Beaded Wire Jewelry Set

by Natalie Patten

Category: Beading
Technique(s): Twisting
Skill Level: Beginner

Use this simple technique to create an elegant matching set of jewelry. Any round beads will work for this project. It's a quick and effective way to make bracelets, earrings and pendants using just one gauge of wire.

Materials

Sterling Silver Earwires 21mm w/ 1.5mm Bead - Pack of 2

K19-50

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.40
Gold Club Price: $1.80

Add to Bag

Sterling Silver Lobster Clasp w/Pave Diamonds 11mm - Pack of 1

K3-106

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $69.17
Gold Club Price: $51.88

Add to Bag

African Turquoise 6mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand

A1-734

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.35
Gold Club Price: $5.51

Add to Bag

26 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire

H8-26D

Lesson Quantity: 5.00 feet
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $0.93
Gold Club Price: $0.70

Add to Bag

Add All Items to Cart

Tools

C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.97
Gold Club Price: $12.73

Add to Bag

Chain Nose Wire Pliers

G2-508

G2-508
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

Add to Bag

6 Step Barrel Plier - Pack of 1

G2-503

G2-503
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $18.95
Gold Club Price: $14.21

Add to Bag

Add All Items to Cart

Instructions

Step 1

Take a length of approximately 24" of 0.4mm/26 gauge wire to make a bracelet (8" per earring, 12" for a pendant). To increase the length of any, simply add more pattern repetitions by cutting more wire and adding more beads.
Add three 6mm round beads onto the center of the wire (Find the center by bringing each tail end up together).

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Jewelry Set - , Beading, , beaded wire jewelry set

Step 2

Add a bead onto one end of the wire and bring the other tail end back through the same bead in the opposite direction.

Step 3

Pull both ends of wire equally to bring the beads into a loop.

Step 4

Add a bead onto each side of the wire.

Step 5

Add another bead onto one side and bring the other tail end back through the same bead again.

Step 6

Pull both ends of wire equally to bring the beads into a second loop.

Step 7

Repeat this step to create more beaded loops, until you have your desired length.

Step 8

Pinch the two tail ends of wire together at the top of the bead.

Step 9

Twist together twice.

Step 10

Holding the wire ends with a pair of pliers, approximately 1.5" from the bead, twist the beads (moving the beads with your hand and keeping the hand holding the pliers still) this will cause the wire to twist evenly, from the bead all the way towards the pliers.

Step 11

There should now be a twisted length of wire approximately 1.5" in length.

Step 12

You can cut any remaining wire after the twist.

Step 13

Using round nose pliers or barrel pliers create a wrapped loop.

Step 14

To create a wrapped loop hold your pliers about 1cm from the bead, bring the wire over the pliers at a 90 degree angle, reposition your pliers by tilting your wrist upwards and bring the wire around the pliers to make a loop, then wrap the wire around the 1cm space towards the bead approximately 3 times to secure.

Step 15

Trim off any excess wire and tuck in the ends to secure your loop.

Step 16

If you are making earrings (shorter, of course) you can now attach your ear wires or add a chain to make a pendant.

Step 17

To finish the bracelet, cut another length of approximately 8" of 0.4mm/26 gauge wire.

Step 18

Thread this through the second middle bead, on the opposite end of the bracelet from the loop you have just made.

Step 19

When the center of this wire is positioned through the bead, bring each side through the beads on the last loop so that they are coming out of the end bead (this will be the beads you added at the start).

Step 20

Pinch together the wires at the top of the bead .

Step 21

Twist this new wire together twice.

Step 22

Hold both ends of this wire together with pliers and twist again for approximately 4cm.

Step 23

Create a wrapped loop. (You can add a jump ring on afterwards to attach your clasp or thread your clasp on before wrapping the loop.)

Step 24

Using cutters, cut off the ends of the wire and tuck them in with pliers.

Step 25

You can add on a jump ring or attach your clasp directly to the wrapped loop you have made. An extension chain can also be added to create an adjustable length.

Reviews

Natalie Patten

I'm Natalie Patten, I'm from Liverpool in the UK. I first discovered my love of wire work during lockdown and this hobby quickly spiralled into a huge passion and obsession, for wire wrapping crystal gemstones. So much so, that I changed my career working in education, to become a jewellery designer and set up my business Rock, Scissors, Paper specialising in wire wrapped, ethically sourced gemstone jewellery. I also secured my dream job designing and teaching for the UK's largest supplier of beads for jewellery making! I make lots of different jewellery designs with a variety of techniques but my absolute favourite is wire work and I feel absolutely blessed that I can spend my time creating, learning and sharing my passion with others!