Wednesday, April 4, 2012

FREE Caged Bead Bracelet Tutorial

Looking for an easy wire wrapping technique that can be used to dress up almost any kind of bead? This caged bead wire wrap pattern works particularly well on larger round beads like the gorgeous ones used here. This design may also be adapted to create a necklace by increasing the number of beads.

This tutorial was created by me and may be used for your personal use. I respectfully request that you not copy it, but feel free to direct others to this link. Thank you!




Materials:
  • (8-10) 10mm beads
  • (12') 18 gauge copper wire
  • (2") of 16 gauge copper wire
  • (1) 4mm copper jump ring
  • Wire cutters
  • Round nose pliers
  • Chain nose pliers
  • Hammer
  • Steel block 

Instructions:

1. Cut 14” of 18 gauge copper wire. Using your round nose pliers, make a small wire wrapped loop at the center. String bead on vertical wire and make another small wire wrapped loop at the other end.





2. Holding the top loop with your chain nose pliers, begin to gently wrap the wire over the top of the bead in a spiral pattern. Make approximately 5 to 6 wraps. Be careful to apply even tension and pressure and you will form a bead cap. Repeat the spiral wire wrap at the opposite end of the bead.
Caged Wire-Wrapped Bead Bracelet


3. Bend leftover wire towards the opposite pole with a gentle curve and loop it around the wire wrapped loop. Trim excess wire.
Caged Wire Wrapped Bracelet

4. Create another loop at the other end of the bead in the same way. Repeat the previous steps through the first loop only with your second bead.
Caged Wire Wrapped Bracelet

5. At the opposite end of the second bead, start the wire wrapped loop as shown.
Caged Wire Wrapped Bracelet

6. Before closing the wire loop, slip the first bead on, then continue with making the wire wrapped loop and the bead cap. Repeat these steps until you have enough beads to go around your wrist, less 1/2 inch.
Caged Wire Wrapped Bracelet

7. For the dangle bead begin by making a spiral as shown. It should be about the same size as the other bead caps.
Caged Wire Wrapped Bracelet

8. Instead of a spiral wrap on the other end, create a loop: Bend leftover wire towards the opposite pole with a gentle curve and loop it around the wire wrapped loop. Spiral wrap back to bottom again. Trim excess wire. Connect the dangle bead to the last bead with the jump ring.
Caged Wire Wrapped BRacelt



9. Make an “S” hook using the 16 gauge copper wire. Hammer it on the steel block to harden. Attach it to the last bead as shown. Hook the “S” hook in the jump ring to close. The dangle bead will keep the bracelet evenly weighted so it does not spin on wrist.


    21 comments:

    1. This is very nice...thanks for sharing....

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    2. Very pretty and thanks for writing such a nice tut. Appreciate the effort and time this took.

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    3. This might get me going again. Thank you for the time and effort this took on your part.

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      1. you are very welcome, I'd love to see you get started again, as we like to say about jewelry making....it's cheaper than therapy and twice as much fun! :-)

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    4. Have always wanted to do those "wrapped caps", this is the easiest to understand tut I have seen. Thanks!

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    5. Your wrap is so clean! Lovely work, that is why I don't wrap it looks like a mangled mess when I'm done. Great work!

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    6. Thanks Eva!

      Nem a teljes karkötőt készítettem el, hanem felhasználtam a tekercselt gyöngyös ötleted. Ha kész, küldök linket!

      Köszönöm!

      Sok sikert és jó munkát!

      Marietta

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    7. Well done tutorial and very pretty bracelet! It inspires me to work with my lampwork beads that have been neglected for awhile, thanks!!

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    8. What a beautiful bracelet. I would love to try this. Where did you find such pretty beads? You make this look very easy!

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    9. Thank you so much for the wonderful tutorial,you make it look so easy!

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