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Creating Wire Beads

by Albina Manning
These tornado beads are simple to make and are beautiful addition to wire jewelry designs.
Instructions
I love making these wired beads. It is not necessary to use "brand new" wire to make them. I use my recycled / "leftovers" pieces of 20-26 ga wire.

You may straighten the wire or leave any bends and kinks on it. If you make several beads, make sure you will use approximately the same amount of wire for each bead.

The more wire you use the bigger the bead you make.
You will need:

  • Dowel - use a knitting needle or 16ga craft wire; you can also use a round toothpick

  • Chain nose pliers

  • Wire cutters
    • Start wrapping the wire around the dowel until the wrapped part is about the length of the bead.
    Albina Manning's Creating Wire Beads - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Start wrapping the wire
    Wrap back, you can overlap the wire; keep wrapping in free style forming the bead.
    Albina Manning's Creating Wire Beads - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wrap back
    Using chain nose pliers, tuck the wire end into the “messy” wraps.
    Albina Manning's Creating Wire Beads - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, , tuck the wire end
    After removing the bead from the dowel, shape the bead with your fingers if necessary.
    Variation: you can add seed beads in the final wraps.
    Albina Manning's Creating Wire Beads - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, you can add seed beads
    As I mentioned above, I recycle the wire from my old jewelry that I "remodeled".

  • For the pair of earrings I used 22ga recycled gold filled wire.
  • For the necklace I used recycled pieces of 26ga sterling silver wire.
    • I love these new "Wire" Beads that everyone is making.
    Albina Manning's Creating Wire Beads - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire coiled bead earrings
    Albina Manning's Creating Wire Beads - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire coiled earring and necklace

    Materials

    16 Gauge Enameled Craft Wire
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    Silver Plated Copper Craft Wire
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    Wire
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    Tools

    Chain Nose Wire Pliers
    G2-508
    • G2-508
    • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
    • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
    • Price: $32.95
    • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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    C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
    PLR-487.00
    • PLR-487.00
    • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
    • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
    • Price: $16.97
    • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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    5 Piece Steel Mandrel Set
    G7-5
    • G7-5
    • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
    • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
    • Price: $12.95
    • Gold Club Price: $9.71
    Add to Bag
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    • Category: Contemporary
    • Technique(s): Coiling

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