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Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links, General Education. Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry. Wrapped loops are one of the most basic wire techniques.
Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links
by Judy Larson
  • Category: General Education
  • Technique(s): Making Loops, Wrapping
  • Skill Level: Beginner
Wrapped loops are one of the most basic wire techniques. They create secure attachments that will not open, and can be used to make beaded links to create beaded chain.

Materials

Silver Filled Headpins 22GA 2 inch - Pack of 10
S8-14
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.76
  • Gold Club Price: $2.07
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20 Gauge Round Full Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire
H19-20FH
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $18.68
  • Gold Club Price: $14.01
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Tools

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
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Original Bead Crimper
PLR-585.00
  • PLR-585.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $12.97
  • Gold Club Price: $9.73
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Instructions
Step 1:
Single Wrapped Loop
Directions: Read through the entire tutorial before starting the project. Follow all safety precautions pertaining to the tools and supplies being used and the space you are working in.

Slide a bead on a headpin. Grasp the wire with the tips of a chain nose pliers as close to the bead as possible.
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - Single Wrapped Loop, General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Step 2
Using a fingertip or thumb, push the wire at a 90 degree angle away from you across the top of the plier tips. This creates the "neck" of the loop.
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Step 3
Switch to round nose pliers. Place the tips of the pliers on the wire as shown in the photo. The lower tip should fit snugly in the bend and up against the wire "neck".
Pro Tip: To repeat the same size loops, use an ultra fine point retractable Sharpie to mark where the loop in the next few steps will be made.
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Step 4
Keeping the pliers tightly closed but not so tightly as to dent the wire, push the wire with your fingers up over the back of the top plier jaw and then over the top toward the front of the jaw.
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Step 5
Still keeping the pliers tightly closed, push the wire down over the front of the top jaw of the pliers.
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Step 6
Loosen the grip on the wire but do not let the loop go. Shift the lower jaw of the pliers to become the upper jaw. Continue the wrap by pulling the wire back and slightly upward to make the first part of the loop.
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Step 7
Switch to chain or flat nose pliers to grip the loop. Firmly grasp as much of the loop as possible without interfering with the wrap wire or denting the wire.
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Step 8
Grasp the end of the wire with a bent or chain nose pliers. The wire lays across the front of the "neck". Pull the wire towards the back side of the neck. It can be helpful to start a neat wrap if the wire is pulled in a slightly upwards direction. Pull the wire across the back of the neck, and then up and over the front of the neck.

Continue to wind the wire around the neck. Aim for three neat wraps. If the wraps are not close together, there may only be two wraps. If the wraps are tight, as they should be, but the neck was made longer, four wraps may be made. Consistency in all the wraps is the key, not the number of wraps made.

You will notice in the tutorial photos that the wire at the end of the headpin is gnarled up.

This is not the way to make a wire wrapped loop to conserve wire, but it is easier for the beginner. With practice, that extra wire length will no longer be needed.
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Step 9
Pull the wire to what will be the back of the bead. With the flat side of the flush cutters toward the wire wrap, trim away the excess wire.
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Step 10
Use the tips of a chain nose pliers to tuck the short wire tail in. A bead crimping pliers is a great tool to use to accomplish this. The front round section of the pliers keeps the wraps round while also pushing the tail in. Crimp the sides first, and crimp the area with the tail, working around the wire wrap.
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Step 11:
Wrapped Loop Beaded Link
Straighten and cut a piece of wire that is 4" longer than the diameter or length of the bead. Center the bead on the wire.
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - Wrapped Loop Beaded Link, General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Step 12
With the tip of the chain nose pliers, grasp the wire as close to the bead as possible. Use your fingers to push the wire at a 90 degree angle away from you across the top of the plier tips as in Step 2 above. This creates the "neck" of the loop. Remove the bead.
Step 13
Follow Steps 3-8 in Single Wrapped Loop. Do not cut off the wire tail.
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Step 14
Slide the bead on the other end of the wire, pushing it tightly against the wire wrapped loop. With the tip of a chain nose pliers, grasp the wire as close to the bead as possible. Use your fingers to push the wire at a 90 degree angle away from you across the top of the plier tips. Follow Steps 3-8 to make the wire wrapped loop on this side of the bead. Do not cut off the wire tail. If the wire wraps are uneven or the bead is too loose, use the wire tails to make more wraps to even and tighten things up. When happy with the results, trim the wires tails. Finish the wrapped ends in the same manner as Step 10.
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Step 15:
Connecting Wire Wrapped Loops
The larger the wire wrapped loops, the more likely jewelry pieces created in this manner will lay flat and the loops will not get caught up in each other.
Follow Steps 12-13 above on the first wire wrapped end. Slide a bead on the other end of the wire, pushing it tightly against the wire wrapped loop. With the tip of the chain nose pliers, grasp the wire as close to the bead as possible. Use your fingers to bend the wire at a 90 degree angle away from you across the top of the plier tips. Make the loop but DO NOT wrap the neck. Slide the end of the wire through the eye of another wire wrapped bead.
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - Connecting Wire Wrapped Loops, General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - Connecting Wire Wrapped Loops, General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Step 16
Using the tips of a chain nose pliers, tightly grasp the loop of the wire on the end that needs to be wrapped. Wrap the neck. Do NOT cut off the wire tail. If the wire wraps are uneven or the bead is too loose, use the wire tails to make more wraps to even and tighten things up. When happy with the results, trim off the wires tails. Use the tips of a chain nose pliers to tuck the short wire tail in. A bead crimping pliers is a great tool to use to accomplish this. The front round section of the plier keeps the wraps round while also pushing the tail in. Crimp the sides first, and crimp the area with the tail, working around the wire wrap.
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links
Judy Larson's Wire Basics - Wrapped Loops and Links - , General Education, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wire basics - wrapped loops and beaded links

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