Head Pins - Queen Of Clubs

A head pin is a jewelry making finding similar to a straight pin used in sewing.  It is basically a straight piece of wire with a large head on one end.  The head is large enough so that it cannot pass through the hole in a bead.  Most head pins are manufactured by a machine with a head that is identical to the head on a straight pin.  Here, we will show a method for making a head pin on our WigJig jewelry making jig, using a straight segment of wire.
 

The approach to making a head pin is to make one or more loops in the wire in a pattern like the Queen of Clubs Earrings with the amethyst bead on the right.

Making the Queen of Clubs head pin is done with three pegs in a triangle pattern as shown at left.  The finished head pin is shown at right.  

Step-by-Step Jewelry Making Instructions for Making a Queen of Clubs Head Pin:

Step 1:  Using your flush cutter, Cut a segment of wire 2 inches long or longer, depending upon the length of head pin you need.

Step 2:  Using your round nose pliers, or fine step jaw pliers, make a "P" loop in the end of the wire with the flush cut. 

Step 3:  Position two regular metal pegs in your WigJig jewelry making jig.  Ultimately, you will position three pegs in a triangular pattern, but at this point you will only position two pegs. 

Step 4:  Place your initial loop on peg 1 of the peg pattern as shown below-left.

Step 5:  Wrap your wire around peg 2 in the pattern as shown below-center. 

Step 6:  Remove your wire from the jig.  Add the third peg in your triangular pattern and replace the wire on the jig in the mirror image position.  Essentially you are flipping the wire component over on the jig in the vertical axis.  The loop formerly on peg 1 in the pattern will remain on peg 1, but the loop formerly on peg 2 in the pattern will end up on peg 3.  See the picture below-right.  The reason that we remove the wire from the jig is that this technique will make a finished wire component that is flatter, being only two layers of wire.  Without flipping over, the wire component would have three layers of wire. 

Step 4	Step 5	Step 6

Step 7:  Now wrap the wire around peg 2 again.  When completed, the wire should point up as shown below-left.

Step 8:  Remove the wire component from the jig.  At this point you will notice that the wire component is slightly three dimensional.  To flatten and harden the design, squeeze the three loops you just made in the jaws of your nylon jaw pliers as shown below-center.

Step 9:   Your finished "Queen of Clubs" head pin should appear as shown below-right. 

Step 7	Step 8	Step 9