Wire Wrapping

The basic bead and wire chain consists of wire formed to retain a bead or beads and provide loops for connecting the segments, making a chain.

This technique can be varied in an infinite number of ways by using different colors, textures and material.

The Fixture is available in two models; The Original Full Moon Wire Wrap Fixture and the Full Moon Utility Fixture.

Flat nose pliers are used for gripping the short end of the wire.

The Optivisor is a wonderful tool for precise close work.

Beading trays are used to lay out the design accurately and keep the beads from rolling.  Before I discovered the beading tray, I used a terrycloth towel. This also works.

The nippers I use are precise and made for close work.  Nippers should be of good quality. The nippers I use are orthodontist's tools.

We recommend dead soft wire.

A good light source is a must.

And remember, always wear your eye protection.  Little bits of cut wire could fly anywhere.

The Original Fixture

The Utility Fixture

The Project, A Simple Bead & Wire Chain Necklace Step By Step

Select your beads. Dichroic and Czech glass beads from Old Hat Glassworks in Madras, Oregon were chosen for this project.

Lay the beads out on the bead tray in the design you prefer. Usually I change my mind several times on the design layout.

Click On Images To Enlarge

The First Loop

Begin with the fixture in front of you and about 12 inches of wire.

Install the  appropriate forming tip for the size of loop desired.

The fixture is supplied with tips to form 1/8", 3/32" and 1/16th diameter loops. The  Utility Fixture is supplied with two tips; 1/8", 3/32".  The diameter of your loop may be influenced by the gauge of your wire. The two larger tips have slots and the smaller bonus tip does not.

The secret of a  perfect circle is to wrap as tightly as possible when forming the loop around the tip. Wrap the wire around the tip and make 2 or 3 close wraps around the shank of the wire. Snip off the excess wire. (Continue to use the wire until it becomes too short for another wrap.)

The Second Loop

Remove your first loop from the fixture and string the bead/beads onto the shank of the wire.

Return the wire shank to the fixture, and, once again, make a loop around the tip. Make 2 or 3 close wraps around the shank of this second loop and snip off the excess. 

Take the bead and wire segment and thread a new piece of wire through one of its loops and place it over the fixture tip so that the loop of the first segment is held by and recessed into the slot in the tip. This will allow the next wrap for form a perfect circle.   Continue making links and segments to form your necklace

The Fixture need not be clamped. The only pulling that you will be doing is with hands pulling the wire in opposing directions. If you feel you must pull in one direction at one time or another, simply pull the wire in a downward direction.  The base is very stable and will not tip.  If the base moves around while you are working it does not matter a bit.                  

The Clasp

Begin the clasp by bending the wire  around the small tip. Remove the small tip and insert the middle sized tip.

Make a loop at the opposite end of the clasp's first bend, make several  wraps around both clasp wire, covering the both wires and nip off the long end  of the wire.

Insert the large tip in the fixture and  bend the clasp section around it. 

Connect the clasp to the necklace at the last bead and wire chain loop at one end of the necklace. 

At the other end of the necklace, make the last wire loop with the large tip.  The clasp will hook into this larger loop.

Earrings

These  earrings are simple drops.  They are made of Czech glass from Old Hat Glassworks in Madras, Oregon.

 Start with a sterling head pin and one small sterling bead.  Add one glass bead.  Wrap the end using the small unslotted  tip.

Insert the medium tip, adding the first  bead's loop to the new wire.  Insert the loop into the slot and form a new  loop.  Add the final bead, remove and turn to form the last loop.  Thread the  wire through the earring loop, insert it in the slot and make the final wrap.  You're done!!