Hello and welcome back! I’d like to share something different with you today. It won’t involve stones, so keep on reading as I reveal 10 patterns you can make.
Easy Wire Wrapping Patterns Without Stone
1. Simple Wrapped Loops
Let’s go back to basics with Zurick Designs Jewelry and Art. In this video, you’ll learn about simple and wrapped loops that come out perfect each time.
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First, the basic loop:
Working off the spool initially, they’ll make sure the wire is cut flush. Because their pliers are fairly small, they grab the wire a quarter down the nose and give the wire a full wrist twist.
Move the pliers back to the original position and repeat the twisting process. Voila, a perfect, round loop.
Next up a loop centered on the wire:
They’ll make a 90º angle first with the flat nose pliers about one cm from the tip. Repeating the instructions for a basic loop they end up with a centered loop. Or, make the make the loop first and then center the wire to the loop.
Last, they make a wrapped loop:
Going about an inch down the wire, they make a 90º angle with round nose pliers. Interestingly, they twist the wire around the pliers, pivot the pliers, and continue wrapping.
Holding the complete loop in their non-dominant hand, the flat nose pliers are used to wrap the ‘tail’ three times around the wire to create a secure wrapping.
2. Wire Wrapped Spirals
Kelly from The Siren and The Pirate takes us on a ‘troubleshooting’ lesson if you will. Create spirals that do not look like coiled springs that jumped out of a mattress…
In Kelly’s video, she shows how to create the center of the loose or open spiral with round nose pliers. Here’s the clincher, she puts them down after the initial twists are done. With the flat pliers, towards the back, she starts twisting her spiral with the loose end of the wire to create the spiral.
Next, is the ‘closed’ or ‘tight’ spiral. Again, she starts with the round nose pliers to create the center and proceeds to use the same technique as before. The key difference is that she’s making the spiral tight by working in small increments and ensuring the wire touches the ‘outside’ of the spiral to keep it all tightly wrapped.
3. Wire Wrapped Heart Ring
Shanna from Shanna’s Wire Wrap shares a step-by-step tutorial video on how to make the cutest open-heart ring I’ve ever seen! We’ve discussed adding texture by hammering and now is the time to shine!
Bonus tip from Shanna: always hammer on the back side of the design and use a back-and-forth motion. Next up is the ring mandrel—you’ll use it to get the right size and shape for your new ring.
4. Simple Stud Earrings
I believe that sometimes, less is more. With MaggieCS Atelier’s video, I’ve been reminded of that saying again. In six tutorials, you can learn to make any of those six designs by clicking on the shape you like most and you’ll get the relevant part of the video:
As a bonus, they also share tips on finishing your minimalist earrings/studs, provide templates with measurements, and advice on nuts to ensure they are secure.
5. Wire Wrapped Infinity Symbol
From minimalist stud earrings to the classy infinity symbol by Heather Boyd Wire. It starts with a simple teardrop shape. Heather adds a second one on the opposite side in her video. A quick cut with the flush cutters and Heather is almost done. A few taps with the rawhide hammer or chasing hammer will ensure everything is secure.
6. Stars
This video by Lan Anh Handmade, made my day when I stumbled upon it. I never knew it was so easy to bend the wire into a star shape, but Lan Anh takes all the guesswork away by wrapping the wire around a ruler and slightly flattening the rounded edges with flat nose pliers.
Although the ‘plain’ stars are pretty, I like how this creator makes them appear like 3D stars (starting at 03:46). What are you waiting for—all the instructions, gauges, and lengths are listed!
7. Celtic Knot Heart Earrings
Learn how to make adorable Celtic knot heart earrings with Nick’s Creative Stuff in this video. You may start by bending sterling silver wire around the pins on a wire wrapping jig board. Snipping off the excess wire would leave a gap in one of the circles, but Nick’s got a solution—silver soldering paste!
Who knew you could join it like that? Another trick I learned is to use two round-nosed pliers to go from intertwined circles to a heart shape. Simply clamp one pair of pliers in a bench vice and use the other to ‘dent’ the circle into a heart shape. Easy!
8. Butterfly Earrings
Carry a flutter of butterflies with you wherever you go with Sriya’s super easy video tutorial. With only 6 inches of wire, a jump ring, and an earring hook per earring, you’ll have beautiful butterfly earrings in no time.
First, Sriya bends the wire in half. Another wrap at the opposite end of the round pliers and you’ve got the ‘bottom’ part. Sriya makes two larger loops on top of the bottom ones. Almost done!
The remaining two pieces of wire form the butterfly’s feelers. Next, she’ll open a jump ring, slip it into the top part of the wing, add the earring hook and you’re done. Don’t forget to close the jump rings!
9. Cat Bookmark
Calling all cat and book lovers—this one is for you! It is perfect for beginners and Cleft of the Rock Creations takes you by the hand and guides you through the process in their video tutorial.
The trick to make the dead soft copper wire sturdier is to hammer it with a jewelry hammer first and the round side to give it some texture. The final steps are to oxidize and polish your kitty bookmark.
10. Dog Paw
One for the Dog Lovers by Heather from Heather Boyd Wire. This is an interesting video where you’ll do a lot of the work on and with a wire-wrapping jig board. Simply take a screenshot of Heather’s template (she invites you to do it). Heather uses a photocopy of the template to place pegs on the jig board.
Next, she’ll start wrapping the wire around the pegs to form the base of the dog paw. This is the basic design which the others are based upon.
After she’s removed it from the peg board some minor adjustments are necessary to ensure everything is tight. One loose end is bent at a 90º angle and the other is wrapped around it to secure the design. A quick clip ensures there’s no excess wire remaining.
On the inside, she forms a heart with her round nose pliers. Heather pinches the ‘loose’ end into the bottom of the heart to secure everything. Quick yet simple and effective. There’s also a design with slightly longer toes and a design, based on the original, that you can use for earrings or to string beads onto.
The Final Wrap
There you have it—you don’t always need to incorporate stones into your designs to make beautiful items. I hope you’ve enjoyed these creative uses for wire and found some inspiration for your next project. Until next time, keep those wires untangled and those fingers nimble!
