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Wire wrapped pendant with Italian flair

A funky assortment of beads gives this necklace a hip and trendy look. Easy wire wrapping puts this style within reach of any jewelry maker.

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SUPPLIES

Necklace 16 in. (40.6 cm); pendant 3 1⁄2 in. (89 mm)

Wire: 26-gauge (0.4 mm), 4–6 ft. (1.2–1.8 m)
35–40 mm metal ring component
9 4–20 mm beads: assorted colors, shapes, and textures
3 2–3 mm beads
5–8 2–5 mm spacers (optional)
Chain: 20–28 in. (50.8–71.1 cm), one or more styles
9 2-in. (51 mm) head pins
22 jump rings: 2.5 mm inside diameter
Clasp
Wirework toolbox
Scrap wire: 18-gauge (1.02 mm)

Editor’s Note:

Gretchen used a 40 mm hammered vermeil ring from Kalpataru Beads, which is a wholesale-only business. I found 35 mm hammered vermeil rings at Beadwholesaler.com, which accepts retail clients with a $50 minimum purchase. I also picked up some 35 mm Tierra Cast pewter rings in various finishes at my local bead store; those will also work great. Ask your local bead store if they carry Tierra Cast findings.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. To make a dangle, string a 4–20 mm bead on a head pin, and make a wrapped loop. Repeat with eight beads, adding spacers above and/or below the bead as desired.

2. To use a briolette, string it on 3 in. (76 mm) of 26-gauge (0.4 mm) wire, and make a wrapped loop above the top-drilled bead.

3. If you wish to embellish the top of a briolette with additional wraps, start with 6 in. (15.2 cm) of wire, and continue wrapping the long tail over the top of the bead as desired.

4. Cut nine 1⁄4–1 1⁄2-in. (6.5–38 mm) pieces of chain. Open a jump ring, attach the end of a chain and a dangle, and close the jump ring. Repeat with the remaining chains and dangles.

5. Cut 18 in. (45.7 cm) of 26-gauge (0.4 mm) wrapping wire. Make three wraps around a metal ring component.

Align 18-gauge (1.02 mm) scrap wire with the edge of the ring, and make one wrap around the scrap wire and the ring to make a loop. Remove the scrap wire, make three wraps around the ring only, then make one wrap around the ring and the scrap wire.

6. Repeat until you have a total of nine loops, then make three more wraps. Trim both wire tails, and flatten them against the same side of the ring; this side will be the back of the pendant.

7. Align the dangles in the order you want them to hang. Open a jump ring, and attach the end of a chain and a loop on the ring. Close the jump ring. Repeat with the remaining dangles. If desired, you can reposition the beads on the chain by opening the appropriate jump ring and reattaching it to a different chain link.

8. Cut 10 in. (25.4 cm) of wrapping wire. Make three wraps at the 11 o’clock position on your pendant, going toward the 12 o’clock position. Make a loop as you did in step 5, then make three more wraps.

9. Slide a 2.5 mm bead on the wire, and, holding it tight to the front of the pendant, make three wraps around the ring.

10. Repeat to add two more 2.5 mm beads, then make a loop, ending with three wraps. Trim and flatten the wire tails to the back of the pendant.

11. Cut two 8-in. (20.3 cm) chains. Open a jump ring, and attach one chain and a loop made in step 4. Close the jump ring. Repeat with the other chain and loop.

12. Open a jump ring, and attach an end chain link and half of a clasp. Close the jump ring. Repeat on the other chain.