Heart Drop Pendant

Skill Level: Intermediate

Technique: Wire bending and twisting, adding beads.

Materials

• 1, 5" piece of 18 gauge Round Half Hard Sterling Silver Wire
• 1, 18 gauge split jump ring
• 1, 16"inch piece 20 gauge Half Round Half Hard Sterling Silver Wire
• 2, 1 1/2" pieces 24-26 gauge Round Half Hard Sterling Silver Wire
• 1, 9x5mm Sterling Silver Round Bead
• 3, 4mm Round Crystal Beads

Tools

• Chain Nose Pliers
• Flat Nose Pliers
• Flush Cutters
• Round Nose Pliers
• 12" Ruler
• Sharpie-Extra fine tip permanent market

Instructions:

There are multiple ways you can make these pendants with lots of variations in the beads for the drop. For some examples, please refer to the photo of the completed pendants at the top of the page.

1. Straighten, measure, and cut all wires listed.
   

   Making the Frame:

2. Make an eye at one end of the 18 gauge wire. Make it large enough to fit another 18 gauge wire through it so it's loose. I use the center of the round nose pliers to do this.
   
   

3. Using your half round wire, measure and mark the center of the wire and fold in half with the flat side in. You will use this to wrap the 18 gauge wire.
   
   
   
4. Using both the 18 gauge wire and the 20 gauge half round, wrap the 20 gauge around the 18 gauge wire making sure your wraps are tight. Be sure to keep them tight every time you make a wrap throughout the piece.
   
5. Continue wrapping the 20 gauge wire around the 18 gauge wire until you have an inch of the 20 gauge wire wrapped. Careful to not let it slide off the 18 gauge wire.
   
   
6. Slide your wrapped wire up to the eye you made in the second step. Using your sharpie as a mandrel, bend the wrapped wire half way around it making a half moon shape.
   
   
7. Make the same size eye at the end of your wrapped wires. This will be the bottom eye of your heart.
   
   
8. Flip your now half heart over and begin working with the opposite side. Make another eye at the straight end of the wire.
   
   
9. Grab the eye with your flat nose pliers and continue to roll in the wire loosely making a rosette that has gaps in between the wires.
   
   
10. Continue rolling it in until you get the desired look you would like.
    
11. It should look something like this when you're done.
12. Using the top wire (that's been in your way all this time), join the top of the heart. Wrap the half round wire (flat side down) into the rosette and secure the frame of the heart (as seen above), then wrap into the rosette. Be sure to finish in the center of the rosette or as close as you can get.
    
13. Wrap the half round wire, keeping the flat side down around the rest of the length of wire. Pass over the eye you made at the bottom and continue wrapping. Be sure to wrap the inside of the rosette.



14. It should look something similar to this when you're finished. You can now add your 18 gauge jump ring. It will serve as a bail for your heart. If you accidentally run out of 20 gauge wire on the wrap just cut another piece and add to the frame. Push it together and it will look just fine.


Let's add the drop:

15. Using the 24 gauge or 26 gauge wire, make an eye about a 1/2" down the wire.
16. Hook the eye that you just made to the heart frame.
    
17. Wrap the extra wire around the base of the eye for a good, secure link.
18. String your bead how you want it and finish the link with another eye at the bottom.
19. Cut the extra wire off and be sure to not leave any burr on the wire, you don't want it catching on anyone's clothes. Make another finishing link with a pretty bead and it's done.
    

    Add your favorite chain and wear it with everything!

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