Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling. The hardest part of making this necklace slide is deciding which beads to use!  It is super quick and easy to make if you can get over that hurdle! What a great addition to a necklace or bracelet.

Coiled, Beaded Slide

by Judy Larson
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Coiling
  • Skill Level: Beginner
The hardest part of making this necklace slide is deciding which beads to use! It is super quick and easy to make if you can get over that hurdle! What a great addition to a necklace or bracelet.

Materials

24 Gauge Round Nickel Silver Craft Wire - 60 ft
H18-E24-60FT
  • Lesson Quantity: 50.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $6.40
  • Gold Club Price: $4.80
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20 Gauge Round Nickel Silver Craft Wire - 30 ft
H18-E20-30FT
  • Lesson Quantity: 32.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $6.80
  • Gold Club Price: $5.10
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Tools

WireJewelry - Essentials Jewelry Pliers Set with Case, Set of 5
G15-21
  • G15-21
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $124.95
  • Gold Club Price: $93.71
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5 1/2 Inch Nylon Flat Jaw Pliers with Replacement Jaws
G2-1
  • G2-1
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.97
  • Gold Club Price: $7.48
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Instructions
Step 1
Coils can be made on different size and types of mandrels. Here you see, top to bottom, size 000, 00, 0 and 1 knitting needles, as well as a bamboo skewer that is a bit less than 1/8" in diameter. For this tutorial, the size 00 knitting needle was used. This slide can be made with any of these mandrels as well as a change to 22 or 26 gauge wire.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Step 2
Leaving a 1½-2" tail, wind the 24 gauge wire around the mandrel. Keep the wraps as close together as possible. However, if the wraps do spread apart, push them together every so often.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Step 3
Continue to wrap until the coil is slightly longer than 3½". How much wire used depends upon the wire gauge, the tightness of the wraps and how even they are, and the size of the mandrel. Remove the coil from the mandrel and trim the ends until the coil measures 3½" long. Repeat the wrapping process to make one more 3½" long coil. Tuck the cut wire ends inside the coil.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Step 4
Lay the beads out in a pleasing manner on a bead board or a towel so they will not roll around. Place the largest beads closer to the center and the smaller ones closer to the ends. Set aside two beads with a diameter the same as or a bit larger than the diameter of the coil made in Steps 2 and 3. These will be used on the coil ends in the next step.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Step 5
Pro Tip: Work from the 20 gauge wire spool to conserve wire. Flush cut the beginning end of the wire. Slide an end bead on the wire, one coil, then the beads laid out in Step 4, a coil, and finally the last end bead. Do not cut the assembled unit from the wire spool yet.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Step 6
Make a two full rounds spiral on the beginning cut end of the wire.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Step 7:
Option 1: Wind the coils and beads onto a mandrel. Option 2 starts on Step 12.
Decide what size mandrel to use to make the slide. Either of the two you see here could be used to make a slide for this Viking single knit chain, but the smaller of the two was chosen for the tutorial.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - Option 1:  Wind the coils and beads onto a mandrel.  Option 2 starts on Step 12., Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Step 8
Push the bead and coil tightly to the spiral. Hold the spiral, bead and coil end to the mandrel and tightly wrap the coil around the mandrel, keeping the wraps as close together as possible.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Step 9
Push the beads firmly towards the coil. Keeping the beads tight against each other, wrap the bead section around the mandrel. Push the coil and bead firmly against the bead section. Continue the wrap.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Step 10
Flush cut the wire tail to ¾". Make a two full rounds spiral on the end of the wire. Push into place.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Step 11
Leave the coil on the mandrel. Grasp the beaded center of the slide with both hands. Gently untwist the beads so that the center of the beaded section becomes larger than the ends. Keep adjusting the coiled bead section until the desired look is achiever. Remove the beaded slide from the mandrel and slide it onto the chosen chain.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Step 12:
Option 2: Wind the coils and beads directly onto the Viking knit or other round chain core.
Wind the beginning wire coil and beads directly onto the round core necklace or bracelet. Holding the spiral, bead and coil end tightly to the necklace, tightly wrap the wire coil around the necklace, keeping the wraps as close together as possible. Push the beads firmly towards the coil and, keeping the beads tight against each other, wrap the bead section around the necklace or bracelet three times.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - Option 2:  Wind the coils and beads directly onto the Viking knit or other round chain core., Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Step 13
Overlap the bead wraps once or twice in the center of the slide.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Step 14
Continue as above until you have enough beads left to make three full bead wraps around the necklace or bracelet.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Step 15
Push the wire coil and bead firmly against the bead wrapped center section. Continue the wrap. Trim the wire tail to ¾". Make a two full rounds spiral on the end of the wire. Push the spiral into place around the chain.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Step 16:
Optional Finishing For Both Methods in Order to Permanently Hold It In Place:
Cut two 4" pieces of 24 gauge wire. Position the slide where desired. "Sew" the end of the slide down between the spiral and the bead. Bring the wire up from behind the slide to the front, over the spiral wire close to the bead. Pass the wire to the back of the necklace, pulling gently. Repeat once more. Trim the wire ends off a bit long. Bend the wires into the necklace or bracelet on the back side of the piece, "hiding" the wire ends so they will not scratch the wearer. Repeat for the other side. This will hold the slide ends down so they will not pull loose or snag on clothing.
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - Optional Finishing For Both Methods in Order to Permanently Hold It In Place:, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - Optional Finishing For Both Methods in Order to Permanently Hold It In Place:, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - Optional Finishing For Both Methods in Order to Permanently Hold It In Place:, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - Optional Finishing For Both Methods in Order to Permanently Hold It In Place:, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide
Judy Larson's Coiled, Beaded Slide - Optional Finishing For Both Methods in Order to Permanently Hold It In Place:, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiled beaded slide