Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin. Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry. These wire cage embellishments add a decorative touch to any bead.

Wire Caged Beads

by Natalie Patten
  • Category: Findings
  • Technique(s): Making Findings, Wrapping
  • Skill Level: Beginner
These wire cage embellishments add a decorative touch to any bead. They can be used individually to make earrings or strung onto bracelets and necklaces.

Materials

20 Gauge Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-20H
  • Lesson Quantity: 8.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $3.00
  • Gold Club Price: $2.25
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African Turquoise 8mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-735
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $8.40
  • Gold Club Price: $6.30
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Goldstone 8mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-198
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $7.35
  • Gold Club Price: $5.51
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Dog Teeth Amethyst 8mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-171
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.45
  • Gold Club Price: $7.09
Out of Stock
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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 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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Instructions
Step 1
Straighten out the wire and cut into 20cm/ 8 inches length per bead.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, straighten your wire
Step 2
Position the round-nose pliers at the very tip of the wire and create a small curl.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, create a small curl
Step 3
Holding the curl between the jaws of the flat/chain-nose pliers, create a spiral so that the wire coils around the outside of the last wire curl to make an outward spiral.
Pro Tip: Using nylon-coated pliers will prevent marring the wire.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, continue curling the wire around the first loop
Step 4
Once the spiral has started to form, pinch it in between the pad of your thumb and finger and continue to curl it inwards, making a larger spiral until you reach the center of the wire, leaving approximately 10cm/ 4 inches of the straight tail wire.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, spiral the wire with your fingers
Step 5
Start to form a curl using the round-nose pliers at the other end of the wire facing in the opposite direction.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, form a loop and curl at the other end
Step 6
Once the initial curl is made with the round-nose pliers use the flat/chain/nylon-coated pliers to grip over the top of the swirl and continue to turn in to form a spiral.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, continue to spiral the wire
Step 7
Then pinch the swirl with your fingers to continue shaping the spiral, making it larger with each rotation.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, continue to spiral the wire
Step 8
This curl should be positioned on the opposite side and travel back towards the center of the wire to meet the first swirled circle. They should be roughly the same size as each other.
Pro Tip: If the swirls are accidentally formed in the same direction to each other, they can be twisted into the correct position to form an 'S' shape.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, the spirals should be the same size
Step 9
The circumference of the spiralled circle should be roughly the same size of the bead. Therefore, if using smaller or lager beads, you can adjust your starting length of wire accordingly to adapt the size of the finished cage.

However, using a larger bead for this length of wire, will cause the spiral to open out more around your enclosed bead and using a smaller bead will create a closer coil in the wire decoration of the cage and cover more of the beads surface.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, the spiral should be the same size as your bead
Step 10
Position the round-nose pliers inside the inner most curl of the swirl.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, put one spiral over the tip of the round nose pliers
Step 11
Using the taper of the pliers, gently push the outer spirals in a downward direction, to open up the spiral into a cone type shape.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, gently push the spiral into a cone shape
Step 12
Repeat this on the other spiral, so that the spiral cones are both pointing upwards and produce a spring that will form the wire cage.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, gently push the spiral into a cone shape
Step 13
If the spirals have opened out too much, pinch with your thumb and finger to compress it back down again.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, pinch the cones of wire if they've opened up too much
Step 14
Place a bead inside of one of the domed sides of the swirl. (Aim to have the drill hole of the bead facing upwards.)
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, place the bead inside the cone of wire
Step 15
Bend over the other side of the spiral around the bead to close over the cage.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, bend the other wire cone over the bead
Step 16
The coils can be positioned to expose as much of the bead as you wish. Pushing the two halves of the cage together and twisting it around the bead can tighten up the coil and neaten the wires evenly around the bead.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, push the wire cones into shape around the bead
Step 17
Pliers can also be used to adjust the rings of the spiral.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, pliers can be used to push the wires into place
Step 18
Use a pin to move the bead into position so that the drill hole is aligned in the center of the top spiral.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, use a pin to position the bead hole at the top of the spiralled wire
Step 19
Once in position place a pin through the inner curl at the top of the cage and through the drill hole in the bead and out through the other side.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, place a wire through the bead to keep it in place within the cage
Step 20
This can now be made into a pendant or earring with a headpin.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, use a headpin to create a charm
Step 21
Alternatively use beading wire instead of a pin to string on your caged beads to make a bracelet or necklace.
Natalie Patten's Wire Caged Beads - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Findings, Clasps, Components, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, string the caged beads