Wire Snowmen

by Natalie Patten

Category: Holiday Designs
Technique(s): Coiling, Wrapping
Skill Level: Beginner

Natalie Patten shares a charming winter project that's quick, simple, and fun to make. These little Wire Snowmen come together with just a few tools and materials, and they can be turned into pendants, earrings, or cute seasonal gifts.

It's an easy craft that brings a smile to anyone who sees them!

Materials

20 Gauge Round Silver Plated Ultra White Copper Craft Wire - 18 ft

H17-O20-18FT

Lesson Quantity: 8.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.00
Gold Club Price: $5.25

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Wire option in 20 gauge as additional option for projects

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Beads - Wide variety to choose from (recommended 6mm and 10mm)

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28 Gauge Round Silver Plated Ultra White Copper Craft Wire - 45 ft

H17-O28-45FT

Lesson Quantity: 12.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.40
Gold Club Price: $5.55

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Tools

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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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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Xuron Flush Cutter - Pack of 1

G2-504

G2-504
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $29.95
Gold Club Price: $22.46

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20 X 15 Inch Padded Work Mat

MAT-620.00

MAT-620.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.95
Gold Club Price: $11.21

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Optional Tools

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

G15-20

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

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Instructions

Step 1

Take a straight piece of 20-gauge wire about 8 inches long.

With the tip of your round nose pliers, begin curling one end inward to create the starter loop.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, begin curling one end inward

Step 2

To create a clean curl, trim off the tiny straight tip at the start of the curl.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, trim off the tiny straight tip

Step 3

Reposition the round nose pliers inside the curl, then continue turning the wire inward to tighten the shape.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Reposition the round nose pliers

Step 4

Begin forming a spiral by placing your chain nose pliers over the curl.

Shape the wire around itself so the spiral grows outward.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Begin forming a spiral

Step 5

The wire only needs to coil around a couple of times to form a small spiral.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, form a small spiral

Step 6

Next bend the wire upwards, towards the centre of the spiral.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Next bend the wire upwards

Step 7

Place the larger bead onto the wire, then push the spiral up against the bottom of the bead so it sits flush.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Place the larger bead onto the wire

Step 8

Next add the smaller bead onto the wire so it sits on top of the larger bead.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, add the smaller bead onto the wire

Step 9

Create a 90-degree bend with the wire at the top of the smaller bead.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Create a 90 degree bend

Step 10

Using your chain nose pliers as a guide, leave a small gap of a few millimetres.

Bend the wire upward so it stands vertically.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Bend the wire upward

Step 11

Next bend the wire back on itself to form the brim of the hat.

Step 12

Bend the wire up vertically again so it aligns closely with the point where the wire exits the bead.

Step 13

Bend the wire horizontally to form the top of the snowman's hat.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Bend the wire horizontally

Step 14

Use the pliers to help shape and bend the wire into the curves of the hat.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Use the pliers to help shape

Step 15

Leave about 4 mm of horizontal wire, then bend the wire back down toward the beads.

You can measure this section to roughly 5 mm or simply match it by eye to the first side of the hat.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Leave about 4 mm of horizontal wire

Step 16

Bend the wire out to the side, keeping it aligned with the brim on the opposite side of the hat.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Bend the wire out to the side

Step 17

Bend the wire back across the top of the bead to complete the hat shape.

Use chain nose pliers to compress the wire, narrowing the brim and shaping it to your preference.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Bend the wire back across the top

Step 18

Curve the wire around the small bead that is underneath the hat.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Curve the wire

Step 19

Bring the wire fully around the bead, to represent the snowman's head.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Bring the wire fully around the bead

Step 20

Wrap the wire once around the snowman's neck, between the beads, to secure it in place.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Wrap the wire once around

Step 21

Bring the wire around to the front and curve the wire around the larger bead below.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Bring the wire around to the front

Step 22

Bring the wire right around this bead to represent the snowman's body.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Bring the wire right around this bead

Step 23

Bring the wire around the snowman's neck once more, between the two beads.

Step 24

Attach on approximately 12 inches of weaving wire to the 20 AWG.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Attach on approximately 12 inches

Step 25

Continuously wrap the weaving wire around the 20-gauge wire to form a 1-inch coil.

Trim off the starting tail.

It may be easier to start coiling further up the base wire and slide the coil into position once it begins to form.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Continuously wrap the weaving wire

Step 26

Slide the coil up the base wire so it sits around the snowman's neck.

This will create the snowman's scarf.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Slide the coil up the base wire

Step 27

Trim off any excess weaving wire and tuck in the tail end.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Trim off any excess

Step 28

Cut off any 20 AWG, leaving approximately 1cm from the end of the coil.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Cut off any 20 AWG

Step 29

Use round nose pliers to form a spiral with the coiled wire.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, form a spiral with the coiled wire.

Step 30

Position the coiled spiral in the centre of the bottom bead.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Position the coiled spiral

Step 31

Use chain nose pliers to compress the wire on the hat.

This hardens the wire, strengthens it, and helps it maintain its shape.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Use chain nose pliers to compress the wire

Step 32

Attach a jumpring and chain to the snowman's hat to wear as a pendant.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Attach a jumpring

Step 33

Alternatively, make another snowman and attach earring hooks to the hat to create earrings.

For the second earring, consider wrapping the wire around the snowman's body or larger bead in the opposite direction.

This will make the scarf curl the opposite way, creating mirror symmetry for both earrings.

Natalie Patten's Wire Snowmen - , Holiday Designs, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, attach earring hooks to the hat

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!