I have forgotten so much about how to move your hands and wrists when making jewelry (having not made any this past year since my things are all in storage), I'm just going to let the photos show you.
The jewelry wrap is different from the basic loop in that it adds length, adds embelishment, and will more securely attach the bead to your project. A loop can open easily with a strong tug but a wrap will not.
You will need:
- french wires to go through the ear
- metal wire, choose a thinner 22-24 guage and half-hard
- 2-3 kinds of beads or pearls or gemstones of your choice
- headpins (looks like a pin with a flat or round head)
- jewelry making pliers (good description here)
above: my baroque pearls on a sterling silver flat headpine with sterling silver rondelle beads
below: using round-nose pliers to give proper spacing before the wrap
above: hold round-nose pliers in place and instead move the wire around the pliers with your fingers or a bent chain-nose plier. It is just like the basic loop but with space between the bead and the loop.
below: flat-nose pliers to stabilize the loop
below: using bent chain-nose pliers to wrap the wire around itself and create the "wrap"
above: using flush-cutters to cut the wire close to the wrap. Use chain-nose pliers to tuck end into the wrap
below: moving on to bead #2
Repeat wrap step on one end of the bead. On the other end, create the loop and do not wrap. Hook on to the loop of bead #1 and then proceed to the wrap.
above: using flat-nose pliers to stabilize the loops' connection
above: using round-nose pliers to gently and slightly open up the french wire
above: using round-nose pliers to close the french wire
With the basic loop and wrap, you can make almost any earring.
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