Square Knot Gemstones and Beads Earring Jewelry Making Project          Page 2

Step 1:  Using your flush cutter, cut two segments of 18 or 20 gauge wire each 3 inches long.

Step 2:  Straighten these two segments of wire by repeatedly pulling them through the jaws of your nylon jaw pliers. 

Step 3:  Now we need to make a wrapped loop in one end of each segment of wire.  Grasp the wire about 3/4" from the end using your bent chain nose pliers and make a 90 degree bend in the wire. 

Step 4:  Using your round nose pliers make a full loop in the wire, near the right angle bend, but on the shorter wire segment.  After making the loop, adjust the position of the loop so that the loop is centered above the longer wire segment.  See the picture at left. 

Step 5:  Now we need to wrap this loop closed.  This is done by grasping the round loop in your bent chain nose pliers and holding tightly while you push the wire tail 180 degrees around.  We will wrap this loop closed with just one wrap.  Holding the loop tightly in your bent chain nose pliers while wrapping the wire preserves the round shape of the loop.

Step 6:  Using your flush cutter cut the excess wire.  Leave about 1/16" of excess wire to push flat to complete the wrap. 

Step 7:  Grasp the loop in one pair of bent chain nose pliers while using a second pair of pliers to push the cut wire tail flat.  Do this for both segments of wire. 

Step 8:  Now we are ready to use our jig to shape this wire into a teardrop shape.  Place the initial loop that you made on peg 1 and wrap the wire around peg 2 as shown.  Peg two is a 3/16" Super Peg for the jig we use.  Push the wire so that with no pressure applied the wire will remain in position as shown.