I call this easy jewelry-making technique “wire lashing” to distinguish it from “wire wrapping” –  but really, it is just wrapping thin wire around and around a component in order to cover it with beads (or chain!).

A plain hook end bracelet is the perfect candidate for a good lashing!

The keys to wire lashing are simple, but oh so vital:

1. Always begin with a few wire wraps around your base piece (in this case bangle bracelets) before adding beads or chain. Rather than trying to wrap the very end of the wire, leave about a 1″ tail so  you have a bit of wiggle room.
2. Always keep your wire wraps tight around the item. Pull the entire wire all the way through and around before beginning another wrap. If using beads, lay the bead against the base in the position you want it to end up in before wrapping the wire tight.
3. Always use two or more wraps between beads to keep everything securely in place.
4. Always stay calm if (ha – when!) the wire gets kinked or tangled. When in starts getting cranky, take a second to smooth it back out or it will grow into a major mess.
5. When you’re all done, you can adjust the wraps and beads with your fingers to make it more uniform. Likely there will some wraps that are tighter than others. This is perfectly normal and easy to fix.

I’ve used this technique before on small items (kidney ear wires, links, ear hoops and hair combs) so decided to step up to bracelets today. The only difference is working with longer wire (about 4-5 feet for a typical bangle).  You have the option of working with smaller sections of wire and adding new pieces as you go, but I really wanted to use one continuous piece. I did of course kink the wire. Repeatedly.

Looks scary, but this nightmare actually only took a few seconds to correct.

But the nice thing about using one piece of wire is that as you go along, the lashing goes faster and faster until suddenly you realize you are having fun! At the end, you feel so victorious you immediately want to make another. So you do … and realize the wire is too darn long again … but wait, now it is fun again … victory is within reach … This is how addictions start.

I like to use 24 or 26-gauge wire when lashing because it is very easy to manipulate with your fingers. Today I used several colors of Artistic Wire. The beaded bracelet has 6mm purple Miracle beads, 4mm turquoise magnesite and opalite barrels held in place by chartreuse Artistic Wire. It was quick and easy to make. However, I started with waaaay too much wire, so it took a little longer to add each bead than was really necessary. Impatient as always, I decided to do away with stringing beads. My next attempt uses rhinestone chain.

Sparkle mania has never been easier to achieve!

It turns out the 14pp size Swarovski Elements crystal rhinestone chain is almost exactly the same width as the bracelet form, so it stays in place nicely.  I think this would be a great girl’s night jewelry project – simple, sparkly and easy to customize by adding some charms or changing up the wire color.

For those of you who prefer thread, check out Toni’s rhinestone hair comb – same technique, different materials.

What else can we cover in rhinestone chain? Perhaps an easier question would be what can’t we cover! ~ Cindy

Wire-wrapped Aurora Borealis Swarovski Crystal Pear Briolettes

I love briolettes! I love them in all shapes, sizes, colors and materials.  So what is a briolette? A briolette is a pear or teardrop-shaped bead that is faceted and tip-drilled.  Some briolettes are flat and some are round, kind of like a ball that comes to a point on one end.  When they are flat, the hole can either be front to back or side to side.

There are several great ways to make jewelry using briolettes. You can use bails, simply string them onto necklaces (big ones make great center pendants) or you can take it to the next level with wire-wrapping! Wire-wrapping a briolette, or any tip-drilled bead or pendant, really transforms a piece into a one-of-kind creation.  And though it’s a little tricky to get the hang of at first, the payoff is well worth it.

My favorite wire to work with is 22 gauge Artistic Wire in Gunmetal finish. The actual color on this wire is more of an antique brass than gunmetal, and looks great paired with antique brass findings such as those found in the Vintaj line.

The first thing to consider when wire-wrapping is what kind of wire you want to use. If you are new to wire -wrapping I recommend using an inexpensive Artistic Wire to practice.  Anything from a 20 gauge to a 24 gauge works well.  (20 gauge being the thickest, 24 gauge being the thinnest, and 22 gauge in the middle).   Because this technique takes practice, it is good to learn on an affordable wire, since you will inevitably have to re-do your wraps several times to reach perfection.

An assortment of briolettes in crystal and gemstones

The next thing to consider is the briolette that you want to wrap. Flat shapes are the easiest to learn on because the edge on the pendant will hold your wire in place better.  It is also good to start with a larger briolette, something that is over 15mm in length is ideal.

To begin you will need a briolette,  wire, round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, and semi-flush cutter.

Cut a piece of wire about 18 inches in length. It is better to have too much wire than too little. On one side of the wire, create a bend of about 45 degrees using your chain nose pliers two inches in.

Slide your briolette down the wire until it is snug against the angle you have made in the wire.

Bring the long side of the wire up and using your chain nose pliers, pinch the two pieces of wire together snuggly against the point of the briolette.

Take the longer piece of wire and fold it over so it is horizontal. The short piece of wire should be vertical from the center of the top of the briolette and the long piece of wire should be perpendicular to the short piece. Begin wrapping the long piece of wire around the short piece, using your finger to guide the wire and keep it snug.

Slowly work the wire downward. Let the previous wire guide you down the briolette.  I like to wrap the wire down until you have covered the hole in the briolette, but it is your preference.

Once you have wrapped down the pendant as far as you like, you want to bring that wire back up to the top of the pendant to secure it. The easiest way to do this is in one swift movement, using your finger to guide the wire after you come around an edge on the briolette. Wrap the wire around the shorter segment of wire at the top a few times to secure your wrap in place.

Use your semi-flush cutters to cut the wire short, and use your chain nose pliers to tuck any excess wire.

You are now left with a wrapped briolette that has a 2 inch piece of wire coming out vertically from the center of the pendant. Simply use your round nose pliers to make a wrapped loop with this piece of wire.  Again use your semi-flush cutters to trim the excess wire and use your chain nose pliers to tuck the excess piece of wire.

Now you can take your completed piece and add it your jewelry however you like! Pair it with some sparkly crystals or use a wire wrapped briolette as a large focal pendant on a necklace. The possibilities are endless. Once you get your wire wrapping skills down, you can wrap all different beads and pendants that are tip-drilled.

Completed Wire-wrapped Briolettes

Wire-wrapped Briolettes topped off with clusters of Swarovski Crystal Rondelles!

Wire-wrapped Feather Bone Pendants, Amazonite Briolettes with Bronze wire, and Czech Glass Teardrops with antique bronze buttons from the craft store!

Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have about wire-wrapping or any of the beads pictured here! Have fun wrapping!

Tiffany

PS: here are some handy links to some other how-to’s in the Rings & Things blog!

• How to dap & dome metal jewelry
• How to use heat to patina brass charms & filigrees
• How to make interchangeable magnetic jewelry with 1″ buttons
• How to make polymer-clay pie earrings using mini bottle caps as pans
• How to get creative with hair sticks
• How to make wrapped leather bracelets
• How to get creative with hair sticks