How to Make a Wire Wrapped Pendant and Earrings

Want to know how to make wire wrapped jewellery? Wire wrapped pendants and earrings are a fantastic design choice and can be customised to create a range of unique pieces. Learn how to create a wire wrapped pendant and earrings with our step by step tutorial below.

This wire wrapping tutorial is to make a single pendant. To make earrings follow these steps, but replace the 10mm gemstone with an 8mm gemstone to get a slightly smaller size to give balance to the set and add hook ear wires.

Step 1: Make the Fan Detail

Take four short lengths of 1mm wire (use off cuts of plated wire from previous projects as this will be discarded) Take the first of the wires and wrap 0.80mm wire around a couple of times as shown.   Place the second wire above the first and wrap once around both wires add the third and do the same.

Step 2: Final Wire

Add in the final wire in the same way, now wrap down the wires in the same way to get a pyramid shape as shown.

* 0.60mm wire can be used as an alternative to 0.80mm.

Step 3: Remove all wires

Remove all wires except the base wire. Place flat nose pliers at the end of each wire and make a slight bend to get a nice fan shape as shown.

Step 4: Base Wire

Remove the base wire and you have your first fan component now repeat to make another.

Step 5: Make the Frame

Wrap 1mm wire around a mandrel to make a jump ring approx. 3mm larger than your gemstone as the inner diameter will reduce when it is wire wrapped.  You should now have a large jump ring frame.

Step 6: Add the Fans

Open the large jump ring, slide on both fans and close.  Move the fans to face each other and make sure that the cut of the jump ring is inside one of the fans.

Step 7: Add the Gemstone

Cut two lengths of 0.40mm wire (approx. 20cm).  Start wrapping onto the frame close to one of the fans and continue until you get half way, repeat on the opposite side with the other length of 0.40mm wire.

Step 8: Get wires in position

Take a 10mm gemstone and pass both end of the 0.40mm wire through in opposite directions and pull so the gemstone sits in the middle of the  jump ring frame, the wires are now in a position to continue wrapping to cover the jump ring frame completely.

Step 9: Make the drop

Add a 4mm gemstone to a headpin and turn a loop.

Step 10: Assemble and finish off

Open a 5mm jump ring and pass through the top of your pendant before closing add on a 7mm jump ring.  Open a second 5mm jump ring and pass through the bottom of your pendant before closing add on your 4mm gemstone drop. 

Step 11: Finishing touches

Add a chain and you are done.

We want to see what you have been making! Share your wire wrapped pendants, earrings and other creations with us on social media, tagging in Cooksongold on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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