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Once you own a jig you will wonder how you lived without one!
Make this lovely necklace using a jig. The design possibilites are endless and you can make bracelets, anklets and earrings too.
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Key West Witch added Making A Bead And Wire Necklace to Jewelry
30 Jun 05:04
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Kathy C. favorited Making A Bead And Wire Necklace
06 Feb 07:23
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Step 1Jigs are really easy to use and you can buy a basic jig in any craft store. This is a wig jig. It is slightly more expensive than the average jig but it is built to last forever andhas metal jig pins.
It is indestructable! -
Step 2Using jewelry pliers, form a loop at the end of a piece of jewelry wire. Make sure your wire is soft enough to bend easily, 20 to 22 swg wire is ideal.
Place the jig pins into the jig, setting them into the formation shown here. Put the wire loop onto the right hand jig pin and then wrap the wire round the other two jig pins, forming three loops. Remove the loops from the jig and flatten them by pressing them between the tongs of the jewelry pliers. -
Step 3Thread on your bead(s) and then turn the wire around. Place it back on the jig to make 3 more loops at the other end.
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Step 4Cut off any surplus wire with the wire cutters. Repeat the process until you have enough links to make a necklace (or bracelet).
I have used 8 glass millefiore beads with small blue glass beads. -
Step 5Next take a piece of thin wire and, using the pliers, form a loop and twist the excess wire around to make a link. Thread on more beads and repeat the process at the other end of the wire.
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Step 6I have used glass beads in a similar blue to the millefiore beads to make 9 links.
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Step 7By bending back the loop on the first set of links, thread the wire loop onto the pink wire link, forming a length of beads and wire for the necklace.
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Step 8Use the pliers to make sure all your wire links lay flat and look out for any rough edges to the wire loops. You can snip these with the jewelry cutters and press them flat with the pliers.
You will need a clasp to fasten your necklace. I have selectd a lobster clasp that I have attached to a jump ring. -
Step 9Thread the jump ring with the clasp to the end of the necklace link.
Now thread another jump ring to the first link of the necklace. This will form a loop for the clasp to connect to. -
Step 10Your necklace is now ready to wear. You can use gold filled wire or sterling silver wire threaded with semi precious stone beads to make a more sophisticated necklace or make two wire links and add earring hooks for a pair of matching earrings.
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Step 11I used pink wire and millefiore glass beads in a turquoise blue to make my necklace. check out http://etsy.com/supplies for beads, wire and findings.
Very nice, keep it up.
You are great!!