Lotus Pendant

by Natalie Patten

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

The Lotus flower is a symbol of purity and spiritual enlightenment. This simple technique will show you how to shape uniform, consistent petals in one easy step to create your own pretty pendant.

Materials

26 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire

H8-26D

Lesson Quantity: 4.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $1.04
Gold Club Price: $0.78

Add to Bag

20 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire

H8-20D

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $4.33
Gold Club Price: $3.24

Add to Bag

Beads - one of your choice

Shop Now

Chain of your choice

Shop Now

Add All Items to Cart

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

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

Economy Flush Cutters - 5 Inches Long

G2-59

G2-59
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.97
Gold Club Price: $3.73

Add to Bag

Premium Nylon Jaw Pliers

G2-35

G2-35
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.95
Gold Club Price: $11.21

Add to Bag

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

Add to Bag

WireJewelry - Ultimate Wire-Pliers Jewelry Pliers with Case, Set of 5

G15-20

G15-20
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $170.72
Gold Club Price: $128.04

Add to Bag

Stainless Steel Ring Mandrel Sizes 1-15

G7-2

G7-2
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

Add to Bag

4x4 Inch Rubber Block

G17-12

G17-12
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.95
Gold Club Price: $6.71

Add to Bag

4oz Ball Peen Hammer with Wooden Handle

G3-36

G3-36
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $5.25
Gold Club Price: $3.94

Add to Bag

Add All Items to Cart

Instructions

Step 1

Straighten out the 20 gauge wire from the reel and measure an inch and a half from the end tail to create a right-angle bend in the wire at this point.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Straighten wire and measure

Step 2

Position the bend against the mandrel. (The size of your mandrel will determine the overall size of the petals created, I'm using a wooden ring mandrel size 6 but you could always use a marker pen or any cylindrical object you have available.)

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Position bend

Step 3

Wrap the wire 5 times around the mandrel. Keep the wires close together. If they splay out, push them back together around the mandrel, ensuring that they do not overlap and are positioned closely next to each other.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Wrap wire 5 times

Step 4

After the fifth wrap, create a sharp bend in the wire attached to the reel so that it travels up in the direction of the starting tail.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Create a bend

Step 5

Trim off the reel leaving a length of approximately two inches.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Trim off reel

Step 6

Leaving a tail end of 26 gauge wire, wrap it around the two lengths of 20 gauge wire to bind them together.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Leave a tail

Step 7

Take the bound circular loops off the mandrel

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Remove from mandrel

Step 8

Wrap one of the tail ends of the 26 gauge wire through the loop next to the vertical 20 gauge wires to fix the looped circles in place.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap one tail through loop

Step 9

Do the same with the other tail wire on the opposite side

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, repeat

Step 10

Cut off the tail ends on the underneath of the circles so that the 26 gauge wire finishes on the inside.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, cut so that wire finishes on inside

Step 11

Use pliers to flatten down the 26 gauge wraps and secure them into the circle frame

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Flatten and secure

Step 12

Use the chain nose pliers to shape all of the circles at the same time to create "petals." To do so, position the pliers slightly off centre and apply pressure to shape the bottom of the circle into a pointed tip.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Create petals

Step 13

Bending inwards on one side will transform the circles of wire into a petal shape.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Create petal shape

Step 14

Apply this pressure on both sides of the circles to create a tapered point.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Apply pressure on both sides

Step 15

As they have been formed together as one, each petal will be uniform in shape and size. Adjust as necessary to achieve your desired petal shape.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Adjust as necessary

Step 16

Once you are happy with the shape, gently pry the petals apart and separate into an outward fan shape to splay them out. Gently pull them apart so that there is one petal in the middle and two either side.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Pry petals apart

Step 17

To harden the petals if required, hammer the outside of the lotus frame and tips of the petals on a block, being careful not to hammer over where the wires cross.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Hammer outside of petals

Step 18

Bend the one and a half inch tail of 20 gauge wire forward

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Bend wire

Step 19

Position the bead onto the other vertical wire

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Position bead

Step 20

Using round nose pliers or 6 step barrel pliers, create a wrapped loop that sits on the top of the bead by bending over the top of the pliers

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Create a loop

Step 21

To form the wrapped loop, wrap the 20 gauge wire around the jaws of the round nose pliers, taking into consideration the size and direction that you would like to make the loop to ensure that the chain fits through it and the pendant hangs correctly on your chain

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Create the loop and adjust as needed

Step 22

Wrap the wire three times around the neck of the loop to fill the space above the bead

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Wrap wire around loop

Step 23

Cut off any excess wire from the wrapped loop

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, cut excess wire

Step 24

Tuck in the wire to prevent any sharp ends from catching and snagging.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Tuck wire

Step 25

Create a spiral with the other length of 20 gauge wire that is facing forward using the round nose pliers

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Create spiral

Step 26

Once the curl has started to form, trim of less than a millimeter of the starting curl to remove the straight tip and continue to shape a full curl touching in on itself

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Trim

Step 27

Cover over the top of the curl with your chain nose pliers and continue to make the curl spiral outwards.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Make curl spiral outwards

Step 28

Curl the spiral all the way up until it touches the bead.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Curl spiral

Step 29

Position your spiral in place underneath the bead.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Position spiral under bead

Step 30

Your pendant can now be made into a necklace by putting a chain through the wrapped loop.

Natalie Patten's Lotus Pendant - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Add chain

Reviews

<br />
<b>Warning</b>: Undefined property: stdClass::$instructor in <b>/home/wirescul/public_html/content/compiled/%%36^36A^36A24966%%jewelry_making_patterns_tutorial.html.php</b> on line <b>1097</b><br />

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!