Beaded Wire Cross

by Natalie Patten

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

These little crosses are simple to make and are great earrings, pendants or hanging decorations, perfect for Christmas or Easter festive décor or jewelry.

Materials

26 Gauge Round Nickel Silver Craft Wire - 90 ft

H18-E26-90FT

Lesson Quantity: 24.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $6.80
Gold Club Price: $5.10

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African Turquoise 6mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand

A1-734

Lesson Quantity: 6.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.35
Gold Club Price: $5.51

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African Turquoise 4mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand

A1-733

Lesson Quantity: 8.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $6.30
Gold Club Price: $4.73

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Tools

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 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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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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Instructions

Step 1

Take one 24-inch length of wire and bring the ends together to find the center.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, fold the wire in half

Step 2

Place one smaller bead at the center of the wire.

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

Step 3

Place three of the 6mm beads onto both ends of the wire.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, string 3 beads onto both wires

Step 4

Position them down next to the smaller stopper bead.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, push the beads to the center

Step 5

Separate the ends of the wire out so that they are both positioned horizontally in opposite directions.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, open the wires out horizontally

Step 6

Add on one smaller bead, one 6mm bead and another smaller bead to one side of the wire.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, string a small, a large, and a small bead

Step 7

Bring the wire back through just the 6mm bead, so that the wire is traveling back toward the center.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, bring the wire back through the larger bead

Step 8

Pull this wire taught so that the three beads sit close together.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, pull the wire taut

Step 9

Do the same on the other tail end of the wire; adding on one smaller bead, one 6mm bead and another smaller bead.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, add three beads to the other wire

Step 10

Bring this wire back through just the 6mm bead, so that the wire is traveling back toward the center.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, bring the wire back through just the larger bead

Step 11

You have now formed the arms of the cross.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, these form the arms of the cross

Step 12

Position the wire ends up vertically and add a smaller bead onto each end.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, pull the wires upward and add a small bead on each

Step 13

Add one 6mm and one smaller bead onto both ends of the wire.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, add two beads onto both wires

Step 14

Position the beads so that they sit neatly above the four smaller beads in the center.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, slide the beads next to the others

Step 15

Using both wires as one, create a wrapped loop in whichever direction you choose using round-nose pliers.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, make a wrapped loop with both wires together

Step 16

To create a wrapped loop, bring the wires forward over the round-nose pliers.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, bend the wires over the pliers

Step 17

Wrap the wires around the round-nose pliers to form the loop.

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

Step 18

Wrap the wires around the neck of the loop to close the wrapped loop.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the wires around the neck of the loop

Step 19

Ensuring the wires are straight, wrap the excess wire around the beads to add decoration.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the excess wire around the beads

Step 20

Bring the wires around the side of the beads and in between in a downward winding motion.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wind the wire around each bead

Step 21

Once the wire has traveled down around the smaller bead at the bottom of the cross, bring it back up around the other side of the beads.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wind the wires back up the beads

Step 22

Remember to keep the two ends of the wire straight and together as one.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, keep the wires straight and together

Step 23

Continue to wrap the other side of the beads by winding the wire back up toward the top of the cross.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, continue winding the wire up the beads

Step 24

Wrap around the loop at the top of the cross to secure.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the wires around the loop at the top

Step 25

Trim off any excess wire with flush cutters.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, trim excess wire

Step 26

Pinch in the ends of the wire with chain-nose pliers around the wrapped loop to prevent any sharp ends from catching.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, piinch in the ends of the wire

Step 27

Reposition the beads and wire as required.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, reposition the beads and wire as necessary

Step 28

A jump ring, chain, earring hook or ribbon can be added to the loop to suit your purpose.

Natalie Patten's Beaded Wire Cross - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, finished pendant

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!