Beaded Wire Bracelet

by Natalie Patten

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Wrapping
Skill Level: Beginner

This bracelet uses two sizes of beads and two gauges of wire to create a pretty and delicate pattern. The 22-gauge wire is used to frame the beads and locks around the base wire with ease, creating a very simple design to achieve - that looks elegant and is comfortable to wear.

Materials

20 Gauge Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire

H8-20H

Lesson Quantity: 9.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $3.20
Gold Club Price: $2.40

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22 Gauge Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire

H8-22H

Lesson Quantity: 28.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $10.29
Gold Club Price: $7.72

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6mm Aquamarine 5000 Round Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 10

A13-84B

Lesson Quantity: 10.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.97
Gold Club Price: $3.73

Out of Stock

4mm Light Amethyst 5000 Round Swarovski Crystal Bead - Pack of 12

A13-1

Lesson Quantity: 44.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 4.00 each
Price: $3.97
Gold Club Price: $2.98

Out of Stock

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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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Round Nose Wire Pliers

G2-507

G2-507
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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Round Hard Wood Bracelet Mandrel - 15 Inches

G7-33

G7-33
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.97
Gold Club Price: $11.23

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Instructions

Step 1

Make a small loop at the end of the 20-gauge wire with round nose pliers or bail step making pliers.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, make a simple loop

Step 2

Find the center point of the 22-gauge wire and wrap this once underneath the loop of the 20-gauge wire to attach it.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the thin wire around the eye pin

Step 3

Add two of the smaller beads onto the 20-gauge wire and push up underneath the attached wire.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, string on 2 small beads

Step 4

Add another bead onto one end of the 22-gauge wire and position it on the outside of the two beads that are on the 20-gauge base wire, so that it sits above- in the center of the beads.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, string on one small bead

Step 5

Bring the 22-gauge wire with the bead attached over the front of the 20-gauge base wire and around, bringing it back up to a vertical position.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the wire around the bead

Step 6

Take the other side of the 22-gauge wire and add a bead onto this side, positioning this bead again towards the center of the two beads on the base wire so that it frames them on the outside and bring the wire behind the base wire and around to lock in place.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, string on another bead

Step 7

Add one 6mm round bead onto the 20-gauge base wire, pushing it up towards the wrapped wires.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, string on a 6mm bead

Step 8

Take one side of the 22-gauge wire and use it to frame the 6mm bead, bringing it around the front of the base wire and back behind and upwards.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the wire over the bead

Step 9

Take the other side of the 22-gauge framing wire and bring this behind the base wire, wrapping it around the front of the wire and down to lock this bead in place.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the wire around the base wire

Step 10

Continue this pattern by adding two 4mm beads directly onto the 20-gauge base wire.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, add two 4mm beads

Step 11

Add one bead onto each side of the framing wires to fit around the two beads.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, string 2 beads

Step 12

Ensure that one wrap goes in front of the base wire and the opposite side goes behind.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, coil the wire around the base wire

Step 13

Each twisting wire can be gentry pressed down with pliers to tighten if needed.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, tighten the wire with pliers

Step 14

After each cluster of 4 beads has been attached, add one 6mm bead directly to the base wire and frame the bead with just the 22-gauge wire.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, add one 6mm bead

Step 15

Continue this pattern alternating between the smaller bead cluster and one single larger bead.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, repeat the stringing pattern

Step 16

Keep the wires straight and curved closely around the beads.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, keep the wires snug

Step 17

The 20-gauge wire should run straight through the middle of the bracelet.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, continue with the bead pattern

Step 18

When you have the desired bracelet length and have started to add on the last cluster of beads, take one of the framing wires and wrap fully around the base wire.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, string beads to desired length

Step 19

Cut off any excess wire from from this tail end of 22-gauge wire and tuck in firmly with pliers.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, trim wires

Step 20

Take the other side of the 22-gauge wire with added bead and bring it behind the base wire as before.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, secure the wrapping wire

Step 21

Fully wrap around to secure in place, cutting off any excess wire from this side and press down any sharp ends with pliers to prevent it from catching or snagging.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, secure the wire in place

Step 22

Use the remaining 20-gauge base wire to form another loop by bending the wire horizontally.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, bend the base wire

Step 23

Trim off the wire leaving approximately 1cm after the bend.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, trim the wire to 1 cm

Step 24

Using round nose pliers or bail step pliers turn a loop at this end of the bracelet.

Step 25

Attach jump-rings onto each loop at the end of the bracelet and a clasp of your choosing.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, attach a clasp

Step 26

Shape the bracelet with your fingers starting from the center outward to bring the ends together in an oval shape. A bracelet mandrel or something cylindrical shaped could also be used to shape the form of the bracelet.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, shape the bracelet

Reviews

Natalie Patten

I'm Natalie Patten, I'm from Liverpool in the UK. I first discovered my love of wire work during lockdown and this hobby quickly spiralled into a huge passion and obsession, for wire wrapping crystal gemstones. So much so, that I changed my career working in education, to become a jewellery designer and set up my business Rock, Scissors, Paper specialising in wire wrapped, ethically sourced gemstone jewellery. I also secured my dream job designing and teaching for the UK's largest supplier of beads for jewellery making! I make lots of different jewellery designs with a variety of techniques but my absolute favourite is wire work and I feel absolutely blessed that I can spend my time creating, learning and sharing my passion with others!