Snoflinga

Skill Level: Intermediate

Technique: Round wire wrapping and shaping

When I met Judy in person at one of our workshops, I asked her about her contest entry. Judy grew up with a Swedish heritage, and "snoflinga" translates to English as "snowflake"! Although she presently lives in a warmer climate, Judy still loves snow and the individual beauty of each snoflinga. (This pattern is one of my personal favorites - Dale "Cougar" Armstrong).

Materials

• 2" 18-gauge Round White Wire
• 115" 26-gauge Round White Wire (about 9½ feet)
• 11"¾ 18-gauge Round Gold Wire
• 11"¾ 18-gauge Round Silver Wire
• 30"¾ 26-gauge Round Gold Wire
• 30"¾ 26-gauge Round Silver Wire
• 12 4mm Swarovski Crystals: Round or Bicone in Aqua
• 12 4mm Swarovski Crystals: Round or Bicone in Aurore Boreale (AB)
• 24 #11 Seed Beads, Clear

Tools

• Small Round Nose Pliers
• Chain Nose Pliers
• Flush Cutters
• Ruler
• Rawhide Mallet
• Steel Block
• Fine Tip Marker
• Masking or Painter's Tape

Foundation

1. Cut 2" of 18-gauge white wire.
   

2. Mark wire every ¼". Bend wire at each mark to approximately 60°.
   

3. Pull wire together to form a hexagon. The last two sections of both ends will overlap. Be sure to overlap vertically.
   
   

4. Tape the overlapped sections.
   

5. Cut 18" of 26-gauge white wire.
   

6. Starting on any segment where the frame does not overlap, coil the 26-gauge wire over the 18-gauge wire. When you come to the overlapping segments carefully remove the tape and coil over both portions of wire. Continue around the base until you have completely covered the base with the 26-gauge wire. Keep your coils tight and consistent.
   

7. Cut off tails and tighten ends down.
   

Row 1 U Links

1. Cut 3 pieces of 18-gauge gold wire at 1½" each.
   

2. Cut 3 pieces of 18-gauge silver wire at 1½" each.
   

3. Mark each piece at ¾" (1/2 of the length).
   

4. Bend each piece of wire in half around the back of the round nose pliers.
   
   

5. Make a simple loop at both ends of the wire. Be sure to loop the wire outwards from center.
   

6. Complete each piece of wire to this stage. Place link on a steel block and hammer lightly with a rawhide mallet.
   
   

7. Place the base of the U links next to the base. Gently spread the U links so that the outer ends are even with the corners of the base.
   
   

8. Cut 3 pieces of 26-gauge gold wire at 10" each.
   

9. Cut 3 pieces of 26-gauge silver wire at 10" each.
   

10. For the remainder of this section, use 26-gauge gold wire on 18-gauge gold wire and 26-gauge silver wire on 18-gauge wire.
    

11. Coil the 26-gauge gold wire around the left arm of the 18-gauge wire 5 times.
    

12. Hold the base of the U link against one side of the foundation frame. Wrap the 26-gauge wire around the base of the U link and the segment of the foundation frame 4 times. Continue coiling around the right arm of the U link 5 times.
    
    

13. String on one of the aqua 4mm crystals.
    

14. Go across to the left side of the U link and coil the wire 7 times.
    

15. String on one of the aqua 4mm crystals.
    

16. Go across to the right side of the U link and coil the wire 2 times.
    
    

17. Coil the wire once through the left side of the right loop.
    

18. Coil the wire 3 times through the bottom of the right loop.
    

19. Stop. Do NOT cut the tail. Pull the remaining wire up and out of your way.
    

20. Working to the right on the foundation, repeat steps #11 through #19 alternating to silver.
    

21. Now that the second U link is in place go back to the 26-gauge gold wire.
    

22. Wrap the gold wire around the right side of the gold loop you were working in and the left side of the left loop of the silver loop. Wrap 3 times.
    

23. Coil around the upper portion of the gold loop 3 more times. Cut the tail of the gold 26-gauge wire and tighten the end down.
    
    

24. Continue in this pattern until all of the U links are attached to the foundation hexagon and to each other.
    
    

Outer Row--Inverted Links

1. Cut 3 pieces of 18-gauge gold wire each 2" long.
   

2. Cut 3 pieces of 18-gauge silver wire each 2" long.
   

3. Mark each piece at 1" (1/2 the length).
   

4. Bend each piece in half using the back of the round nose pliers.
   

5. Make a simple loop on the ends of each link. Be sure to bend the loops inward from center.
   
   

6. Place the inverted links next to a U link of the same color. Spread the links apart so that the loops of the inverted links match the loops of the corresponding U link
   

7. Cut 6 pieces of 26-gauge white wire at 11" each.
   

8. Cut 6 pieces of 26-gauge wire at 5" each.
   

9. Note: Connect gold inverted links to gold U links and silver to silver.
   

10. Coil the piece of 11" 26-gauge white wire around the left arm of an inverted link 14 times. Be sure to work from the loop end toward the apex of the link.
    

11. String a 4mm Aurora Borealis crystal onto the wire.
    

12. Cross to the right arm of the inverted link and coil the 26-gauge wire 14 more times. Go straight across the link near the apex. The crystal should just fit between the two arms.
    

13. String on two #11 seed beads, one crystal, and two more #11 seed beads.
    

14. Go straight across the inverted link to the left arm again. Coil 5 times working toward the loop.
    
    

15. Coil 3 times inside the loop.
    

16. Connect the inverted link to the snowflake by wrapping 3 times inside the loop of the inverted link and the loop of the corresponding U link.
    
    

17. Coil 3 times around the right side of the left loop on the inverted link. Cut ends and tighten with chain nose pliers.
    

18. Take a 5" piece of 26-gauge wire that you made in step #8 above.
    

19. Coil the 26-gauge wire around the left side of the right loop on the inverted link.
    
    

20. Attach the right loop of the inverted link to the right loop of the corresponding U link by wrapping the 26-gauge wire around both loops 3 times.
    

21. Continue coiling the 26-gauge wire around the right side of the right loop 3 times.
    
    

22. Coil the remainder of the wire around the right arm of the inverted link 5 times. Cut all ends and tighten with the chain nose pliers.
    

23. Continue with the next links to the right by repeating steps #10 through #22.
    
    

---

 Free Wire Jewelry Patterns

Did you find this pattern through a link from a friend? This Free Wire Jewelry Pattern is just one of dozens of free wire jewelry patterns we send via email. Get patterns like this one straight to your inbox - click here!