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Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
2h00

When you're feeling down, make a key. Said no one ever. Except for me!
When I'm sad, I have a compulsive urge to create something. This key is one of such projects, and I actually took step-by-step pictures this time.
I got a bag of beads from a jewelry workshop that I went to at a public library, and in that bag were some turquoise beads, one of which I wrapped for the key. There was little preliminary considerations and planning for this; the head of the key was mostly free-handed. The bottom part was somewhat inspired by some online searches for a spark to set off my creative juices.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this tutorial as much as I liked making this!

Posted by Conn from San Francisco, California, United States • Published See Conn's 100 projects »
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  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 1
    Step 1

    Gather your materials.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 2
    Step 2

    Grab some spare paper (receipt from the library, in my case) and sketch out a design like this for the bottom of the key. You'll use it for shaping .

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 3
    Step 3

    You'll begin by creating the key's blade first.
    Make a curve like so.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 4
    Step 4

    Make a circle, using your sketch as a guide.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 5
    Step 5

    Form another circle inside the previous one.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 6
    Step 6

    Curl the cut end into a loop.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 7
    Step 7

    Repeat for the bottom to get this.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 8
    Step 8

    Use thinner wire to attach a small bead (preferably a color that matches the color of your central bead later) between two loops.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 9
    Step 9

    Weaving time!
    Make a small teardrop loop about one foot away from the end of the wire.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 10
    Step 10

    Then grab thinner wire attach one end right above the loop.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 11
    Step 11

    Wrap around both wires twice.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 12
    Step 12

    String the wire through the outer circle and then wrap it around the thick parallel wires again.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 13
    Step 13

    String the thin wire through the outer circle and then around the parallel wires again. Then wrap the wire around ONLY ONE of the wires THREE or FOUR TIMES. (I did four.)

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 14
    Step 14

    Repeat the weaving pattern of three or four wraps around both, and then three or four wraps around one only.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 15
    Step 15

    Continue until you are satisfied with the length of the bottom half of the key. When you're content, cut the wire short and use pliers to clamp the end down.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 16
    Step 16

    Curve one of the wire pieces so that it fits around the bead. The other piece remains straight for stringing the bead onto it.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 17
    Step 17

    After putting on the bead, make a loop on top of the bead with the wire coming out of its hole.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 18
    Step 18

    Then curve both wires down the front of the bead.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 19
    Step 19

    Grab your thin wire again and wrap one end around both pieces of wire. Begin weaving down, making sure your wire is still curving (not straight) in front of the bead. Weave by wrapping around both wires twice, then only one twice, then around both twice, then around one twice, then around both twice, then around one THREE times, then around both twice, then around both THREE times, then around both twice, then around one FOUR (notice the increases) times, and so on until you're all the way down. Do NOT cut the thin wire loose yet.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 20
    Step 20

    Bring the wire to the left side of the bead.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 21
    Step 21

    One of the wire pieces will follow the wire on the left side of the bead.
    The other wire will curve its way to the back and further secure the bead.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 22
    Step 22

    Using the same thin wire, weave together the wires on the left side of the bead.
    Wrap thin wire around both twice, then around only one three times, then around both twice, then around one three times, and so on until you've reached the top loop of the key.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 23
    Step 23

    For the wire on the back of the key, make a few circles like so until the wire hits the loop at the top of the bead.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 24
    Step 24

    Take the wire from the back of the key and connect it to one of the wires from the weave along the left side of the bead.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 25
    Step 25

    This weave uses the wire from the back of the key and one of the wires from the weave on the left side of the bead. Again, wrap thin wire around both twice, then around only one three times, then around both twice, then around one three times, and so on.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 26
    Step 26

    Continue the weave until you're all the way back to the top of the key's bottom half.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 27
    Step 27

    One wire goes in front of the bottom half of the key.
    The other wire goes behind.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 28
    Step 28

    Take the wire that was in front of the key's bottom half and poke it through some of the weaving done here at the bottom base of the bead.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 29
    Step 29

    Poke wire through. After that, pull the wire as tightly as possible. Bring the wire up and across the front of the bead.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 30
    Step 30

    Form the swirls like so.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 31
    Step 31

    Insert the end of the wire into the gap between the weaving and the top of the bead before tugging the wire tightly so that all of the wire is through to the back of the key.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 32
    Step 32

    With the other piece of wire remaining, form even more swirls to cover the back of the key.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 33
    Step 33

    Then insert the end into a gap formed between the bead and the first set of swirls that you made on the back.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 34
    Step 34

    Notice that the wire does NOT go under any weaving.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 35
    Step 35

    Cut the wire short and curl the end into a loop. Tuck that loop under any swirl on the back of the key (any, but make sure it looks good!).

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 36
    Step 36

    Determine a place on the back of the key where a curl would look nice. Then, cut the last (and thankfully final) piece of wire shorter.

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 37
    Step 37

    Curl the end into a loop...

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 38
    Step 38

    .. and tuck that loop into the place that you found!

  • How to make a key pendant. Wirework Key - Step 39
    Step 39

    Now you can take a jump ring, string it through the loop at the top, and wear it on a necklace. Or you could string it to the collection of keys on your key ring. Either way, I'm sure it'll look gorgeous.

    I hope you, my dear reader, enjoyed this tutorial, and perhaps will attempt to replicate this. Feel free to comment if anything is unclear to you, and I sincerely wish you a wondrous day!

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Comments

Michelle L.
Michelle L. · 2 projects
Brilliant job.
Conn
Conn · San Francisco, California, US · 134 projects
Thanks!
Reply
onelmon
onelmon · Shinjuku, Tokyo, JP · 11 projects
What a beautiful design! Thanks for sharing the thorough tutorial! I'm going to give this a try!
Conn
Conn · San Francisco, California, US · 134 projects
Thanks and you're welcome! I'd love to see a picture of your finished product whenever you finish. ^^
Reply
Joybells
Joybells · Norfolk, Virginia, US · 23 projects
Oh wow! This is an awesome tutorial. Thank you for sharing this. I love the pop of color integrating the beads into the design. I've got to try this. Happy
Conn
Conn · San Francisco, California, US · 134 projects
I'm pleased to hear that you enjoy the tutorial, and you're welcome! ^^
Reply
Jackkie
Jackkie · Sydney, New South Wales, AU · 51 projects
Thankyou <3 <3
Conn
Conn · San Francisco, California, US · 134 projects
No problem! Tell me if it works out, and post a picture of your finished product if possible; I'm interested. Happy
Reply
Jackkie
Jackkie · Sydney, New South Wales, AU · 51 projects
Thanks for replying <3 Yeah, its beading wire. Can you suggest a better type cause the shop assistant recommended it for what I was doing but its not turning out right at all.
Conn
Conn · San Francisco, California, US · 134 projects
I would suggest some thin (26 or 28) gauge craft wire like this: http://www.joann.com/26-gauge-craft-wire--black--24-yards/4815908.html
Good luck!
Reply
Jackkie
Jackkie · Sydney, New South Wales, AU · 51 projects
I would love to know how you keep the wire from unraveling when you wrap it. I've been trying and failing to wrap a pair of hoop earrings with wire for a while now and the wire keeps unwrapping and slipping everywhere... any tips?
Conn
Conn · San Francisco, California, US · 134 projects
Hmm.. maybe your wire is different (beading wire would probably do that). But also, when you straight up WRAP using wire (instead of WEAVE), the wire can't keep its shape as well because of the coiling/spiraling that you're doing. All you can do is make sure you keep firm pressure on the wire, pulling it TAUT to prevent unraveling.
I hope that helps!
Reply
Katzilla
Katzilla · 14 projects
So cute, I'll have to do my own little spin on this!
Conn
Conn · San Francisco, California, US · 134 projects
Yay! I hope you have fun!
Reply
buttercup303
buttercup303 · Moodbidri, Karnataka, IN · 94 projects
beautiful!! You have given a very detailed description.. that is awesome!! i love it
Conn
Conn · San Francisco, California, US · 134 projects
Thank you! I'm glad that my instructions were clear for you. ^^
Reply
Riya K.
Riya K. · Chandigarh, Chandigarh, IN · 87 projects
really osm!!
Conn
Conn · San Francisco, California, US · 134 projects
Thanks! Happy
Reply
Kin Dragon
Kin Dragon · Denton, Texas, US · 745 projects
I've actually done something similar to this, I should really post it
Conn
Conn · San Francisco, California, US · 134 projects
Ooh I'd love to see it!
Conn
Conn · San Francisco, California, US · 134 projects
Actually I see them! They look fantastic!
Reply
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