Graduated Bead Component

by Natalie Patten

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

This design can be used to create a decorative focal on a bracelet, necklace or even a brooch or a hair pin. Any beads of any size can be incorporated into the design (just adjust your wire lengths accordingly, to add decorative coils and framing to the beads of your choice!)

Watch the Video Here

Materials

18 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-18H

Lesson Quantity: 4.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $6.85
Gold Club Price: $5.14

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20 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-20H

Lesson Quantity: 20.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $20.74
Gold Club Price: $15.56

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26 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-26H

Lesson Quantity: 40.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $4.90
Gold Club Price: $3.68

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graduated set of beads

Lesson Quantity: 6.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 6.00 each

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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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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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C.H.P Milano Angled Flush Cutter, 5-1/4 Inches

PLR-489.00

PLR-489.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $21.95
Gold Club Price: $16.46

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Instructions

Step 1

Make a simple loop at one end of the 18-gauge wire with round-nose pliers to make a long eye pin.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, make a loop at one end of the wire

Step 2

Bend the 20-gauge wire so that there is approximately 20cm/8 inches on one side and 30cm/12 inches on the other.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, bend the wire

Step 3

Attach this wire from the point of the bend to the 18-gauge wire underneath the loop. Tighten the loop with pliers.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, attach the wire to the eye pin

Step 4

Add on the smallest (6mm) bead to the 18-gauge core wire

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, string the smallest bead onto the wiire

Step 5

Bring the longer tail wire around one side of the bead to frame it.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, bring the longer tail around the bead

Step 6

Take the wire back behind the 18-gauge core base wire

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the wire around the eye pin

Step 7

Bring the 20-gauge wire back across the top again so that it is fully wrapped around the core base wire.

Step 8

Add on the next bead (8mm) and wrap the 20-gauge wire around to frame the bead in the same way.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, string the next larger bead

Step 9

Attach the wire around the 18-gauge core to create one full wrap to fix the bead in place.

Step 10

Add on the next largest bead 10mm) wrapping the 20-gauge wire around one side of the bead and back behind the 18-gauge core base wire and across the top.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, add the largest bead

Step 11

Keep the 20-gauge framing wire close to be beads and straighten it out before adding on the next bead.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, add the next bead

Step 12

Add on the next bead, graduating back down in size (8mm), wrapping the wire around one side of the bead and back behind the 18-gauge core base wire and across the top. The framing wire should surround the opposite side of the next bead.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the wire around the bead and around the eye pin

Step 13

Add another of the smallest size beads (6mm) and frame with the 20-gauge wire as before. The framing wire can be tightened to the core wire with pliers.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, add the small bead

Step 14

Coil the tail of the 20-gauge wire with 0.4mm/26 gauge wire, coiling for approximately 13cm/5 inches in length (enough to frame the beads on the other side.)

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, coil the wires together

Step 15

For ease, start the coil towards the end of the wire and slide up next to the bead.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, coil the 26g wire around the 20g wire

Step 16

Cut off and tuck in the starting tail of the weaving/coiling wire.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, trim the tail of the coiling wire

Step 17

Slide the coil up close below the bead.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, slide the coil next to the beads

Step 18

Wrap the coiled wire around the beads in the same way as before to frame the other side of the beads.

Step 19

The coiled wire should wrap around the core wire and sit between the beads.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the coil around the core to sit between the beads

Step 20

Continue wrapping the coil around all of the beads, flattening down into position with pliers if necessary.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, continue wrapping around the beads

Step 21

Each bead should have a coiled wire framing one half of the bead and the uncoiled 20-gauge wire framing the other side.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, each bead is framed

Step 22

Ensure that the coiled wire reaches around the last bead (add more coils with the weaving wire if needed, before cutting off any excess weaving wire and tucking in to prevent catching.)

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the coiling around the end of the beads

Step 23

Wrap the 20-gauge wire around the core wire underneath the loop.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the core wire

Step 24

Cut off any excess and tuck in.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, trim and tuck the wires

Step 25

Bring the remaining (shorter) length of 20-gauge wire around to the other side of the bead.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, start to wrap the other end of the 20g wire

Step 26

Position it to follow the path and curve of the coiled wire so that it sits on the inside of the coiled wire.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, follow the path of the coiled wire

Step 27

Wrap this wire around the beads, positioning it closely underneath the coiled wire.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the wire around each bead

Step 28

Continue placing this wire to frame each of the beads.

Step 29

Wrap the remaining wire around the core 18-gauge wire twice to secure in place, before cutting off any excess and tucking it in to prevent any sharp edges.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the wire around the core wire

Step 30

Bend the 18-gauge wire at a ninety degree angle.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, begin a simple loop

Step 31

Using round nose pliers, form a simple loop, equal in size to the one formed at the other end. Trim excess wire

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, form a loop

Step 32

This can now be curved gently to fit the shape intended.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, curved bead focal

Step 33

If adding onto a bracelet, curve the piece to fit the wrist.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, curve to fit the wrist

Step 34

If making a feature for the center of a necklace, turn the ends near the loops gently upwards to create a curve.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, turn the loops upward for a necklace

Step 35

The loops at each end can be opened to attach a chain.

Natalie Patten's Graduated Bead Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, attach chain

Step 36:

Watch the Step by Step Video Here

Reviews

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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!