How to Wire Wrap a Drop Bead

Add extra decoration to your pendants and drop beads by learning how to wire wrap around the tops of them. It's a quick and easy technique and makes a real difference to your designs. Simply follow the steps below...

Things you will need

A top drilled drop bead/briolette/pendant of your choice
22 gauge (0.6mm) craft/jewellery wire (around 25cms to start with)
Round nose Pliers
Chain nose pliers
Wire cutters

Step 1

Thread the craft wire through the bead hole on your drop bead until there's around 3cm coming out of the other side. Using a pair of wire cutters, cut a length of the gilt on Copper craft wire to around 30 centimetres. Push one end of the wire through the top drilled rainbow druzy quartz pendant leaving around 3.5cms sticking out of the other side. Then, bend the 3.5cm length back on itself so it's sitting horizontally across the top of the pendant.

Step 2

Then bend the 3cm length back on itself so its crossing back over the top of the bead.

Step 3

Now bend the longer length so it Crosses over the short one.

Step 4

Use chain nose pliers to bend the longer wire back so it sits vertical at the top of the bead. Then wrap the short length around the vertical stem twice keeping a good tension on the wire. Cut off the excess with wire cutters and tuck in with your chain nose pliers if there are any sharp edges sticking out.

Step 5

Using chain nose pliers again, bend the vertical wire to a 90 degree angle.

Step 6

Now take your round nose pliers and grip the wire just above the bend, then proceed to pull the wire back over the top jaw of the wire creating a loop. You will need to reposition your pliers to complete the loop. Pull the wire all the way around so that it crosses back over the stem.

Step 7

Use the chain nose pliers to grip across the loop so you've got a secure grip. Then use either your fingers (or another pair of pliers if easier) to start to wrap the wire around the stem starting right underneath the loop. Keep a good tension and carry on wrapping until you've wrapped as much of the bead as you'd like. Still keeping a tight grip (if you let go the wire will start to uncoil) do two wraps back up towards the loop, then two more tight wraps directly below the loop to secure.

Step 8

Trim off the excess with wire cutters and tuck in any sharp edges with chain nose pliers. Your wrapped drop bead is now ready to hang from a necklace or a pair of earwires. Simply attach a jump ring.

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