Page 9      Making Loops in Jewelry Wire Jewelry Making Technique

The wrapped loop is one of the more important skills involved in the wire working technique called "Wire Wrapping". This technique is important because it allows us to make a loop in wire that is as strong as if it were cast or soldered.  This is very important for making beaded chains and for connecting wire components into chains that are very strong.  You can view a wrapped loop at right.  This technique can also be used to make a bead dangle using a head pin as shown at left.  The steps involved in making a wrapped loop bead dangle are described below.

Step 1:  Slide your beads onto your head pin all the way down.  While holding the head pin upright, grasp the wire immediately above the beads with your bent chain nose pliers. 

Step 2:  Bend the wire at over to an angle of about 90 degrees.  Ensure that you have about 1" or 25 mm of wire on the now horizontal wire segment.

Step 3:  Grasp the horizontal wire segment in your round nose pliers on the horizontal segment, but as close to the 90 degree bend as possible.

Step 4:  Using your thumb, push the wire up and over the jaw of your round nose pliers as shown at left. 

Step 5:  At this point you will need to re-orientate the wire in the jaws of your pliers so that you can complete the loop.  Re-grip the wire as shown at right.

Step 6:  Complete the loop as shown at left. 

These instructions continue on the following page.