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$ $ $ $ $
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• • • • •
Time
20 mins

Tutorial for making wire wrapped beads.
Whenever I show someone these rings, people thing I'm like a super-talented jewelry designer person or something. Which I'm not. I'm just good at making relatively simple things look really impressive...and now you can too! These rings are great for gifts!

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  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 1
    Step 1

    Materials needed:

    About 18 inches of 22 gauge wire (can be craft wire, sterling silver, gold-filled, whatever)
    Bead or stone (8-12 mm is the best size)
    Ring mandrel
    wire cutters
    chain nose pliers

  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 2
    Step 2

    Start by placing your bead onto the wire, about 2/3 of the way along.

  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 3
    Step 3

    Begin placing your wire on your mandrel. Start a full ring size bigger than what you intend your finished ring to be. I am starting at 8 because I want my finished ring to be a size 7.

  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 4
    Step 4

    Turn your mandrel over and position the bead in the channel. Now you're ready to start wrapping!

  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 5
    Step 5

    Holding the the bead in the channel, wrap each side of the wire aroubd the mandrel twice. Once you have done that, the front will look like this (3 loops of wire showing):

  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 6
    Step 6

    And the back will look like this (4 loops of wire showing):

  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 7
    Step 7

    Pinch your wires together and push them under your bead. Make sure the back wires don't get criss-crossed!

  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 8
    Step 8

    Check the short end of the wire. Is it coming up from the bottom or top? Either way is fine, but don't cross over when you start wrapping! Take the short end of the wire and wrap it around the bead once, crossing to the other side. Leave it there.

  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 9
    Step 9

    Take the long end of the wire and begin wrapping it. The first time around, just go slightly away from the bead. The second time around, go as close to the bead as possible. The third and subsequent times, wrap away from the bead. Keep going until you are satisfied with the look (or you run out of wire!)

  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 10
    Step 10

    Take the ring off the mandrel.

  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 11
    Step 11

    Take the loose ends of the wire on one side and wrap it around and around the band until you are satisfied with the look. (Some people go all the way around the band, but I'm not a fan of that look). Count the number of wraps. Now do the same amount of wraps on the other side.

  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 12
    Step 12

    Trim the ends of the wires as close to the band as possible.

  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 13
    Step 13

    Use the chain nose pliers to smoosh the end flat so that it won't stratch your finger...it can be sharp!

  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 14
    Step 14

    Check the size by placing the ring back on the mandrel, band across the numbers.

  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 15
    Step 15

    Straighten and smooth the band by beating it to death. You can use a tack hammer, but I like to use the soft-grip handle of my crimper because there's less of a chance of marring the wire.

  • How to make a wire wrapped ring. Wire Wrapped Ring - Step 16
    Step 16

    Take it off the mandrel, check it, admire it, then put it on your finger and when people ask where you got it, you can say, "I made it!" and everyone will gasp in amazement!

  • Step 17

    Hints and tips:

    Around 90% of people can wear a size 7 ring on at least one of their fingers, so when in doubt, make it size 7!

    Craft wire and base metals are the easiest to work with. Fine metals, such as sterling and gold-filled, are more sproingy...if you loosen your grip at all before you wrap the sides, your ring will spring open and your beads will fly everywhere! Practice a bit with the craft wire before venturing on to fine metals.

    Round beads are easiest to work with. Flat beads are the hardest because the wires won't stay under the bead when you pinch them together before wrapping.

    You can use more than one bead! Experiment!

    Don't get too frustrated. It does take practice!

    If you find you're feeling like you don't have enough hands, feel free to place the mandrel between your knees. That's what I do! I like to think I'm working my thighs as I am squeezing the mandrel with my knees. :)

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Comments

cheri.robbins2
cheri.robbins2 · Baileyton, Tennessee, US
I love beading i just started . im excited to learn more.
Reply
Pearl W.
Pearl W. · Prince George, British Columbia, CA
Thank you for the tutorial! i just made a ring for mothers day!
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cORN V.
cORN V.
This is the worst thing ever
Reply
Dee S.
Dee S. · London, GB · 41 projects
Believe me you are super talented. Making rings is hard work, I am still learning but I am determined to continue as I want to start making rings to match my pieces and outfits. Will post on this site once I get round to it.
Reply
tricia m.
tricia m. · Richmond, Virginia, US
this is beautiful!
Reply
Junly
Junly
I love it! thanks u for sharing it!
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Morgan Rae
Morgan Rae · Salt Lake City, Utah, US
This is awesome!
Reply
milomade
milomade · Scotland, Scotland, GB · 3 projects
where can I find a mandrel like this - with a bead channel? All the one's I've found by googling are solid metal or wood with no bead channel. Is there a special name for this type? I really want to get one!
Reply
Angel
Angel · U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado, US · 2 projects
If you don't have a mandrel, a nail polish bottle top works also. I've used that as well as a highlighter pen to make rings. They aren't perfect but will do in a pinch.
Reply
MIHO
MIHO · 28 projects
Dude, this is so awesome!
I'm definately trying this and I'm hoping to make something eyeball-ish :]
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