Saturday, January 21, 2012

Links: Beaded and Crazy -Tutorial - Basic Wire Working Technique Series

Welcome back to my teaching series featuring basic wire working techniques. I hope you've had a chance to practice the first technique in the series - "Wrapped Loops" - as it is a building block for today's tutorial "Links: Beaded and Crazy". If you missed it, you can check it out here.

Today I will be sharing how to make a few different styles of links; a couple with beads and one without, that I like to call a "crazy" link. The link is an important technique to learn because it will allow you to incorporate uniquely handcrafted chains into your jewelry.


Tools and Supplies:
Pliers: round-nose and chain-nose
Flush cutters (one side of the cutters are flush and make a straight cut, the other side makes a "V" cut)
Small jewelers file
Wire: I've used copper for my photos. I suggest you begin with copper; it's malleable which makes it easy to work with and it's inexpensive.
Beads of your choice


Single Beaded Link
Begin by making a wrapped loop (click here to refer to my earlier tutorial on wrapped loops). Add a bead.


Place the chain-nose pliers below the bead.


 Make a wrapped loop. 


It's as simple as that! Your finished link should look like this.


To make a chain, use another piece of wire to make a loop and thread it through the loop of the previous link.


Wrap the wire and finish the link as before.

 

Swirl Wrapped Double Beaded Link
Use a long length of wire to make a wrapped loop (click here to refer to my earlier tutorial on wrapped loops). Add two beads. Make a wrapped loop but do not trim the wire.

 
Wind the wire tail around the beads.


Wrap the wire a few times just under the loop.


Trim the excess wire.


Your finished link should look like this.


Crazy Link
Make a wire link with a wrapped loop at each end (click here to refer to my earlier tutorial on wrapped loops).

 
Place the chain-nose pliers about 1/3 of the way into the link.


Use your fingers to put a slight bend in the wire.


Place the pliers about 2/3 into the link and make another slight bend.


Your finished link should look like this.


Or, if you're really feeling crazy, kink the wire a little more.


Here are a couple of examples of how I've used
beaded and crazy links in my jewelry designs.



If you would like to learn more techniques, please return in a few days for the next tutorial in my Basic Wire Working Series
as I will be showing you how to make

9 comments:

  1. Another great tutorial! Your pictures are wonderful also. I see that you posted your tutorial on craftgawker and now that post is your most popular. Way to go!

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  2. Wow Kathy this technique is beautiful. You make some lovely things. I do like the look of the wrapped beads, especially with the pearls.

    Danielle

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  3. your picture are so wonderful nice techniques use thanks for shearing.


    Usmle Step 1

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  4. Hi, Kathy; your tutorial is simply clear but so useful! I'm a "new" bijoux-creator and I love using wire to make chains with different kind of beads. I'm still learning, then your tutorial is precious, thank you!
    Lulijoux

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  5. These tutorials are wonderful!! You Rock Art Sis!!

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  6. I can't wait to try these! Love the wrapped beads, so fun. Easy tutorials...thanks and BB )O(

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    Replies
    1. Hello,
      I love your tutorial on wire sculpting, it's fabulous for a beginner for me to understand! I have a blog that I do on fashion and fashion accessories, and it has about 10,500 followers counting Google Blog-Spot, Twitter, Facebook, Etsy, and the 3 contest groups I ran on Polyvore had about 3500, to 4000 members a piece. An they all are followers now also. They all get emails as soon as I add something new to my blog!! Each blog focus (or company) gives up prizes to the followers who comment on th blogs. All you have to do is become a follower of my blog, and comment on all the blogs that you are interested in winning something from! Here take a look at it:
      http://fan-freekin-tastic-fasionista-stars.blogspot.com
      I became a follower of your blog and will deff be keeping up with it. I heard about your blog thru Jamie Anderson from Etsy.com who has a store called BeadingOnABudget!! Love this blog!!
      Dana

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  7. We have recently started a craft group at church, we want to combine paper beads with wire wrapping. This will truly help.Thank you.

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I look forward to reading what you have to say. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!

Have a great day!
Kathy