Keepsake Crafts

Have I mentioned how much I love Craftsy classes?

I have?

Oh, well, I have to  mention it again, they are awesome.

Anyhow, after making these earrings last week I couldn’t stop making those wire wrapped round components. So, I made this necklace.

It was also an opportunity to use these polymer clay beads that I got on Etsy a while back.

if you want to try to make those round components yourself (plus many, many other great lessons) check out Craftsy’s Wire-Wrapped Stones, Crystals and Clusters.

I’ve made a video for you explaining how to put together the necklace. Happy Creating!

Wire Wrapped Decorative Ring Triple Strand Necklace

Materials:

• assorted beads of your choice
• bead stringing wire, 2 yards
• 6 crimp beads
• 6 crimp covers
• 6 wire protectors
• 2 – 1 inch to 1.5 inch decorative rings for hanging bead strands (see this class for how to make the ones I used)
• 2 – 8 inch pieces necklace chain
• 26 gauge wire
• 4 jump rings
• clasp

Tools:

• 2 pair chain nose pliers
• round nose pliers
• wire cutters
• crimping tool, if desired
• bead design board
• flexible tape measure

Directions:

1. Arrange beads in your desired design on a bead design board. Working from spool, string center strand of beads onto bead stringing wire.
2. Slide end of wire through a crimp cover, (if necessary) a crimp bead and through both holes of a wire protector. Slide wire protector over a decorative ring. Slide end of wire back through crimp bead and use chain nose or crimping pliers to flatten crimp bead. Close crimp cover over flattened crimp.
3. Trim wire off spool, leaving 4 inches extra after last strung bead and repeat step two to attach to other decorative ring. Make sure to leave 1/8 inch slack in wire so beads hang gracefully.
4. Use flexible tape measure to determine desired length of upper strand. Working from spool, string upper strand of beads onto bead stringing wire. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to attach each end to a decorative ring, making sure to keep strands in correct order.
5. Use flexible tape measure to determine desired length of lower strand. Working from spool, string lower strand of beads onto bead stringing wire. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to attach each end to a decorative ring, making sure to keep strands in correct order.
6. To make a wire wrapped component:
   1. Working from spool of 26 gauge wire use chain nose pliers to grasp wire 1 inch from end.  Bend wire at 90° angle.  
   2. Grasp bend with round nose pliers and wrap wire around pliers as far as possible to start to make a loop.  Reposition pliers to finish loop. 
   3. Wrap remaining wire around wire below 90° bend. Use wire cutters to trim, if necessary. Use chain nose pliers to tuck in end.
   4. Cut wire off spool, leaving 1 ½ to 2 inches.
   5. Thread on a seed bead, an accent bead and another seed bead. Use chain nose pliers to grasp wire just at point where it exits bead and bend wire at 90° angle. Repeat step 6.b to make loop. Slide loop onto decorative ring. Repeat step 6.c to finish wire wrapping component.
   6. Repeat to make second wire wrapped component.

7. Use jump rings to attach open loop of each wire wrapped components to end of an 8 inch length of chain.
8. To remaining ends of chain, attach a jump ring to one and a clasp to the other.