Seed of Change Pendant

by Abby Hook

Category: Weaving
Technique(s): Weaving
Skill Level: Intermediate

This tutorial teaches you to make this reversible pendant. Learn to create a woven frame that skims one side of the bead, while on the other side only the outer structure wire is visible, giving the impression that the bead is poking out from the wire work. This pendant is 1 �� tall (including the bail) and �� wide.
I have included a rough guide for calculating the wire required for different sized beads.

Materials

20 Gauge Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire

H8-20H

Lesson Quantity: 15.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $16.94
Gold Club Price: $12.71

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28 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire

H8-28D

Lesson Quantity: 78.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 10FT
Price: $5.04
Gold Club Price: $3.78

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Mexican Red Snowflake Jasper 13x18 Oval Beads - 8 Inch Strand

A1-587

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.97
Gold Club Price: $6.73

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Sterling Silver Beads Bright 4mm - Pack of 20

K9-142

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Price: $5.56
Gold Club Price: $4.17

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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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Flat Nose Wire Pliers

G2-506

G2-506
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Economy Nylon Jaw Pliers

G2-25

G2-25
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $11.97
Gold Club Price: $8.98

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Instructions

Step 1:

Select your bead.

Choose your bead. Flat oval beads work best.
This tutorial is based on the specific size stated in the materials list. Below I have given a rough guide for calculating the wire required if using a different size. Please note that the 28 gauge wire requirements can vary depending on how tightly you weave. These calculations are for a bail that is ½” tall when complete.
20 gauge
Measure the circumference of the bead, add 1” for the point at the bottom, and add 4” for the bail/leaf.

28 gauge
You will need approx: - 25” for the bail, approx 20” for every 1” of weaving on the frame and twice the length of your bead.

Pro Tip: Tip: - I always allow extra wire when making something for the first time to ensure I do not run out of wire at a crucial point. You may want to consider this when making your calculations.

Abby Hook's Seed of Change Pendant - Select your bead., Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, choose a bead

Step 2:

Prepare the structure wire.

Cut 2 pieces of 20 gauge wire, each measuring 7.5”. Make a sharp bend in the middle of them both, using the flat nose pliers.

Step 3:

Pinch.

Pinch both points with the flat nose pliers creating a sharp point. Set one piece aside.

Step 4:

Begin to shape.

Open the wire out to form a V shape, do this by holding the wire between your thumb and forefinger as shown, in both hands, bending the wire around your thumb slightly, whilst pulling the wire apart.

The bead should sit neatly above the V in the wire.

Abby Hook's Seed of Change Pendant - Begin to shape., Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, open the wire out to form a V

Abby Hook's Seed of Change Pendant - Begin to shape., Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, the bead should sit in the V

Step 5:

Shape the wire around the bead.

Holding the bead carefully in place, shape the wire around it forming a leaf shape, so that the wires cross at the top. Ensure the point where the wires cross at the top is level with the V at the bottom. Set aside.

Note: - the frame should be slightly larger than the bead.

Pro Tip: Tip - Use your thumb to smooth the bends by running the wire between your thumb and forefinger.

Abby Hook's Seed of Change Pendant - Shape the wire around the bead., Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, the frame should be slightly bigger than the bead

Step 6:

Shape the other wire.

Follow steps 4 and 5 to shape the other wire in the same way.

Step 7:

Squeeze.

Hold the bead inside the second wire so that the wire runs front to back and squeeze the wire together making the leaf shape narrower.

Notice how the smaller leaf shape now sits comfortably inside the larger one.

Pro Tip: Tip - Take your time with these early steps, it is important to get the shaping right at this point as once you start weaving it will be difficult to adjust.

Abby Hook's Seed of Change Pendant - Squeeze., Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, squeeze the wires together around the bead

Abby Hook's Seed of Change Pendant - Squeeze., Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, the smaller leaf sits inside the larger one

Step 8:

Attach a thin wire.

Cut a piece of 28 gauge wire 23” long. On the larger leaf shape coil 3 times on the left of the V at the bottom, leaving a 1” tail.

Step 9:

Attach a smaller leaf.

Insert the smaller leaf between the straight wires of the larger leaf, twist slightly so that the straight wires of the smaller leaf cross underneath the straight wires of the larger leaf. Bind together 3 times.

Pro Tip: Tip - Turn the piece upside-down and hold the left side between thumb and forefinger to keep in place, use your fingers on this hand to guide the thin wire whilst weaving.

Notice how the straight wires form a square or oblong at the top.

Abby Hook's Seed of Change Pendant - Attach a smaller leaf., Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, bind together the frame wires

Abby Hook's Seed of Change Pendant - Attach a smaller leaf., Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, the wires form a quare

Step 10:

Begin to weave.

Holding the 2 leaf shapes in place as previously shown, coil the outer thick wire once with the thin wire, then take it over the outer thick wire and under the inner thick wire.

Abby Hook's Seed of Change Pendant - Begin to weave., Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, weave the wire

Step 11:

Bring the wire back

Coil the inner thick wire once with the thin wire, then take the thin wire over the inner thick wire and under the outer one.

Step 12:

Continue weaving.

Keep weaving in this manner:-
Coil, over, under
Coil, over, under

Tip: - Keep pushing the weave down the structure wires with your thumb nail to keep it tight.

Note: - Ensure that the crossover of the straight wires is always in line with the V at the bottom of the pendant, this will ensure that your finished piece is well balanced.

Notice the further you weave the more the pendant holds its own shape.

Step 13:

Trim.

Continue weaving until you reach the top, just before the wires cross. Coil the inner thick wire 3 times to secure.
Trim the end and the 1” tail and tuck the ends in neatly with the long nose pliers.
Notice how the weave has a tendency to spread more as the 2 structure wires curve together.

Abby Hook's Seed of Change Pendant - Trim., Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, weave the frame wires

Step 14:

Attach a new wire.

Cut a piece of 28 gauge wire 30” long. Turn the wire structure over so that the unwoven side is on the left. Attach your new wire to the bottom of the outer wire by coiling 3 times, leaving a 1” tail.

Step 15:

Bind.

Bind the inner and outer thick wires together 3 times with the thin wire to secure in place.
Check that the design is the same both sides and carefully adjust the unwoven side to match the woven side if necessary.
Notice how rigid this makes the wire shapes.

Step 16:

Weave.

In the same way as before weave up this side: Coil, over, under. Until you are level with the weaving in the other side. Up at the top, coil the inner wire 3 times to secure. Do NOT trim the thin wire.

Step 17:

Trim the tail.

Trim the 1” tail (leaving the length of 28 gauge wire attached) tuck the end in with the long nose pliers.

Step 18:

Add the beads.

Thread the oval bead and the 4mm silver bead onto the thin wire. Thread the wire through the gap between the 2 structure wires at the point and then back through the beads. Coil the nearest thick wire a couple of times to secure. Notice how the bead is still able to turn in the setting.

Step 19:

Begin to form the small leaf shape.

Bend the inner thick wire on either side round to the other side, locking the central thick wires in place.

This is a view of the top so that you can see the position of the wires more clearly.

Abby Hook's Seed of Change Pendant - Begin to form the small leaf shape., Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, vvv

Abby Hook's Seed of Change Pendant - Begin to form the small leaf shape., Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, top view

Step 20:

Start the leaf shape.

On one side bend the wire 45 degrees to the left with the flat nose pliers.

Step 21:

Make a curve.

Using your finger to bend the wire round, make a sharp curve using approx ½” of wire.

Step 22:

Make a sharp bend.

Using the flat nose pliers, make a sharp 45 degree bend, level with the top of the curve.

Step 23:

Make another curve.

This time using the round nose pliers, make another curve, so that the wire crosses itself, completing the leaf shape.

Step 24:

Trim.

Measure ¼” from the point where the wire crosses itself and trim. Form a tiny loop with the round nose pliers, so that the loop is inside the leaf shape.

Tip: - Hold the leaf with the flat nose pliers to make turning the loop easier.

Step 25:

Secure.

Thread the thin wire from attaching the bead through the loop on the leaf and bind to the right 3 times to secure in place.

Step 26:

Repeat.

Follow steps 20 – 25 to form a leaf on the other side.
Coil the thin wire to the nearest thick wire 3 times to secure and trim, tuck the end in with the long nose pliers.

Notice how the bead is now held firmly in place.

Step 27:

Prepare the bail.

Bend the 2 remaining wires 45 degrees upwards. Ensure they are both straight and sitting neatly next to each other.

Step 28:

Add a new wire.

Cut a piece of 28 gauge wire 25” long. Attach it by coiling 3 times to the frame, leaving a 1” tail.

Step 29:

Weave.

Begin to weave the bail using the same method as before: Coil, over, under.

Weave until you have covered 1 ½”.

Abby Hook's Seed of Change Pendant - Weave., Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, begin to weave up the bail wires

Abby Hook's Seed of Change Pendant - Weave., Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, weave up the bail

Step 30:

Trim.

Trim the thick wires to ¼” from the edge of the weaving and bend outwards 45 degrees.

Step 31:

Form loops.

Using the round nose pliers, form a small loop in the end of each wire.

Step 32:

Begin to form the bail.

Bend the bail outwards 45 degrees from the pendant using the flat nose pliers.

Step 33:

Bend.

Using your round nose pliers, bend the bail round to the front.

Step 34:

Make the final bend.

Bend the loops outwards 45 degrees with the flat nose pliers.

Step 35:

Bind.

Pinch the bail together and bind closed through the loops with the thin wire 4 times.

Step 36:

Final step.

Coil the nearest thick wire 3 times and trim. Trim the tail and tuck the ends in with the long nose pliers. You have finished!

Reviews

Abby Hook

In 2009 I decided to pursue a dream I had harboured for many years, to start my own jewellery business! So that is exactly what I did. I love what I do, it is not just a job to me - it my passion and obsession! Born and raised in North London, I grew up surrounded by artistic people. Living in a very close community with a diverse mix of characters, I was able to try my hand at a whole array of crafts, from sewing to polymer clay modelling. I come from a long line of artists, my Great, Great Grandfather was Frank Paton, well known for his realistic portrayal of both wild and domestic animals using oil paints, but he is probably more fondly remembered for his pencil etchings. Many other family members have continued the tradition of painting and drawing. Although I enjoyed drawing, I wasn't particularly good at it. Imagine my delight when I discovered the possibility of bringing things to life with wire! I am the Author of Wire Jewellery Masterclass. The idea for writing this book seemed to me like a natural progression from the writing of individual tutorials. It allows me to place the various skill levels in order, offering a starting platform for the complete novice, through to the more advanced levels, as well as giving ideas for more experienced wireworkers to develop their existing abilities