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

"Jump Rings"

Sharing with: Too Much Time On My Hands: Get Schooled Saturday, Craft-O-Maniac: CraftOManiac Monday, Homemaker on a Dime: Creative Blog HopParty

Wrapped Loops Tutorial - Basic Wire Working Technique Series

I taught myself basic wire working skills by surfing the net, watching videos, and studying tutorials and with lots and lots of practice! I was surprised at the willingness of so many artists to share their experiences and techniques; it was through their generosity that I was able to develop my own set of skills.

Now that I have my own blog, I'm excited to have the chance to share some of my knowledge with you. Over the next several days I will be posting a few basic wire working techniques. Please keep in mind that I am self-taught and am sharing what works best for me; I suggest you browse several other artists' blogs also to learn their techniques and suggestions.

Today I will be showing you how to make a wrapped loop. In my opinion, wrapped loops are the most basic, yet essential technique to master as they are used in almost every wire design to connect links, dangles, charms, chain, etc.

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.

Place the chain-nose pliers about 1 1/2" from one end of the wire length. Use your finger to bend the wire at a 90 degree angle.

Place the round-nose pliers at the bend on the wire end that you just bent. The loop size will be determined by where on the pliers you place the wire; smallest at the tip and largest at the bottom.
TIP: I almost always place the wire at the very bottom; this helps to keep consistency in the loop size when I am making several loops for the same project.

 Use your finger to bend the wire around the pliers.

You will need to reposition the pliers and then continue to bend the wire around until you form a loop with a tail extending outward.

Now place the chain-nose pliers over the loop

(this will help you to hold it without it slipping).

Use your fingers to wrap the tail tightly

around the wire directly below the loop 3-4 times.

Use the flush cutters to trim the wire; be sure to

place the straight cutting side against the wrappings.

Use the chain-nose pliers to tuck the wire down tightly.

If necessary, file the cut edge smooth.

Your finished piece should look like this.

This necklace is a good example of how the wrapped loop was used to make several beaded links to fashion a handcrafted chain.

Start practicing and by the time I post the next tutorial

"Links: Beaded and Crazy"

you will have mastered the wrapped loop and

will be ready to learn how to make links.

Sharing with: It's Overflowing: Overflowing With Creativity, The Shady Porch: Rock 'N Share, Southern Lovely: Show & Share, Ginger Snap Crafts: Wow Me Wednesday, I Gotta Create: Kiss & Tell, Delicate Construction: dc Friday, Creation Corner: Friday Link Party, Fireflies and Jellybeans: Show Off Your Stuff, Happy-Go-Lucky: Your Time to Shine, One Artsy Mama: Shine on Fridays, funky Junk Interiors: SNS

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