Saturday, January 21, 2012

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

A wrapped loop 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.



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3 comments:

  1. I am new to the art of wire. Your directions are very clear and easy to understand. Thank you so very much for your encouraging help.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you, I'm new to this wonderful wirework as well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you Katalina for your tutorial, you explain it so well and make it that easy to understand, that it makes you want to run off and try it straight away..... thank you so much for sharing your expertise :o)

    ReplyDelete

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Have a great day!
Kathy