Jewelry 101 - Easy Wire Earrings
Posted by Leah on Sep 7, 2008
Using some basic wire techniques that I’ve already written about - how to make simple loops, wrapped loops, head pins, and earwires - you can make your very own earring designs using just wire and a couple of beads.
- First, you need two earwires. You can buy them, or make your own.
- Then, you need two head pins with one or more beads on each. You can make your own head pins, or buy them.
- Make a simple loop or wrapped loop as close as you can to where the beads are on each head pin.
- Using flat nosed pliers, open the loop on your earwire, and slip the dangle you just made onto the loop. Use the pliers to close the loop. Make sure you’ve closed it tightly enough that the dangle can’t accidentally slip off.
That’s it! Now you have your very own handmade earrings.
Jewelry 101 - Making a Wrapped Loop
Posted by Leah on Aug 3, 2008
Wrapped loops take a bit more work than simple (open) loops, but are much more secure, especially if you work with thin wire. The tools you need are the same:
- Piece of wire about 2″ long (or a head pin
- Flat or chain nose pliers
- Round nose pliers
- Wire cutters
And here is my photo tutorial:
Step One: Bend the wire at not-quite 90 degrees using flat or chain nose pliers
Step Two: Bend the wire around one jaw of round nose pliers
Step 3: Bring the wire end past the bend and begin wrapping it around
Step 4: Holding the loop with flat or chain nose pliers, wrap the wire end around a couple times
Step 5: Snip off excess wire as close as possible to the end of the last wrap. Use flat or chain nose pliers to tuck the end in close so it won't snag
In the photos, I made my wrapped loop on a head pin strung with a handmade felt bead and a small garnet bead. It made a nice dangle which I used for a pair of earrings.
Jewelry 101 - Making a Simple Loop
Posted by Leah on Aug 2, 2008
One of the most basic techniques for making jewelry with wire is a simple loop.
What you need:
- head pin, eye pin, or about 2″ long piece of 22g wire
- flat or chain nose pliers
- round nose pliers
- wire cutters
- bead(s) that fit on the wire
Here’s how you do it:
- Using the flat or chain nose pliers, make a not-quite 90 degree bend in the wire/head pin/eye pin, a half inch or so from the end
- Using the round nose pliers, grasp the wire near the bend and wrap the wire around one jaw of the pliers
- Using the wire cutters, snip the wire end off so there is just enough to close the loop
- Using your flat or chain nose pliers again, bend the end of the wire in just enough so that it touches the bend, and you have a loop that is closed
That’s it! With a little practice, you’ll be making lovely round loops in no time. Tip: string a bead or two onto a headpin, make a simple loop, and you have a homemade charm. If you are more of a visual learner, here are a couple of pictures of me making a loop. I actually ended up making a wrapped loop so there isn’t a picture of me snipping the wire end, but I think you can get a basic idea from seeing the first two steps demonstrated. In the photos, I am making a loop on a head pin that has one of my handmade felt beads on it.
Step One: Bend the wire at not-quite 90 degrees
Step Two: Bend the wire around one jaw of round nose pliers
