Wire-Wrapping Basics

Wire wrapping refers to the wirework techniques that let you shape the findings and decorative components of
wire jewelry. Wire wrapping techniques include shaping wire through and around beads and creating coils,
spirals, and loops. Once you know how to create findings and other shapes, you can fit these components
together to create wire jewelry.

How to Cut Wire Before Wire Wrapping

Before you can wrap a wire, you have to cut it to the necessary length. The length of the wire you need to cut
depends on the finding or shape you’re making, as well as your personal preference. It’s a good idea to cut all
the pieces of wire you’ll need before you start shaping it. That way, you can ensure you’re cutting equal lengths
of wire.

Wire Length and Details

If you’d like to incorporate additional decorative details to the wire pieces you create, you’ll have to cut wires
that are long enough to accommodate those details. Because you may want to add coils, loops, or wraps of
different sizes, there’s no hard and fast rule for how much longer a wire should be to allow you to add such
details. Your best bet is to experiment a bit with the designs you want to make in order to determine how much
wire you’ll need.

How to File Cut Pieces of Wire

Always make sure to file down cut edges of wire before you start to work with them. To file a piece of wire:

1. Hold the cut piece perpendicular to the file.

2. Using short strokes and filing only in one direction, file down the edges. By filing in only one direction
you’ll avoid bending the wire.
 _________________________________________________________________

How to Make Jump Rings

Jump rings are C-shaped wires that come in multiple sizes and can be closed to form an “O” by pressing the
ends together. Jump rings are used primarily as a means of attaching different parts of a piece of jewelry. For
instance, jump rings are often used to attach clasps or other findings to the body of a piece. Jump rings can also
be joined together to form a simple chain. You can buy jump rings cheaply at any art- or beading-supply store,
though once you get the hang of it, you’ll discover that making them is easy and even less expensive.

How to Make Jump Rings

You can make as many jump rings as you want using one long coil of wire. Producing many jump rings at a
time from one piece of wire is faster than making them just one at a time, and it also ensures that all your jump
rings will be uniform in size.

1. Wrap a length ofwire into an evenly spaced coil around a dowel or another round object.

2. Slide the coil offthe dowel. Use wire cutters to cut individual rings from the coil by snipping each round
once.
 3. Using a file,smooth and flatten the cut ends of the wire so that they fit together.

4. Using two pairs of round-nose pliers, push together the filed ends of wire and close the ring.

How to Use Jump Rings

To attach a jump ring to wire pieces or findings, you’ll have to open and then close the ring. Always open jump
rings by twisting their ends sideways using pliers. Never open the ring by pulling back in order to widen the
mouth of the “C”—it will weaken the ring.

How to Make Eye Pins

Eye pins are long, thin wires with an eye at one end.

Beads or other embellishments are stacked on the “eye” end of the eye pin. Pliers are then used to shape the top
of the pin into a hook that can be connected to a jump ring or threaded to an earring hook or onto a necklace or
bracelet to make a pendant. Eye pins can be shaped into other wire components. Eye pins are sold in art- and
beading-supply stores, though making your own gives you more control over the final result.

How to Make a Basic Eye Pin

1. Grasp one end of the wire with round-nose pliers.
2. Turn the pliers so the wire loops over the pliers’ nose.

How to Make a Curly-Head Pin (Fiddlehead)

A fiddlehead adds one or more concentric loops around the single loop of a basic eye pin.

1. Make a basic eye pin.

2. Grasp the loop at the end of the eye pin flat in the jaws of nylon-nose pliers.

3. Use your fingers to wrap the straight wire around the loop. Rotate the jaws of the pliers as you wrap the
wire.

You can also flatten the fiddlehead by squeezing it in the jaws of nylon-nose pliers.

How to Make a Double-Loop Eye Pin

The double-loop eye pin adds a second loop next to the single eye of the basic eye pin.

1. Make a basic eye pin.

2. Position the round-nose pliers so that the jaws are flush against the first loop. The loop should be facing
up.

3. Create a second loop right beside the first by wrapping the straight end of the wire around the nose of
the pliers. After you form the wrap, the straight wire should point down between the loops.

If you like, you can flatten the double loops in the jaws of nylon-nose pliers.

How to Make a Triple-Loop (Cloverleaf) Eye Pin

A cloverleaf eye pin has three loops at its tip.

1. Make a double-loop eye pin.

 2. Grasp the straight wire with round-nose pliers so that the pliers are flush against the two loops. Wrap the
straight wire clockwise all the way around the nose to create a third loop. The straight end of the wire
should be aligned directly below the pointed teardrop of the second (middle) loop.

As a last step, you can flatten the loops in the jaws of nylon-nose pliers if you choose.

How to Make a Quadruple-Loop Eye Pin

A quadruple-loop eye pin has four loops at its top.

1. Create a triple-loop (cloverleaf) eye pin.

2. Clamp the round-nose pliers on the straight wire just beneath the three loops.
3. Create a fourth loop by wrapping the wire counterclockwise around the nose of the pliers. All four loops
should be aligned in two overlapping figure eights, and the tail of the wire should stick out from
between the first two loops you made.
As a last step, you can flatten the double loops in the jaws of the nylon-nose pliers.

How to Make Earring Hooks

Earring hooks, also called ear wires, are hook-shaped findings that fit through the hole in a pierced ear and
support dangling wire, eye pins, and other components. Earring hooks can be created from eye pins by shaping
the pins into hooks using round-nose pliers or an ear wire form.

How to Make Ear Hooks with Round-Nose Pliers

1. Hold two eye pins or head pins together so they’re perfectly aligned.
2. Grasp both pins with round-nose pliers so that about 1/4" of each pin is visible between the pliers and
the pin’s loops. Don’t grasp the pins with the tip of the pliers. Hold the pins where the jaws are thickest.
3. Wrap the pins around the pliers, forming a half loop. The pin should now be parallel to itself.
4. Still holding the pins in the pliers, press the two ends of the pin together to narrow the arch.

5. With the wires still held together, use the pliers to place a slight bend in the straight ends.
How to Make Ear Hooks with an Ear Wire Form
1. Drape the pin over the ear wire form at a point where the dowel and foam are attached. Bend the wire
over the form to create the arch in the ear hook.

2. Slide the bent hook down to the part of the form where the dowel extends past the foam. Here, pinch
together the ends of the hook to narrow the base of the arch.
3. Remove the pin from the form. With wires still held together, place a slight bend in the straight ends.

How to Make Ear Hooks From Multi-Loop Eye Pins

You’re not limited to making ear hooks from only basic eye pins. The additional loops of more complicated eye
pins will give you more options for dangling embellishments from the earring hook.

How to Make Basic Hooks and Eyes

Hooks and eyes consist of two pieces that join together, making them excellent closures for necklaces,
bracelets, and anklets. The size of the hook and eye can vary depending on the size and scale of your project.
They can be linked to a piece of jewelry by knotting or with jump rings.
How to Make a Hook
1. File both ends of a short piece of wire.
2. With round-nose pliers, make a small curl on one end of the wire. This creates a loop through which
jump rings and other components will be threaded to attach the hook to the rest of the piece of jewelry.

3. About 1/2" from the curl you just formed, grasp the wire with the pliers. Using your other hand, wrap
the wire around the pliers into a hook shape.

4. With round-nose pliers, create a small loop, curving away from the inside of the hook.
How to Make a Figure-Eight Eye
1. File the ends of a short piece of wire.
2. With round-nose pliers, make a large loop that ends at the midpoint of the piece of wire.

3. Create an equally large loop, running in the opposite direction, with the other half of the wire.

How to Make an S-Hook

Depending on how you use it, a wire curled into an “S” shape can function as either a hook or a loop. If the
curves of the S are kept open, then you have an S-hook that can be paired with eyes to form closures. If you
pinch the S closed, however, you have two loops.

1. Curl just a little more than one half of a length of wire around the nose of round-nose pliers, creating a
hook. Repeat on the second portion of this wire, arcing the second hook in the opposite direction.

2. Take the very tip of one end of the S-hook in the nose of the pliers. While holding the hook stable with
another pair of pliers, create a tiny curl at the end. Repeat on the other end.
How to Make Loops
Loops are more elaborate versions of the simple eye used in a hook and eye. Loops are made by wrapping and
winding wire around itself. They can be paired with hooks or jump rings, or used as a design element.

Quadruple-Loop Eye
1. Begin with a quadruple-loop eye pin.
2. Trim the wire where it meets the center of the figure, then file the cut end smooth.

You can flatten the loops together using nylon-nose pliers.

How to Create Wraps in Wire Work

Adding wrapped sections of wire to your jewelry components can serve a number of purposes. For instance, it:
 · Provides a professional-looking flourish
· Gives you a practical way to camouflage cut ends
· Offers a way to anchor beads or other embellishments

How to Add a Wrapped Loop

A wrapped loop can be created in many types of jewelry components and can serve a variety of purposes. The
loop can double as an eye when paired with a hook; can be used with jump rings to link to other wire pieces; or
can be used as an attachment point for embellishments.

1. Using round-nose pliers, create a loop in the midpoint of a length of wire so that the ends of the wire
form right angles.

2. Anchor the loop by placing one of the jaws of your round-nose pliers through it. With your other hand or
a pair of pliers, wrap one straight length of wire around the other, spiraling away from the loop. Each
wrap should be flush with the previous loop, forming a stack.
 3. Snip away any extra wire, if necessary, and file the cut-end smooth. With pliers clamped around both the
cut wire end and the wire around which the cut end is wrapped, compress the jaws so the cut end is flush
with the main wire. This way, the cut end has a lower profile than the wrapped wire and is less likely to
snag, scratch, or be visible.
4. If necessary, you can adjust the shape of the loop using round-nose pliers.

Bead Wrap with Eye Loops

A bead wrap with eye loops creates a decorative finding around a bead and provides an attachment point that
can be connected to jump rings or other loops. The simple wrap loop at the base of the bead can be replaced
with any number of decorative loops, whether double, triple, or quadruple.

1. String a bead ontothe tail of a wrapped loop. With round-nose pliers, create a new loop flush against the
bead, with the wire tail perpendicular to the threaded wire.

2. Wrap the tail once around the new loop. Next, bring the tail across the bead so that it lies flush against
the bead and hangs down in front of the original loop.

3. Wrap the tail once around the original loop.

 4. Trim the remaining tail and file the end smooth. With pliers clamped around both the cut wire end and
the wire around which the cut-end is wrapped, compress the jaws so the cut end is flush to the main
wire.

Jewelry Chains
Chains form the foundation of necklaces, bracelets, and any piece of wire jewelry that dangles or drapes. Simple
chains can be made from a series of connected loops, while more elaborate or detailed chains feature
hammered, closed links, such as the chain pictured here.

You can create chains with basic wireworking tools by making and connecting rings, eyes, or loops. The only
way to make closed-link chains, however, is with a soldering iron and solder materials (which are not covered
in this guide). Closed-link chains come in a variety of styles and metals and are sold by the foot at bead- and
jewelry-supply stores.