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Abby Hook's Mermaid's Teardrop Necklace, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Making Chain, Chain Making , Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry. .

Mermaid's Teardrop Necklace

by Abby Hook
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Chain Making, Lashing, Making Loops, Wrapping
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
Use woven wire to secure and embellish a stone drop, framed with Celtic inspired hammered wire for a clean, flowing design

Materials

12 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire
H11-12D
  • Lesson Quantity: 17.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $9.78
  • Gold Club Price: $7.34
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21 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire
H11-21D
  • Lesson Quantity: 70.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 10FT
  • Price: $2.33
  • Gold Club Price: $1.74
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24 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire
H11-24D
  • Lesson Quantity: 60.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $1.11
  • Gold Club Price: $0.83
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1 x drop shaped focal stone (front drilled) 4cm tall by 3cm wide
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Amethyst 4mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-634
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $10.50
  • Gold Club Price: $7.88
Out of Stock
15mm oval bead
  • Lesson Quantity: 4.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 4.00 each
25mm square bead
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
New Burma Jade 6mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-768
  • Lesson Quantity: 6.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $6.37
  • Gold Club Price: $4.78
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Tools

WireJewelry - Ultimate Wire-Pliers Jewelry Pliers with Case, Set of 5
G15-20
  • G15-20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $170.72
  • Gold Club Price: $128.04
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5 1/2 Inch Nylon Flat Jaw Pliers with Replacement Jaws
G2-1
  • G2-1
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.97
  • Gold Club Price: $7.48
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C.H.P Milano Small Sprue Cutter, 6-1/4 Inches, Flush Cut
PLR-488.00
  • PLR-488.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $24.95
  • Gold Club Price: $18.71
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Premium Steel Bench Block 2 1/2 X 2 1/2
G17-9
  • G17-9
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $15.97
  • Gold Club Price: $11.98
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Chasing Hammer with Wooden Handle, 1 1/8 Inch Face
G3-27
  • G3-27
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $13.95
  • Gold Club Price: $10.46
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Stainless Steel Ring Mandrel Sizes 1-15
G7-2
  • G7-2
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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6 Piece Assorted File Set with Wooden Handle
G14-7
  • G14-7
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $5.57
  • Gold Club Price: $4.18
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Instructions
Step 1:
Prepare the Frame
Cut a piece of 12 gauge wire 14" long (35½ cms). Mark the center point with a marker pen, this will help you keep the design symmetrical. Form a large round loop in each end of the wire, using the round nose pliers.
Pro Tip: Forming Round Loops - To ensure that a loop is round, first shape the wire around the round nose pliers, notice how the start of the wire is straight, despite shaping it around a curved item. Hold the wire cutters at a 90° angle to the straight part of the wire and snip the end off, this angled end will now close snugly against the straight wire, giving you a perfectly round loop.
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Step 2:
Finishing Shaping the Frame
Grasp the wire just after the loop, with the thickest point of the round nose pliers and pull the wire round the pliers with your less dominant hand, forming a shepherd's hook. Repeat on the other end. The wire is now 9½" (24 cms) long.
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Step 3:
Shape the Center of rthe Wire
Using the pen mark as guidance, form the wire around the thickest point of your ring mandrel, so that it crosses at the top, creating a drop shape. Check the frame is symmetrical and the stone fits inside.
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Step 4:
Hammer the Frame
The frame should now measure 4 1/3" (11½ cms) across and 2¾" (7cms) tall. Place the wire in the centre of the bench block or anvil and carefully hammer the curve of the drop and each end of the frame.
Pro Tip: Tips on hammering
Keep the hammer head at 90° to the bench block to ensure a flat even finish.
Always hammer in the centre of the bench block, to avoid creating indents.
Hammer the same side of the wire and both sides equally, creating a smooth finish on the anvil side.
Keep checking the stone fits in the frame, hammering can distort the shape.
Notice the frame curving upwards as you hammer.
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Step 5:
File and Sand
File the ends of the wire to form a smooth curve and remove any imperfections on the frame. Sand the ends to a high shine using 3 grits, using each one in an opposite direction to the last, until you have achieved a high shine.
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Step 6:
FInish Shaping
Check the frame is symmetrical and the stone fits with enough clearance to allow the weaving wire to pass through. Push the loop upwards so it crosses over the top of the frame and the open loop hooks behind. Squeeze together with nylon jaw pliers.
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Step 7:
Attach the Weaving Wire
Cut 60"(152½cms) of 24gauge wire. Measure a 10"(25½cms) tail, attach to the frame on the straight wire, coiling 3 times. Keep the wire at 90° to the frame, so that the coils are straight. Bind the crossover twice to secure the frame together, coil the loop twice.
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Step 8:
Begin to Weave
Bring the weaving wire under the right wire of the frame and over the left, pulling tightly. Using the end of the wire as a needle, pull the length through, stick your finger into the loop created, to stop it twisting and creating kinks.
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Step 9:
Continue Weaving
Coil the left frame once, to secure the weave in place. Take the weave wire under the left frame and over the right, coil once. Continue until there are 7 complete weaves. Keep sliding the weave up the frame, to keep it tight.
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Step 10:
Attach the Stone
Hold the stone in position. Thread the wire behind the frame/stone, through the hole to the front, and around the left side of the frame. Coil once to secure.
Repeat in the same way but take the wire to the right side of the frame, coiling once to secure
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Step 11:
Weave around the Stone
The weave must be well formed to hold the stone firmly in place. Pass the weave wire under the right frame wire, up between frame and stone and over the stone, down between the stone and left frame. Coil the left frame once to secure.
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Step 12:
Weave back around the Stone
Hold the frame upside down and take the weave wire over the left frame wire, behind the stone and over the right wire, coil once to secure. Ensure the weave wires are straight. Use the tension on the coil to secure the weave in place.
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Step 13:
Secure the Weaving
Weave 10 times over the front of the stone and coil the frame wire 3 times to secure. Trim the wire on the inside of the frame, tuck in by using a crimping motion with chain nose pliers, pushing the end tight against the frame.
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Step 14:
Add the Beads
Coil the left arm of the frame 10 times with the 10" (25½ cms) tail, add a 6mm bead, secure to the right arm, coiling 10 times. Pass the wire to the front, add a 4mm bead and secure to the back of the weave by coiling 3 times, trim and tuck in.
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Step 15:
Make the Clasp
Cut a piece of 12 gauge wire 3" (7½ cms) long. Make a round loop in one end. Grasp the wire just above the loop with the round nose pliers and shape the wire round the thickest part of the jaw, creating a hook shape.
Note - see the 'Embellished Hook Clasp' tutorial for more detailed instruction.
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Step 16:
Finish the Clasp
Hammer the clasp on the loop and hook, to flatten and harden the wire. Hold the clasp at 90° to the bench block, so that it points straight up and hammer the end, so that it bends up very slightly. File and sand to finish.
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Step 17:
Make a Wrapped Link
Cut a 3"(7½cms) length of 21gauge wire, measure 1¼"(3cms) and make a 45° bend, shape around the round nose pliers and then wrap the wire around itself 3 times. Trim and tuck the end in. Thread a 6mm bead onto the wire. Repeat on the other end.
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Step 18:
Form a Focal Link
For the 25mm oblongs cut a 10" (25½ cms) piece of 21 gauge wire and form a wrapped link in the center. This leaves 3-3½" (7½-9cms) tail wires, bring the wire round over the stone, overlapping the corners, coil over the existing coils.
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Step 19:
Final Step
Connect all the components together, remembering to thread the previous link onto the new one before closing. Ensure all loops are the same size by marking the jaws of your pliers with marker pen. Remember to make loops slightly larger for the frame.
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