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Albina Manning's Zig Zag Earrings, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry. 26-gauge wire is strong enough for this project to hold your beads in place, and yet it almost blends into the design, creating a floating bead effect! Enjoy making this design with the zig zag shapes framing the round beads: or change the shapes, using round bail pliers to frame round, oval, bicone, even handmade lampwork beads.

Zig Zag Earrings

by Albina Manning
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Coiling, Wrapping
  • Skill Level: Beginner
26-gauge wire is strong enough for this project to hold your beads in place, and yet it almost blends into the design, creating a floating bead effect! Enjoy making this design with the zig zag shapes framing the round beads: or change the shapes, using round bail pliers to frame round, oval, bicone, even handmade lampwork beads.

Materials

18 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire
H11-18D
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 feet
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $0.85
  • Gold Club Price: $0.64
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26 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire
H11-26D
  • Lesson Quantity: 10.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $0.19
  • Gold Club Price: $0.14
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Jade 6mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-643
  • Lesson Quantity: 6.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $12.07
  • Gold Club Price: $9.05
Out of Stock
Ear Wires Copper
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
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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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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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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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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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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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Bench Block Helper with Steel and Nylon Blocks
DAP-500.30
  • DAP-500.30
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.95
  • Gold Club Price: $22.46
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12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler
G7-30
  • G7-30
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.23
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Instructions
Step 1
Straighten the 18-gauge wire. Using flat nose pliers, make a 90° bend 1/2" (12mm) away from the end.
Albina Manning's Zig Zag Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, 18-gauge wire bent at 90 degress.
Step 2
Replace the flat nose pliers so they are holding the next section of the wire and the pliers set just against the corner just made. Bend the wire at the angle of 90°, forming a zigzag.
Albina Manning's Zig Zag Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Flat nose pliers used to bend more in 90 degrees.
Step 3
Place the flat nose pliers as you did in Step 2. Bend the wire at the angle of 90°
Albina Manning's Zig Zag Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Bending the wire at 90 degrees agai.
Step 4
Continue bending the wire until you have a total of 15 corners. Cut the wire 1/2" (12mm) away from the last bend.
Albina Manning's Zig Zag Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Adding 15 corners.
Step 5
Grab the 8th corner (center) with round nose pliers. Hold the wire so the wire ends are directed up as shown.
Albina Manning's Zig Zag Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Round nose pliers used to hold the middle of the corners you just made.
Step 6
Holding the wire with round nose pliers, bend both wire ends towards each other so the “inside" corners met each other.
Albina Manning's Zig Zag Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Bending both wires at the half way point.
Step 7
Using round nose pliers, gently press two upper bends towards each other forming a loop. Make sure the wires do not overlap.
Albina Manning's Zig Zag Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Round nose pliers used to line up wire bends.
Step 8
With fingers, arrange all the corners, so there are 3 big loops and one small loop on the top. Slightly arch the wire ends.
Albina Manning's Zig Zag Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Lining up bends to make loops.
Step 9
Slightly hammer zigzag. This will harden the wire and flatten zigzag.
Albina Manning's Zig Zag Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Harden the wire.
Step 10
Cut 5" of 26-gauge round dead soft wire. Leaving 1" tail, wrap 2 times to show between big and small loops.
Albina Manning's Zig Zag Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Adding 26-gauge round dead soft wire.
Step 11
Slide a 6mm bead, place it the next big loop, and wrap the wire twice between 1st and 2nd big loops as shown.
Attach two more beads a in the same manner, last time wrapping the wire three times. Cut close the wire ends.
Albina Manning's Zig Zag Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Adding beads to the loops you've made.
Albina Manning's Zig Zag Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Adding beads to the loops you've made.
Step 12
Attach the ear-wire to the small loop
Albina Manning's Zig Zag Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Attach ear wire.
Step 13
Make the second earring in the same manner.
Albina Manning's Zig Zag Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Finished piece with second piece.

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