How Do You Twist One Wire for a Jewelry Making Technique?

Jewelry-making tools and supplies

One wire is all you need to create several styles of beaded jewelry. You can twist the wire into loops to create beaded strands or you can add beads to an existing strand with one headpin wire. Another jewelry-making technique using one wire embellishes the bead with a wire wrap to add distinctive style to the piece. Wire for jewelry-making techniques may be 22- to 30-gauge, depending on the size of the bead you are working with and on the desired design of your jewelry.

Things You'll Need

• 24-gauge wire
• Wire cutters
• Bead
• Round nose pliers
• Headpin

Instructions

Creating a Beaded Wire Strand

1. Cut a length of 24-gauge jewelry wire twice as long as the bead. This simple jewelry-making technique allows you to connect beads together to make a necklace or a bracelet.

2. Hold the wire 1/4-inch from one end with round nose pliers. Bend the wire at a 90-degree angle.

3. Grip the tip of the bent wire with round nose pliers. Twist the wire to form a loop. Continue to twist the wire until the tip touches the 90-degree bend.

4. Thread a bead over the straight end of the wire to the loop. Hold the wire with round nose pliers at the top of the bead.

5. Bend the wire at a 90-degree angle. Repeat Step 3 to create another loop. Make as many beads with double loops as you need to create a necklace or bracelet. To connect the beads, use a jump ring or open the loops slightly, hook another loop from another bead and then close the loop.

Adding Beads to a Chain

1. Insert a headpin through a bead. A headpin is one wire with a flat tip on one end that will stop the bead.

2. Bend the wire exiting the bead at a 90-degree angle. Hold the tip of the bent wire with round nose pliers. Twist the wire to form a loop.

3. Hook the loop over a link in a chain. Press the loop closed with round nose pliers.

Wire Wrapping a Bead

1. Cut a strand of 24-gauge jewelry wire four times as long as the bead. This jewelry-making technique allows you to connect a strand of wire wrapped beads.

2. Bend the wire at a 90-degree angle 1/4-inch from one end. Twist the bent wire into a loop. Thread the bead over the open end of the wire to the loop.

3. Bend the wire exiting the bead at a 90-degree angle. Make a loop.

4. Twist the excess wire from the second loop around the bead. The simplest way to twist the wire is with your fingers. Mold the wire to the shape of the bead.

5. End the bead twist by wrapping the wire once around the wire at the base of the loop on the opposite end of the bead. Cut off any excess wire.

References

• Karla Kim: Wire Wrapped Bracelet

Resources

• Fusion Beads: Simple Loop Technique