Turn one length of wire and a bead into a wire bead pendant. This simple wire jewelry making technique is easy to learn and will have you beading in no time!
I used beads in my favorite color scheme and made a double wire loop pendant in no time flat.
The design came to me on a whim and I really like the results. Here's how you can make one!
1. Cut the Wire
Using the wire cutters, cut one 3 inches (7.6 cm) length of 18 or 20 gauge round wire.
There should be about 1 1/4 inches (3.2 cm) of wire above the bead and about 1/2 inch (.6 cm) of wire below the bead.
2. Grasp one end of one wire between the jaws of your round nose pliers, about half way up the jaws of the pliers.
Rotate the pliers forward to create a simple wire loop.
A simple wire loop can be used to make the pendant, but a double wire loop is more secure, especially for a pendant.
4. Begin to Make the Double Wire Loop
Reposition the pliers to their original position.
5. Rotate the pliers forward, creating one and a half wire loops.
6. Reposition the pliers to their original position and grasp the top of the wire loop between the jaws of the pliers.
7. Rotate the pliers forward, creating a double wire loop.
With the tip of the pliers, grasp the wire loop where the tip of the wire of
the first loop meets the perpendicular portion of the wire.
Rotate the pliers backward about 90 degrees, creating a bend in the wire.
You should end up with a length of with wire that has a double wire loop on one end.
9. String the 35mm bead onto the wire, resting it against the double wire loop.
Make a simple wire loop on the second end of the wire.
Having the double wire loop perpendicular to the bead will prevent whatever you wear the pendant on from twisting.
Use the chain nose pliers to grasp the double wire loop and twist it so that it is perpendicular to the bead. Twist the simple wire loop so that it is parallel to the bead.
You may have to hold the double wire loop with a pair of chain nose pliers, or your fingers, to gain leverage in order to twist the wire loops.
If you have two pairs of chain nose pliers, grasp and twist both wire loops at the same time.
Having the double wire loop turned in opposite directions
10. String the beads, bead caps and bead spacers onto the head pins and the eye pin. Make sure to string an 8mm bead onto the eye pin.
Using wire cutters, trim a little wire from the head pins and eye pin.
Using the round nose pliers, make wire loops on top of the beads.
One at a time place the open wire loop of a five bead units (two 6mm and three 8mm bead units) onto the bottom
closed simple wire loop of the pendant. Close the wire loop.
Attach the small bead unit that is on the eye pin in the middle of the other bead units. Attach a 6mm bead unit to the bottom of the eye pin bead unit.
You're done...your wire bead pendant is complete!
Try making another one with a different combination of beads.