Woven Heart Earrngs

by Deborah Kelly

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

Weave a beautiful bezel for heart-shaped stones. Snug wires and tight weaving make for a stable frame for these stones. Make a very special pair of earrings!

Materials

21 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire

H11-21D

Lesson Quantity: 36.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $1.45
Gold Club Price: $1.09

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26 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire

H11-26D

Lesson Quantity: 72.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 10FT
Price: $1.23
Gold Club Price: $0.93

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heart shaped stones

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each

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Tools

Precision Round Nose Pliers - Pack of 1

G2-5

G2-5
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $6.97
Gold Club Price: $5.23

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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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Instructions

Step 1

Cut 4 lengths of 21 gauge round wire 9 inches long (base wires) and 4 lengths of 26 gauge round wire 18 inches long (weaving wires).
Take one of the 9 inch long 21 gauge wires and bend it in half with the tips of the round nose pliers.

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Step 2

Grasp the bend of the wire in flat nose pliers and squeeze bend together, making a sharp fold in the wire.

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Step 3

Hold the folded wire in pliers as far down as you want the point, about a ¼ inch. Pull the wires apart forming a V with the wires.

Step 4

After taking the wire out of the pliers pull apart slightly. Put aside.

Step 5

Take the second piece of 21-gauge wire and bend in the middle with the tip of the round nose pliers.

Step 6

Grasp the bend in the wire with your flat nose pliers and squeeze the wire together forming a tight fold in the wire.

Step 7

Grasp about 1/8 of an inch of the folded over wire at the fold in the pliers and pull the legs of the wire apart forming a V with them.

Step 8

Lay the two wires you have bent within each other, with the one opened all the way on the bottom. Your second wire bent should be able to cozy into the V of the first wire bent.

Step 9

Repeat step 1 thru 8 on the other two 9 inch long length of 21-gauge wire. Try to match your bends with the two wires already bent.

Step 10

Put one set of wires aside. Take the wire with the closed fold from the remaining wires and wrap one of the 18 inch long 26-gauge wires around right next to the middle of the wire 3 times.

Step 11

Place the 2nd wire so the point of the first wire sits right inside of the point of the 2nd wire. Wrap the weaving wire around both of the base wires you just arranged.

Step 12

Wrap the weaving wire around the first wire wrapped three times. Then wrap the weaving wire around both base wires twice. Continue this pattern for about 1 ¼ inches, end your pattern by wrapping the weaving wire around the first base wire three times.

Step 13

Repeat on the other side of the V fold in the center of the wire. Cut off the tails of the wire from the beginning of your weaving.

Step 14

Repeat with the second set of wires you put aside earlier. You should end up with two woven V shapes that are the same length.

Step 15

Check to see if the weaving is long enough by wrapping one side around the heart. If the weave goes from the point to the center of the heart it is long enough, if not weave a little more. Make sure if you weave on one side, weave on the other side and other earring.

Step 16

Take the weaving wire and continue wrapping around the base wire. Wrap around for about ½ inch (this is called coiling). Do this with all the weaving wires. Cut off the weaving wires and smooth the ends. Put the cut off weaving wire to the side.

Step 17

Shape the woven section around the right side of your heart. At the end of the weave where the coiling begins bend the coiled wire up at a 90 degree angle. Wrap the coiled wire around the round nose pliers to form a circle. This is your earring bail.

Step 18

Bend the wire from the bail that was just made to the back side cut off and crimp into place.

Step 19

Form the woven wire around the heart. Wrap the uncoiled wire from the other side of the V around the base of the bail. Cut off and crimp on the back side of the bail.

Step 20

Wrap the last wire in the front (the coiled wire on the left side) around to the back of the earring. Cut off the wires so they are about 1 ½ inches long. (this is a picture of the back side of the earring)

Step 21

Spiral the ends of the wires. Make sure the spirals touch the edges of the weaving under the wide part of the heart.

Take a small piece of the weaving wire cut off earlier and wrap it around the wire one of the spirals are made out of three times. Use the wire to stitch the spiral to the weave. Repeat with the other spiral.

Step 22

Repeat on the other earring, However start on the left side instead of the right side of the woven wire piece to make mirror images. Put earring hooks on and enjoy your new earrings.

Reviews

Deborah Kelly

Deborah got into wire work about 4 years ago and is now a snow bird who spends the winter in Quartzsite, Arizona. She does volunteer work while there and teaches 'Creative Wire Wrap' at the "Quartzsite Roadrunners, Gem & Mineral Club." In the summer she travels the Western US with her family and they make and give away free jewelry with their own private philanthropic endeavor that they call The Free Jewelry Project.