Lightning Storm

Designed by Tracey McKenzie © 2010

I love to play with all types of wire and beads! This necklace design is an experiment that came out well. Here in Australia, the storms can be absolutely amazing, and often inspiring. By changing the colors and the arrangements of the beads (for example, adding beads to each strand), you can alter the design for something that inspires you. (Many thanks to my Facebook friends for naming the original necklace!)

Skill Level: Intermediate

Technique: Incorporating seed beads with traditional wire techniques

Materials

• 16-gauge round dead soft jewelry wire: two 20″ (51cm) pieces, and one 8″ (20cm) piece
• 26-gauge round dead soft jewelry wire, one 5-foot (170cm) piece
• Silver and white seed beads (size 10 or 11)
• One focal bead (40 x 10mm bead used in sample)

Tools

• Flat Nose Pliers
• Round Nose Pliers
• Rawhide Mallet
• Wire Cutters
• Chasing Hammer
• Bench Block
• Tape
• Ruler or Cloth Measuring Tape
• Fine point marker
• Optional: Steel neck mandrel or other round metal shaping item, such as a coffee can or a tow ball

Instructions

1. Do not straighten the 16-gauge wire; measure and cut the 16-gauge wire as listed. Tip: Using a cloth measuring tape will help. Find and mark the centers of both 20″ pieces of 16-gauge wire. Working with the natural curve, use your fingers to arc both sides of the center on each long wire.
   
2. Make a wrapped loop at the end of one 20″ wire, on the same plane as the wire curve. Use a chasing hammer to flatten the opposite end, and then form a hook heading away from the curve.
   
3. Measure down 4″ (10cm) on the other 20″ wire and mark. Lay this wire on the outside of the other. Slide the inner wire up until the space between their points is about 1 1/4″ (3cm). Secure both wires together with tape just below your mark; this forms the frame.
   
4. On both marks on the outer wire, use flat nose pliers to make a 90° bend toward the outside. Measure the length of both bent wires. If necessary, trim them so that they are the same length.
   
   
5. Use the trimmed outer frame wire to wrap around the inside frame wire, making wrapped segments of 2 and stretching the wire around and up a bit and then 2 more, etc, working toward the ends. Trim and tuck the outer/wrap wire ends. Note: As you wrap, the inner wire may try to exchange places with the outer wire. Simply use your fingers to coax it back into position.
   
6. Determine and mark the centers of both the top and bottom frame wires. Find the center of the 26-gauge wire. Place the center of the 26-gauge wire over the center of the top frame wire and wrap each side of the 26-gauge wire once around each side of the center of the top frame wire. Now you have two 26-gauge wires, one on the front and one on the back.
   
7. Bring both 26-gauge wires to the center of the bottom frame wire, and duplicate the wraps made on the top frame wire.
   
8. Bring one of the 26-gauge wires back up, alongside the first two, and use the opposite 26-gauge wire to wrap all three wires together, working from the bottom frame wire up to the top frame wire.
   
9. At the top, take one 26-gauge wire to the right of the center and one to the left. Working on their respective sides, take the 26-gauge wire from the top and lay it diagonally across the open space, so it hits the bottom frame wire about 1″ (25mm) from the bottom center. Wrap the 26-gauge wire once around the bottom frame wire. Add as many beads to the 26-gauge wire as needed to cover it from the bottom to the top and place it vertically in the space. Wrap this 26-gauge wire once around the top frame wire. Repeat on the opposite side of the necklace.
   
10. Continue weaving, plain diagonal and beaded vertical, wraps between the top and bottom frames.
    
11. When the entire frame has been filled, use the remaining 26-gauge wire to weave the ends closed. Make a figure-8 weave, between the frame wires, all the way up to the ends. Trim and tuck the 26-gauge wire ends.
    
    
12. Use your hands to give the final shape to the necklace, applying pressure as needed. To work-harden and keep the shape of the necklace, use a rawhide hammer to gently tap on the necklace curves, on either a steel neck mandrel or another metal shaping item. (I use a metal tow ball!)
    
13. Working with the 8″ (20cm) piece of 16-gauge wire, flatten about 4mm (3/16″) at one end, using a chasing hammer and bench block. Bend the flattened end at a 90° angle and slide the focal bead onto the wire. The flattened end makes an invisible stop.
    
14. Make a 5mm wrapped loop at the top of the bead. Trim and tuck the wire ends.
15. Use the remaining 16-gauge wire to make two jump rings. Attach one jump ring to each side of the center on the bottom frame wire.
    
16. Insert the focal bead drop into both of the jump rings and close them tightly.
17. Zig or Zag the beaded segments if desired, forming lightning bolts.

Congratulations! You’ve made your first Lightning Storm Necklace.

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