Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle

by Natalie Patten

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Wrapping, Beading, Twisting
Skill Level: Beginner

This elegant bracelet is easy to make and contains instructions on how to form the wire clasp as part of the main frame.

Materials

Lapis 8mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand

A1-243

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $22.05
Gold Club Price: $16.54

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Sterling Silver Beads Corrugated 3mm - Pack of 25

K9-150

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.46
Gold Club Price: $3.35

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18 Gauge Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire

H8-18H

Lesson Quantity: 36.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $21.21
Gold Club Price: $15.91

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Tools

Round Nose Wire Pliers

G2-507

G2-507
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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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

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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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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

Cut the 18-gauge wire into one 24" and one 12" piece. Using the longer length, bring the ends together to find the center.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , Using the longer length of 1mm/18 gauge wire, bring the ends together to find the center.

Step 2

In the center of the wire, using bail step pliers or round nose pliers create a loop and use chain nose pliers to pinch in, so that the wire runs from the loop close together and parallel.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , create a loop and use chain nose pliers to pinch in

Step 3

Using the shorter length of wire place on top of the longer length, underneath the formed loop.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , place on top of the longer length, underneath the formed loop

Step 4

Wrap this shorter wire around a few times to secure underneath the loop, cut off any excess and tuck in to ensure there are no shape tail ends of the wire sticking out.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , Wrap this shorter wire around a few times to secure underneath the loop

Step 5

Splay out the wires from the loop. Using chain nose pliers, create a bend in the shorter length of wire so that it positioned in the center, between the others - the wires should now be approximately the same length as each other.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , Splay out the wires from the loop

Step 6

On the centre wire add a spacer bead, gemstone bead and another spacer bead and position them down close to the loop.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , On the centre wire add a spacer bead, gemstone bead and another spacer bead

Step 7

Bring one of the outer wires (on the right-hand side) and bring it behind and across the central wire with the beads on, curving around the beads.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , curve one wire around the bead

Step 8

Bring it back across the front of the wire, near to the spacer bead, so that it travels back in the direction it came from (to the right-hand side).

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , Bring it back across the front of the wire

Step 9

Bring the wire on the other side (the left-hand side) and bring that across at the front and wrap around the central wire, close down on top of the last wire that was wrapped around.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , bring the other wire across the front

Step 10

Use chain nose pliers to tighten the wraps around the centre wire by giving them a pinch together.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , tighten the wraps with pliers

Step 11

Add on to the central wire another spacer bead, gemstone round and spacer bead.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , add another set of beads

Step 12

Bring the wire you first started with (on the right-hand side) behind the central wire and wrap over the central wire again, bringing it back to its original side.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , bring the first wire over the central wire again

Step 13

Bring the other wire (on the left-hand side) over the top of the central wire and behind and across to position it in place.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , bring the second wire over

Step 14

Continue this process adding beads onto the central wire and creating a curved frame around the beads using the other wires until you reach the desired length.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , continue this pattern until you reach the desired length

Step 15

Add on your final section of 3 beads, to determine the approximate length of your bracelet.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , Add on your final section of 3 beads, to determine the approximate length of your bracelet.

Step 16

Wrap the right-hand side wire over the centre wire twice to secure, just above the last added spacer bead.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , wrap to secure all the beads

Step 17

Use flush cutters to snip off the extra wire.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , trim the wires

Step 18

Tuck in securely to the middle wire.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , tuck the wires into the middle

Step 19

Position your chain nose plies on the central wire about an inch away from the wrap above the last beads.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , Position your chain nose plies on the central wire about an inch away from the wrap above the last beads

Step 20

Bend the central wire at this point so that it runs back parallel against itself and use the chain nose pliers to draw the bend in close together so that it sits flush next to itself.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , Bend the central wire at this point

Step 21

Where the wire runs back on itself and meets the wrapped loop above the beads, bend and cut off so that it finishes next to the wrapped loop.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , trim the wire

Step 22

Use the remaining outer wire (on the left hand side) to wrap around binding what was the central wire together.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , wrap the outer wire around

Step 23

Once secure, cut off and tuck in any remaining wire.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , cut and tuck the wire

Step 24

Using round nose or bail step pliers, bend the doubled over wire in the center to curve back on itself.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , bend the double wires over round nose pliers

Step 25

Using chain nose pliers, slightly bend or flick up this wire at the tip where it bends, (or slightly curl the end using round nose pliers).

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , slightly bend up the tip of the hook

Step 26

You have now created a hook to attach into the loop at the other end of the bracelet to form the bracelet clasp.

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , you've created a hook

Step 27

Start to form your bracelet into shape, by gently curving from the middle of the bracelet, in the direction this hook is facing, so that the ends of the bracelet meet and the clasp can be closed.
Your bracelet can now be shaped to fit around the wrist or with a bracelet mandrel

Natalie Patten's Gemstone and Spacer Bead Bangle - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Beads, , form your bracelet

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!