Wire Beaded Rings to Make

Accessorize the latest fashion trends and colors by creating wire beaded rings. It doesn't require a lot of time or intricate techniques. Select various bead materials such as lampwork, cane glass, Swarovski crystal or polymer. Add distinctive wires made of copper, silver or bronze. Or experiment with ring size memory wire. Jazz them up with embellishments and danglers. Make a simple ring for a casual night out or fashion one that stands out in the crowd.

Ringlet

Cut 6 inches of 18-gauge sterling silver wire. Form an open coil at both ends like a clef notation on a music sheet. Grasp the wire at the end with flat nose pliers and roll downward to form a loop. Repeat this step with the other coiled end.

Bring the coils toward the center, leaving two straight inches between them. With a soft mallet, flatten the coils. Wrap the ring shape around your finger to adjust the coils. They should barely touch one another.

Slide a dangler onto a sterling silver headpin. Grasp the wire and bend at 90 degrees. Slip the half-open loop onto the top coil and close the loop securely.

Spiral

For this ring, use 12 inches of 16-gauge sterling silver wire. Find a donut or disc bead that two wires can be pushed through.

Lay the wire against a wide dowel or ring mandrel, leaving an equal amount of wire at each side. Wrap the wire around the tool twice with equal wire on opposite sides. Next, bend the two loose wires upward and put the choice bead onto them. Slide the bead down to meet the ring base.

With round-nose pliers, curve the two wires at a right angle flush on top of the bead. Take one of the wires and with the round-nose pliers, slowly spiral the wire. Keep the spiral tight.

Take the second wire and spiral it against the first, so that they are side-by-side. With one inch of wire left on both sides, place them on opposite sides of the ring's stem. Wrap each wire around the side to form a tight coil. Lightly sand the ends of the wire to prevent scratching and tuck any leftover wire into the ring band.

Twist and Turn

Choose approximately 30 1.5-mm seed beads for this project. Beads can be contrasting or complementary. With wire cutters, cut a 12-inch length of flexible beading wire. String three beads onto the center of the wire.

Take both wires and slip them through three additional beads and center. Pull the two wires so that the beads are in two rows.

Continue threading beads by threes until it fits comfortably around your finger. When it is to the desired length, thread the loose wire back through the two starter rows and secure.

References

• International Guild of Wire Jewelry Artists
• Creative Wire Jewelry; Kathy Peterson; 2001

Resources

• Jewelry Making Guide
• Art Beads
• Soft Flex Company