• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Studio 73 Designs

Studio 73 Designs

Wire Jewelry Making & Wire Wrapping Techniques

  • Start Here!
  • Get Your FREE Wire-Wrapping Guides
  • Shop Tutorials
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • Blog
  • My Etsy Shop
  • About Me
    • Contact Me

How to wire-wrap a bead pendant

DISCLAIMER:  This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.  Please read my disclaimer for more info.

Want to Support my Work?

If you are enjoying my content, please consider leaving me a tip in my tip jar :). This helps me to create more AMAZING FREE content to share with you :)

May 23, 2020 by Chantal

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to wire-wrap a bead pendant.

Wire wrapping a bead is a simple and easy way to make a cute pendant which can be hung from a chain or cord.

I use 18 gauge wire and a 10mm bead but I encourage you to experiment with different sizes of wire and beads to achieve a slightly different look.

This wire-wrapping tutorial is part of my “Beginner Series” of simple wire wrapping techniques.

Prefer this tutorial in a printable format?

Click here for the PDF version of “How to Wire-Wrap a Bead Pendant

LEVEL: BEGINNER

Materials & Tools

  • 1 – 14” piece of wire – 18 Gauge Round Wire
  • 1 Bead (10-12 mm) with hole big enough for wire
  • Jump Ring
  • Needle Nose Pliers
  • Round Nose Pliers
  • Wire Cutters

STEP 1

Cut 1 piece of wire – approximately 14” in length. This will give you lots of wire to work with.

Position your needle nose pliers approximately 4-5” from the top as shown in pic.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 1

STEP 2

Make a bend in the wire.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 2

STEP 3

Position your round nose pliers as shown in pic.

Please note that where you place your wire on the pliers determines the size of the loop at top of pendant (bail size)

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 3

Prefer this tutorial in a printable format?

Click here for the PDF version of “How to Wire-Wrap a Bead Pendant

RELATED CONTENT

  • Wire-Wrapping Tutorial DIY Jewelry Kits on Etsy
  • How to Make an Wrapped Eye Pin – Wire Loop
  • Wire-Wrapping Tools & Supplies for Beginners
  • Wire-Wrapping Tutorials: 13 DIY Wire-Wrapped Pendants

STEP 4

Wrap the short end up & around the top barrel of the round nose pliers.

Form a loop around the barrel.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 4

STEP 5

Here is what the loop should look like. This will be the bail of the pendant.

Note: The “bail” is used to suspend the pendant on a necklace. For this type of bail, you’ll need a jump ring in order to hang from cord or chain.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 5

STEP 6

Position your needle nose pliers over loop as shown in pic. This is to keep the wire steady for the next step. The “short end” wire should be crossing over the bottom longer wire.

(If you have nylon jaw pliers, use those instead. It will prevent any scratching to the wire).

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 6

RELATED CONTENT

  • How to Make a Wire-Wrapped Bead Link
  • How to Make a Wrapped Eye Pin Wire Loop
  • How to Make Jump Rings
  • How to Wire-Wrap a Bead Pendant
  • How to Make a Spiral Bead Pendant

STEP 7

Wrap the short end around the back of the long wire.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 7

STEP 8

Bring the short end around to make a loop around the long wire.

Step 8

Prefer this tutorial in a printable format?

Click here for the PDF version of “How to Wire-Wrap a Bead Pendant

STEP 9

Make 8-9 loops around the long wire. Pay special attention to keeping your pliers steady (to make the wrapping easier)

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 9

STEP 10

Feed wire through bead and position bead as shown.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 10

RELATED CONTENT

  • Wire-Wrapping Tutorial DIY Jewelry Kits on Etsy
  • How to Make an Wrapped Eye Pin – Wire Loop
  • Wire-Wrapping Tools & Supplies for Beginners
  • Wire-Wrapping Tutorials: 13 DIY Wire-Wrapped Pendants

STEP 11

Secure bead and coil together with your fingers so they remain aligned. Gently bend wire at base of bead as tightly as possible.

This part requires a little practice.

If you find the coiled part gets “bent out of shape”, just bend back in shape.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 11

STEP 12

Gently bend the wire up, along the side of the bead. Keep wrapping over top of bead.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 12

Prefer this tutorial in a printable format?

Click here for the PDF version of “How to Wire-Wrap a Bead Pendant

STEP 13

Send wire to back, around the coil.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 13

STEP 14

Wrap wire around coil.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 14

STEP 15

Shape wire around side of bead.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 15

STEP 16

Keep shaping the wire along the bead. Make sure you are wrapping the wire in front of the other wire.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 16

RELATED CONTENT

  • Wire-Wrapping Tutorial DIY Jewelry Kits on Etsy
  • How to Make an Wrapped Eye Pin – Wire Loop
  • Wire-Wrapping Tools & Supplies for Beginners
  • How to Make Jump Rings
  • Wire-Wrapping Tutorials: 13 DIY Wire-Wrapped Pendants

STEP 17

Wrap wire around the coil.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 17

STEP 18

Bring coil to front and start wrapping around the side again…on the backside of the existing wire.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 18

Prefer this tutorial in a printable format?

Click here for the PDF version of “How to Wire-Wrap a Bead Pendant

STEP 19

Keep wrapping…

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 19

STEP 20

Pull wire over top of coil.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 20

STEP 21

Send wire around back of coil.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 21

RELATED CONTENT

  • Wire-Wrapping Tutorial DIY Jewelry Kits on Etsy
  • How to Make an Wrapped Eye Pin – Wire Loop
  • Wire-Wrapping Tools & Supplies for Beginners

STEP 22

Wrap wire again around front over coil.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 22

STEP 23

Send wire to back one last time.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 23

STEP 24

Using your wire cutters, cut wire right at base.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 24

STEP 25

Using your needle nose pliers, tuck away the end so it’s not sticking out.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 25

STEP 26

Voila!

At this point your pendant is complete!

You can attach it to a cord or chain with a jump ring.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant
Step 26

In my case, I used bare copper wire so I finished the piece by giving it an “antique” look with liver of sulfur.

How to wire wrap a bead pendant

If you’re a newbie, check out Wire-Wrapping for Beginners for lots of resources.

If you’d like to see my work and follow my wire journey, you can find me here:

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Pinterest
YouTube
Etsy

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is signature-300x126.jpg

Filed Under: Tutorials/DIY Tagged With: beginner

Primary Sidebar

Hey there! Thanks for visiting 🙂

My name is Chantal and I’m the owner of Studio 73 Designs.

If you enjoy my content, you can support me here 🙂 Cheers!

Follow Me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Wire Wrapping Tutorials
Wire Wrapping for Beginners Start Here
Beginner's Guide to Jewelry Wire for Wire-Wrapping
Wire Wrapping Tools and Supplies for Beginners
How to wire wrap stones without holes wire-wrapping tutorial for beginners
Wire Wrapping Tutorials DIY Jewelry Kits

Footer

Are you interested in wire-wrapping?

Sign up below and get access to my FREE wire-wrapping guides!

    Built with ConvertKit

    Site Navigation

    Home
    About
    Contact
    Blog
    Privacy Policy
    Disclaimer
    Terms & Conditions

    Follow Me

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    © 2023 · Studio 73 Designs · Designed by yours truly · Built on the Genesis Framework