- Wirewrapped Jewelry Making from the TowerCrystals internet collection
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For the first time we are offering detailed instruction for wire wrapping a Herkimer Diamond Pendant on this page below.
This technique can be adapted to wire wrapping a cabochon also.
Enjoy yourself and Good Luck!
Begin with a stone that is about 20 x 30 millimeters and at least a 75 centimeter coil of 20-24 gauge medium soft sterling silver wire. Make a loop of wire around the stone as shown to get the approximate length. You don't need to be exact yet.
Tape the wires flat and tight together side by side as shown. Only tape around the very ends of the wires.
Cut 4 smaller lengths of wire (roughly 7 centimeters long.) Bend each of these wires into a hook to wrap around the wire frame. The hook part should be slightly shorter than the width of the wire frame. The ends will be trimmed later if necessary.
Wrap together the taped together frame wires with the smaller hooked wires. Hold the bunched together wires with the hooks to form a frame.
Wrap this wire twice around the bunched wires. Wrap the hooked wire around the bunched wires as tightly as possible. This is where having the wires taped together helps until you get comfortable with this.
Wrap around the frame wires, making sure the ends of these smaller wires finish on the same side of the bunch. Clip off the left over ends of the hooked wire as closely as possible without damaging the frame.
Repeat the last step three more times, making sure that the wraps are evenly spaced along around the frame (depending on the size of the crystal). Then wrap the entire wire frame around a circular dowel slightly smaller than the size of the crystal to form it into a circular shape.
Wrap it tightly on this dowel and hold it for at least a few seconds to form the shape. Depending on the hardness of the wire, it will spring back a little so keep this in mind when you size the stone...
Fit the Herkimer Diamond Crystal into the wire frame, opening or tightening it a little if necessary. Mark wher the frame intersects at the top.
Bend the other side of the frame and make another wire hook wide enough to fit around both frame sides (with the gap twice as thick as the other hooks).
Bend the outer strands of the frame wires inward as shown. Later you can tighten these wire further, just make sure the space created is small enough to hold the crystal.
Set the Herkimer Diamond in place and repeat each other side tightly, alternating sides, until the crystal sits firmly in place.
Form a bale. When the Herkimer is tightly in place use the needle nose pliers and simultaneously pull and twist the wires at the top center point of the frame. (Not the side with spiralled endings) Twist 90 degrees using the round shape of the pliers to form a bale large enough for a chain. This should also serve to tighten the wrap further.
Make a wire necklace to wear the pendant: Start with a length of wire about 7 - 10 centmeters longer than the desired length.
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HOW TO MAKE WIRE WRAP JEWELRY