Whirly Twirly Bling Necklace

by Kristal Wick

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Making Spirals
Skill Level: Beginner

I love the meaning of spirals. I've been fortunate to see spiral petroglyphs on ancient cave walls in the southwest. They symbolize evolution, life, consciousness and creativity. Spirals were frequently used in Celtic symbology. Even as a kid, I would doodle spirals in my notebook while trying to pay attention to geometry! As an adult I love to find ways to incorporate them into my jewelry and here's one of my fave designs.

Materials

4mm Blue Zircon 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 12

A13-17A

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.00
Gold Club Price: $1.50

Out of Stock

6mm Aquamarine 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 10

A13-56B

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
Price: $2.77
Gold Club Price: $2.08

Out of Stock

6mm Light Sapphire 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 10

A13-129B

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.97
Gold Club Price: $2.23

Out of Stock

8mm Sapphire 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 6

A13-63C

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $3.57
Gold Club Price: $2.68

Out of Stock

20 Gauge Round Antique Copper Enameled Craft Wire - 30 ft

H5-Q20-30FT

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

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Soft Flex Beading Wire--Medium--.019

BDC-419.00

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $15.50
Gold Club Price: $11.63

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Sterling Silver Chain Cable chain oxidized 3mm - 10 Feet

C8-150U

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $65.87
Gold Club Price: $49.40

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Gold Filled Crimps 2x1mm - Pack of 20

J10-21

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.82
Gold Club Price: $2.12

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Sterling Silver Oval Lobster Clasp (Gun Metal) 9 mm - Pack of 1

K3-140

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $1.86
Gold Club Price: $1.40

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Gold Filled Jump Rings Open (.020) 24ga. (OD) 3mm (ID) 1.98mm - Pack of 25

J11-188

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $3.82
Gold Club Price: $2.87

Out of Stock

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Tools

3 Step Wire Looping Plier for Wire Wrappers

G2-153

G2-153
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $10.57
Gold Club Price: $7.93

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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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Original Bead Crimper

PLR-585.00

PLR-585.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $12.97
Gold Club Price: $9.73

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Instructions

Step 1

Straighten wire using the nylon flat jaw pliers and cut a 4.5" piece of wire. Make a slight bend in the middle so you can keep track of where the middle is once you start spiraling.

Step 2

Make a small loop at the end of the wire using the round-nose pliers.

Using the flat chain nose pliers, grasp the middle of the loop and push the wire around the loop with your fingers to form a spiral. Stop ½" from the middle bend.

Kristal Wick's Whirly Twirly Bling Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, make a small loop

Kristal Wick's Whirly Twirly Bling Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, spiral

Step 3

Straighten out the bend in the wire and slide on a 4m crystal, 6m crystal, 8m crystal, 6m crystal, 4m crystal and repeat the steps to make a spiral on the other end of the wire at a 90-degree angle. This is the middle dangle and the longest in the necklace.

Kristal Wick's Whirly Twirly Bling Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, string on crystals

Step 4

Create the following dangles with the spiral facing the same direction (right side of the necklace):

A. 4m (2.5" wire)

B. 6m (3" wire)

C. 8m (4" wire)

D. 4m, 8m, 4m (4" wire)

E. 6m, 8m, 6m (4" wire)

Kristal Wick's Whirly Twirly Bling Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, create dangles

Step 5

Create the same 5 dangles with the spiral facing the opposite direction as the dangles you previously made. You will have a total of 11 dangles.

Kristal Wick's Whirly Twirly Bling Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, create more dangles

Step 6:

Crimping steps

Cut an 8" piece of Soft Flex wire and crimp one end. Using a crimp tube, make a small loop by slipping the beading wire through the crimp and back through. Be sure the wires don't crisscross over themselves.

Step 7

Place the crimp into the front section and squeeze just a tiny bit. This turns the round crimp tube into an oval shape.

Kristal Wick's Whirly Twirly Bling Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, crimp

Step 8

Put the crimp in the back section and squeeze tightly making a little taco.

Step 9

Place the little taco into the front section sideways and squeeze tightly flattening the taco.

Step 10

Viola' Here's an example of a finished crimp.

Pro Tip: You can also use crimp covers to cover the crimp for decorative purposes.

Step 11

Slide the following components onto the wire and crimp the other end:

6m, 4m, 6m, 4m, 6m, (left side) A. B. C. D. E. longest dangle, (right side) A. B. C. D. E. 6m, 4m, 6m, 4m, 6m

Be sure to pull the wire tightly so there are no gaps. Pull the wire through the end crystal, crimp and trim off excess wire.

Kristal Wick's Whirly Twirly Bling Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, string the necklaxe

Step 12

Determine your desired wire length and cut the chain in half. Attach one end of the chain to the crimped loop using a jump ring. Repeat for the other side.

Kristal Wick's Whirly Twirly Bling Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, cut chain

Step 13

Attach a lobster clasp to one end of the chain using a jump ring.

Kristal Wick's Whirly Twirly Bling Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, add clasp

Reviews

Kristal Wick

Internationally award winning designer, teacher and official Swarovski Instructor, she resides with her 2 puppies, Sparkle and Bling in beautiful Colorado. Kristal's fashion endeavors include designing & creating jewelry for the Jimmy Buffet Band backup singers & dancers; appearing numerous times on HGTV, PBS and JTV and teaching on cruise ships worldwide. The author of 4 books: Metal Clay 101 for Beaders, Foxy Epoxy, Fabulous Fabric Beads Sassy Silky Savvy; 2 DVDs: Mixed Media: Beaded Bracelets with Fiber Beads and Crystals, Resin, Wire Mixed Media: Jewelry Making with Handmade Beads, Crystals, Resin, and More! Past editor of BeadingDaily.com, her designs have been featured in over 85 publications. Kristal's jewelry has been represented in galleries spanning the globe including Santa Fe - Canyon Rd. Alaska, Cayman Islands, Italy, Germany & the Virgin Islands.