Making a wrapped loop
September 16, 2008 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Beading, Technique Tuesday, Tutorials & Techniques, Wire
Technique Tuesday!
Making a wrapped loop well is one of the foundational skills needed for adding wire work to your jewelry. It’s simple and easy, but it takes some practice to get everything lined up just right. After years of making wrapped loops, I know just how much wire I need in each gauge in order to turn one without any waste. That’s important when you’re using pricey materials like gold and silver wire. So get some inexpensive craft wire in some different gauges, and go to town practicing. Measure off a 5 inch piece, and then subtract what’s left to find out how much you really need! I used some nice large, bright, tacky pink wire so you could see the details clearly.
You will need chain nose pliers (or flat nose), round nose pliers, and wire cutters, plus your piece of wire.
Cyndi, these are very good and clear instructions.
If I remember correctly, the magazine “Step by step Wire Jewlery” (http://www.stepbystepwire.com/wire/) always contain a few pages of wire basics showing how to make loops and wrapped loops, and opening/closing jump rings and other basic wire tips as well.
Thanks so much for helping we newbies, very clear.
All the best to you.
Thank you both! Paul, I think you’re right…several of the magazines have “basics” pages in the back of each issue.
Thanks Cindi for all your tips they are always very clear so anyone even I can follow they. I appreciate you very much and enjoy this jewelry blog so much.
LOL! What do you mean “even you” can follow them???
Thanks for the thumbs up!
I have a hard time figuring out the instructions unless the instructions have pictures that are clear and closeup like the ones up there. A lot of the books are more vague in their instructions. I have ben told before that I learn much slower that the average person. I think it has to do with how well I am instructed however. Because I don’t have as hard a time following your instructions on things.
I’m with you, Sue. I have a *much* easier time figuring things out when there are clear pictures to illustrate. I’ll keep that in mind for future tutorials, thanks!
What a great idea using that super huge and bright pink wire! I might have to do that next time we shoot a video of something wirework. Speaking of which, BeadStyleMag.com has a video showing how to make a wrapped loop along with some other basic techniques.