-
- About 30 minutes
Intermediate
You're somewhat experienced with the skills necessary to complete this project, but you haven't mastered all the elements, yet.
wire wrapped pearl necklace
Make a necklace that’s fit for a marine queen! We conjured up this lovely pendant from a bit of shell and a lovely pearl, then slipped it onto a length of shimmery cording. What could be more enchanting? Read on to learn how easy it is to make, as we walk you through the whole thing!
| Step 1 |
To make this necklace, we’ll start with the little pearl dangle that sits in front of the shell pendant. So, go ahead and thread one pearl onto a ball headpin. |
| Step 2 |
With your round nose pliers, grasp the wire about ¼" above the pearl bead and bend it to a 90° angle, creating a tail that’s about 1½" long. TIP: Make sure to leave that ¼" of space between the pearl and your bend, since that’s where the wire wraps you’ll make in Step 4 will rest. |
| Step 3 |
Now, you’ll make a small loop in this wire, again using the round nose pliers. Grasp the 90° bend so that the wire tail sticks out between the pliers’ jaws. Use your fingers to bend the wire tail over the top jaw of the pliers, down to the bottom jaw and around, so that the wire is perpendicular to the pearl. |
| Step 4 |
Next, grab your chain nose pliers and firmly grasp the loop between their jaws. With your round nose pliers, grasp the wire tail and begin to wrap it around the short space of wire that’s between the loop and the pearl. Wrap the wire tail three times. |
| Step 5 |
Use your wire cutters to trim away as much of the short wire tail as you can – try to cut as close to the wire wraps as you’re able. Use your chain nose pliers to tuck the tail in a bit, so the wire end can’t snag on clothing. You’ve finished the dangle! Now, set it aside for a bit. |
| Step 6 |
Cut a piece of Artistic Wire® that’s about 12" long. Repeat Steps 2-5 to create a loop about 1½" from one end of the wire, then wrap the tail around the wire three times. Don’t forget to trim and tuck the wire tail. |
| Step 7 |
Thread the opposite end of the wire through a large teardrop shell bead, and slide the bead down the wire until it’s next to the loop you made in the previous step. Wrap the loop so that it’s behind the shell and sticking out above it. The wire wraps that are underneath the loop should be right behind the tip of the shell. Hold the loop and shell in place with your thumb. |
| Step 8 |
Wrap the excess Artistic Wire® around the top of the shell, securing it to the loop in the back. Keep holding the shell and loop together with your thumb until they’re secured in place. |
| Step 9 |
When you get to the second to last wrap of Artistic Wire®, slip on the pearl dangle. Wrap the wire around the shell’s top one final time, then tuck its end around the back, behind the shell. |
| Step 10 |
Open up a jump ring and slip it onto the loop at the top of the shell pendant. Once it’s in place, close the jump ring again. TIP: Here’s the best way to open and close a jump ring: Grasp the jump ring on both sides with pliers, then twist the ring open from side to side. Never pull the jump ring’s edges straight apart, since that can distort its circular shape. We’ve got a quick video that’ll show you how, click here to view it. Open up a jump ring and slip it onto\nthe loop at the top of the shell pendant. Once it’s in place, close the jump\nring again. TIP: Here’s the best way to open and close a jump ring: Grasp the\njump ring on both sides with pliers, then twist the ring open from side to\nside. Never pull the jump ring’s edges straight apart, since that can distort\nits circular shape. We’ve got a quick video that’ll show you how: https://youtu.be/GTyUmw-A2rU |
| Step 11 |
Use your wire cutters to cut a piece of leather cording that’s 22" long. Slide your shell pendant onto the cording and move it to the midpoint between the two ends. |
| Step 12 |
Now, finish your necklace with a sliding knot, which allows you to shorten and lengthen it without a clasp. Here’s how you make a sliding knot: - Overlap your cording so that the ends stick out about 4" on either side of the overlap. - With one hand, pinch the cords together at the center of the overlap. - With the other, bend the left end toward the center to create a loop just to the left of where the cords cross (at the center). Make sure this loop sits on top of the cords. - Wind the left end around both cords twice, then slip it back through the loop and pull to tighten the knot. - Repeat the previous steps to make a knot with the right end, too, but make sure you leave about 1" to 2" in between the two knots. Trim the ends of the cording. TIP: To watch a video on how to make a sliding click here, or you can simply finish your necklace by tying a knot. Just decide on the length you want your necklace to be, then tie a knot and cut the excess. Share your project photos with #MakeItWithMichaels |
Supplies
Materials
Materials
https://www.michaels.com/wire-wrapped-pearl-necklace/B_85125.html
Products
Tools
Tools
https://www.michaels.com/bead-gallery-white-shell-teardrop-beads-34mm/10508456.html
Products
You’ll Also Need
- Ruler (or Measuring Tape)
Instructions
| Step 1 |
To make this necklace, we’ll start with the little pearl dangle that sits in front of the shell pendant. So, go ahead and thread one pearl onto a ball headpin. |
| Step 2 |
With your round nose pliers, grasp the wire about ¼" above the pearl bead and bend it to a 90° angle, creating a tail that’s about 1½" long. TIP: Make sure to leave that ¼" of space between the pearl and your bend, since that’s where the wire wraps you’ll make in Step 4 will rest. |
| Step 3 |
Now, you’ll make a small loop in this wire, again using the round nose pliers. Grasp the 90° bend so that the wire tail sticks out between the pliers’ jaws. Use your fingers to bend the wire tail over the top jaw of the pliers, down to the bottom jaw and around, so that the wire is perpendicular to the pearl. |
| Step 4 |
Next, grab your chain nose pliers and firmly grasp the loop between their jaws. With your round nose pliers, grasp the wire tail and begin to wrap it around the short space of wire that’s between the loop and the pearl. Wrap the wire tail three times. |
| Step 5 |
Use your wire cutters to trim away as much of the short wire tail as you can – try to cut as close to the wire wraps as you’re able. Use your chain nose pliers to tuck the tail in a bit, so the wire end can’t snag on clothing. You’ve finished the dangle! Now, set it aside for a bit. |
| Step 6 |
Cut a piece of Artistic Wire® that’s about 12" long. Repeat Steps 2-5 to create a loop about 1½" from one end of the wire, then wrap the tail around the wire three times. Don’t forget to trim and tuck the wire tail. |
| Step 7 |
Thread the opposite end of the wire through a large teardrop shell bead, and slide the bead down the wire until it’s next to the loop you made in the previous step. Wrap the loop so that it’s behind the shell and sticking out above it. The wire wraps that are underneath the loop should be right behind the tip of the shell. Hold the loop and shell in place with your thumb. |
| Step 8 |
Wrap the excess Artistic Wire® around the top of the shell, securing it to the loop in the back. Keep holding the shell and loop together with your thumb until they’re secured in place. |
| Step 9 |
When you get to the second to last wrap of Artistic Wire®, slip on the pearl dangle. Wrap the wire around the shell’s top one final time, then tuck its end around the back, behind the shell. |
| Step 10 |
Open up a jump ring and slip it onto the loop at the top of the shell pendant. Once it’s in place, close the jump ring again. TIP: Here’s the best way to open and close a jump ring: Grasp the jump ring on both sides with pliers, then twist the ring open from side to side. Never pull the jump ring’s edges straight apart, since that can distort its circular shape. We’ve got a quick video that’ll show you how, click here to view it. Open up a jump ring and slip it onto\nthe loop at the top of the shell pendant. Once it’s in place, close the jump\nring again. TIP: Here’s the best way to open and close a jump ring: Grasp the\njump ring on both sides with pliers, then twist the ring open from side to\nside. Never pull the jump ring’s edges straight apart, since that can distort\nits circular shape. We’ve got a quick video that’ll show you how: https://youtu.be/GTyUmw-A2rU |
| Step 11 |
Use your wire cutters to cut a piece of leather cording that’s 22" long. Slide your shell pendant onto the cording and move it to the midpoint between the two ends. |
| Step 12 |
Now, finish your necklace with a sliding knot, which allows you to shorten and lengthen it without a clasp. Here’s how you make a sliding knot: - Overlap your cording so that the ends stick out about 4" on either side of the overlap. - With one hand, pinch the cords together at the center of the overlap. - With the other, bend the left end toward the center to create a loop just to the left of where the cords cross (at the center). Make sure this loop sits on top of the cords. - Wind the left end around both cords twice, then slip it back through the loop and pull to tighten the knot. - Repeat the previous steps to make a knot with the right end, too, but make sure you leave about 1" to 2" in between the two knots. Trim the ends of the cording. TIP: To watch a video on how to make a sliding click here, or you can simply finish your necklace by tying a knot. Just decide on the length you want your necklace to be, then tie a knot and cut the excess. Share your project photos with #MakeItWithMichaels |