A variety of headpin styles

   Select the headpin style desired for your jewelry project. Select the appropriate width and length for your beads and jewelry type. Headpins between 24 - 20 gage width work well for necklaces and heavier earrings.

2. Examine the headpin for condition. If it is slightly bent, gently straighten it with your fingers. Is it a little tarnished or dull? Use a jewelry polishing cloth to shine and clean the headpin.

3. Check your beads to make sure they will fit the headpin. If not, take a bead ream and widen the holes on the beads.

4. Slide the beads on the headpin according to your design.

How to Make Your Own Headpins for Beaded Jewelry

5. 
   20 gage hard sterling silver wire

   Select the type of wire for your jewelry project. Hard sterling silver and gold-filled in 24, 22, or 20 gage work best for making headpins.

6. 
   Wire with wire cutters for jewelry

   Decide how long to make the headpin. Make it a little longer than you want the desired length for the finished headpin. Cut the wire with cutters designed for jewelry.

7. 
   Headpin with needle nose jewelry pliers

   Smooth out any bends in the wire. Take needle nose jewelry pliers and shape one end of the wire into a loop. Your loop can be small or medium sized. You can even make a small twist design. Whatever type of end you choose, make certain beads can't slide off the headpin.

8. 
   An example of some of the many headpin designs you can create

   Smooth out any bends in the wire again. Shine the headpin with a jewelry polishing cloth.

9. 
   Headpin with beads

   Add beads to your headpin. Continue the rest of your jewelry project.

Tips & Warnings

• Take a jewelry making class to learn more exciting ways to make headpins and interesting jewelry techniques.
• Making your own headpins allows you to create a wider variety of headpin designs.
• Shop around for quality jewelry making supplies. Grade A beads can be purchased at reasonable prices.
• You can purchase all necessary jewelry design items at a jewelry making supply store or craft store.
• Always wear safety glasses when cutting jewelry wire.