Canna Leaf Wire Tornado Bead Necklace

by Nancy Chase

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Wrapping
Skill Level: Beginner

A light green and gold necklace, as easy to wear as a nice white T-shirt. The "yarn wire" is a variegated ball of different gauges of wire. The handmade chain is twisted, then hammered, bouncing a little light.
A contrasting clasp adds a visual interest.

View the color inspiration behind this jewelry-making pattern: Color Inspiration - Canna Leaves

Materials

24 Gauge Round Green Enameled Craft Wire - 60 ft

H5-E24-60FT

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $6.40
Gold Club Price: $4.80

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28 Gauge Round Gold Tone Brass Craft Wire - 120 ft

H18-C28-120FT

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $6.80
Gold Club Price: $5.10

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22 Gauge Round Green Enameled Craft Wire - 45 ft

H5-E22-45FT

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $6.20
Gold Club Price: $4.65

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20 Gauge Round Silver Plated Gold Copper Craft Wire - 25 ft

H17-P20-25FT

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.00
Gold Club Price: $6.00

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Gold Filled Jump Rings Open (.025) 22ga. (OD) 4mm (ID) 2.55mm - Pack of 25

J11-189

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.02
Gold Club Price: $6.02

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Tools

Acculoop Precision Round Nose

PLR-741.00

PLR-741.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $18.97
Gold Club Price: $14.23

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Flat Nose Nylon Flat Jaw With Spring

PLR-831.00

PLR-831.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $13.80
Gold Club Price: $10.35

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Flat Nose Wire Pliers

G2-506

G2-506
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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BALLPEIN HAMMER SUPREME- 8OZ

HAM-430.18

HAM-430.18
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $12.95
Gold Club Price: $9.71

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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

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12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler

G7-30

G7-30
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.97
Gold Club Price: $2.23

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Instructions

Step 1

Starting with the smallest beads, one at a time, loosely wrap one strand of gold, and one strand of green wire together. Wrap one end tightly together to begin making the beads.
Use the round nose pliers to form an 1/8 inch size loop at one end of one piece of wire.

Nancy Chase's Canna Leaf Wire Tornado Bead Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, make a loop on the end of the wire

Step 2

Place the loop between the jaws of the flat nose pliers and bend the wire at a 90 degree angle.
Holding the loop with the round nose pliers, gently use your fingers to wrap the wire in a small circle around the loop.

Nancy Chase's Canna Leaf Wire Tornado Bead Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, start a small spiral with the wire

Step 3

Use the round nose pliers to hold the center loop and gently wrap the wire around the center and keep changing direction to form a ball. As you wrap the wires around and around, it should be loose enough to see through, but tight enough to touch the wrapped wire ball at some points.

Nancy Chase's Canna Leaf Wire Tornado Bead Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, start wrapping the wire like yarn around the ball

Step 4

Continue wrapping and rotating the ball, using the chain nose pliers, round nose pliers, or your fingers, as needed. I chose a finished diameter of about 3/4 inch for each ball. When the wire ball is the size you like, thread the remaining wire through the loop in the center of the ball and out the other side. Do this part gently, do not pull too hard or you may risk collapsing the ball.

Nancy Chase's Canna Leaf Wire Tornado Bead Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the wire to form a ball

Step 5

Cut the remaining wire about 1/2 inch from the wrapped ball. Use the chain nose pliers to weave the end wire back through the middle of the ball. The cut end should be unseen in the middle of the ball.

Nancy Chase's Canna Leaf Wire Tornado Bead Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, trim and tuck the end of the wire

Step 6

Repeat this wire wrapping technique to form all the remaining balls, making each one just a bit larger than the other.

You will use two strands of wire for each bead, except the largest focal bead, which will have three colors of wire running through it.

Nancy Chase's Canna Leaf Wire Tornado Bead Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, make six tornado beads

Step 7

Arrange the balls on a bead mat and adjust size as needed.
Open the 4mm jump rings. You will need 14 rings. Place two jump rings between each wire ball, and one at each top of the small beads to connect the chain.
Using the flat nose pliers, carefully thread one jump ring through one piece of each side of the wire wrapped balls. Close the jump ring.
Connect all the bead balls together, opening, and closing jump rings as you go along.

Nancy Chase's Canna Leaf Wire Tornado Bead Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, connect the beads with jump rings

Step 8:

Making the chain

Use the wire cutters to measure and cut 22 pieces of 1 1/4 inch of 20 gauge gold wire.
Wrap the end of one piece of wire around the thick end of the round nose pliers to start to form a circle.
Hold the curved wire in place with the pliers, and gently push up the wire with your fingers to close the loop in the center of the wire.

Step 9

Use the round nose pliers to wrap the loop on the opposite end. Curve the loop in the same direction, meeting the wire loops in the middle of the wire.

Nancy Chase's Canna Leaf Wire Tornado Bead Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, make a loop at the other end of the wire

Step 10

Use the nylon jaw pliers, one in each hand, on either side of the loops, to twist the wire in opposite directions to form a figure 8.

Nancy Chase's Canna Leaf Wire Tornado Bead Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, twist the links of wire

Step 11

Hammer the links to make them lie flat.

Nancy Chase's Canna Leaf Wire Tornado Bead Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, hammer the wire links

Step 12

Open the 22 jump rings and arrange them in the pattern in between each link. Close the rings around each end of each link using the flat nose pliers, one in each hand.

Nancy Chase's Canna Leaf Wire Tornado Bead Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, connect the figure eight links with jump rings

Step 13

Now connect the chain links to the bead ball centerpiece. Open the jump rings on either side of the smallest bead balls. Connect one jump ring to each side of the chain links. Close the rings.

Nancy Chase's Canna Leaf Wire Tornado Bead Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, connect the chains to the ends of the necklace

Step 14

Use the last two jump rings to attach the clasp, one on each side of the chain. Close the rings. Feel the wire on the chain, and the bead balls. Use the pliers to adjust as needed if you feel any sharp ends.

Nancy Chase's Canna Leaf Wire Tornado Bead Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, add a clasp to the necklace

Reviews

Nancy Chase

Creating, gifting, selling my original jewelry designs to friends, and clients over the years, I know how timeless a well made piece of jewelry becomes. There are always trends, innovations, novel materials to work with - curiosity about new tools and supplies. Inspiration comes from my love of the outdoors, practicing yoga, gardening and cooking. It is wonderful to share techniques and make connections with other people who appreciate handmade crafts.