Abby Hook's Woven Wire Lotus Flower Pendant, Wire Weaving. Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire. This project shows you how to make this delicate flower, which resembles a lotus flower.
Woven Wire Lotus Flower Pendant
by Abby Hook
  • Category: Weaving
  • Technique(s): Weaving
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
This project shows you how to make this delicate flower, which resembles a lotus flower. By weaving the petals and shaping them you create the impression that the flower is in bloom.

A lot of the jewellery I make has been inspired by nature and this pendant is no exception! I love the way that wire allows you to create any form that takes your fancy, once you have grasped a few basic skills. I have a number of tutorials available on-line ranging from beginner to very advanced.

The lotus is an ancient symbol. Often used as an example of divine beauty and purity. Its unfolding petals suggest the expansion of the soul. The growth of its pure beauty from the mud of its origin holds a benign spiritual promise. It is said that when Buddha died, lotus flowers blossomed everywhere he had walked in his lifetime. The lotus flower represents long life, health, honor and good luck.

Materials

18 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-18D
  • Lesson Quantity: 8.50 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $4.70
  • Gold Club Price: $3.53
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28 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-28D
  • Lesson Quantity: 100.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 10FT
  • Price: $4.05
  • Gold Club Price: $3.03
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Sterling Silver Mirror Beads 2.5mm - Pack of 25
K9-173
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $4.30
  • Gold Club Price: $3.23
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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
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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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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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Flat Nose Wire Pliers
G2-506
  • G2-506
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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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
Pro Tip: • Keep sliding the weave along the thick wire with your nail to keep it tight.
• Hold the 10" tail for attaching the bead carefully out of the way so that it does not get tangled up with the wire you are working on.
• Oxidise the pendant to really highlight the detail in the wirework.
Cut a piece of 18 gauge wire 8 ½" long. Measure 2" from one end of the wire and make a sharp 135° bend using the flat nose pliers. Measure ½" from the first bend and make another 135° bend in the opposite direction to the first, using the flat nose pliers. This is the first of 5 petals. In the same way as before make another 4 petals.

Abby Hook's Woven Wire Lotus Flower Pendant - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, zig zag the wire
Step 2
Using your fingers, gently bend the wire round, so that the two straight wires meet and sit parallel to each other. Notice how this closes the triangle shapes. Grasp the wire just after the first bend with the flat nose pliers as shown. Bend the centre of the petal slightly outwards then grasp the wire just below the second bend with the flat nose pliers. Bend the centre outwards slightly.
Abby Hook's Woven Wire Lotus Flower Pendant - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, shape the wire into a daisy
Step 3
Shape the other side of the petal. Notice how this makes the bottom of the petal cross over itself. Squeeze the petal shape between the nylon jaw pliers to flatten. Shape all of the petals in this way. Adjust the gap between each petal (by pushing the petals gently together with your fingers) until it is just the 2 straight wires that overlap.
Abby Hook's Woven Wire Lotus Flower Pendant - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, shape the wire into a daisy
Step 4
Cut a piece of 28 gauge wire 12" long. Attach it to the point of the first petal by coiling 5 times, leaving a 1" tail. Take the thin wire over the first thick wire of the petal and under the opposite thick wire. Coil once to secure. Take the thin wire over the thick wire that you just coiled and under the opposite thick wire. Coil once, pulling tightly.
Abby Hook's Woven Wire Lotus Flower Pendant - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, attach a 28 gauge piece of wire
Step 5
Keep weaving in this way: Over, under, coil once. Until you reach the bottom of the petal. Coil the nearest thick wire 3 times to secure the thin wire and trim, trim the 1" tail too and tuck the ends in neatly with the long nose pliers so that they are hidden and do not catch when you run your finger over.
Abby Hook's Woven Wire Lotus Flower Pendant - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, weave the petal
Step 6
Weave the other 4 petals. Notice how rigid the structure is now. Ensure that the two straight wires overlap at the bottom, so that the wire from the petal on the right is on the left and the wire from the left hand petal is on the right. Check the wires are straight and there is a gap between them to allow for the weaving.
Abby Hook's Woven Wire Lotus Flower Pendant - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, weave the other petals
Step 7
Cut a piece of 28 gauge wire 40" long. Attach it by coiling both straight wires together 3 times on the curve at the bottom. Leave a 10" tail, this will be used to attach the bead. Take the long length of the thin wire and weave the bail, covering 1". Coil the nearest thick wire 3 times. Leave the length of the thin wire attached for securing the bail.
Abby Hook's Woven Wire Lotus Flower Pendant - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, weave the bail
Step 8
Trim the thick wires to 1/3" and form two loops. Using the 10" tail, thread the 8mm bead onto it. Pass the wire through the hole in the centre of the petals, then round to the front and back through the bead. Pull tightly. Wrap the thin wire around the base of the bead 10 times. Coil the nearest thick wire 3 times, trim and tuck the end in.
Abby Hook's Woven Wire Lotus Flower Pendant - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, make the bail
Step 9
With your fingers carefully push the petals upwards against the bead. Carefully grasp a petal at the end with the flat nose pliers, bend downwards 45 degrees to shape. Try not to squeeze too hard as you do not want to damage your weaving. Shape all 5 petals this way. Shape the bail and bind 3 times to secure in place, add a 2.5mm silver bead to hide the binding.

Abby Hook's Woven Wire Lotus Flower Pendant - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, secure the bail