Making an open loop bead dangle is another technique for making an eye loop in the end of a wire component.

This technique is frequently used when making a bead dangle to hang beads from earrings or necklace components. The open loop is not as strong a way to make a bead dangle (shown at left) as the "wrapped loop" technique that we will discuss later, but this technique is totally appropriate for applications like earrings where there won't be significant weight or force applied to the loop. n addition to !iewing these instructions here, please !iew our WigJig Video 4 on Making a Bead Dangle by selecting here.

Open Loop

Open Loop Bead Dangle

Step 1

Step 1: nsert your head pin or wire component through your beads and grasp the wire immediately abo!e your beads with your bent chain nose pliers as shown at right. "se the tips of your pliers as you will want to minimi#e the amount of wire abo!e the beads. This technique is easier to accomplish in a more consistent manner when using $%& hard wire. 'ee the picture abo!e(right. Step : "sing your thumb push the wire o!er about )* degrees. +ush the wire with your thumb as close to your pliers as possible so that you get a crisp bend (as opposed to a rounded bend.) Step !: "sing your round nose pliers grasp the wire on the hori#ontal segment, but as close to the bend as possible. 'ee the picture at right for the orientation of your pliers relati!e to the bend. ,rasp the wire in roughly the middle of your round nose pliers according to the si#e of the loop that you want to make. Step 4: "sing your thumb, push the wire up and o!er the upper -aw in your round nose

pliers. .gain, push the wire with your thumb as close to the pliers as possible.

Step

Step !

Step4

Step ": n order to complete the loop you will ha!e to re(orientate the wire in your pliers otherwise the lower -aw of your pliers will pre!ent you from completing the loop. 'ee the picture below(left Step #: /ith the wire re(orientated in your pliers, continue pushing the wire until you ha!e completed the loop as shown below(center. Step $: .t this point we need to !isually inspect the loop and ensure that it is centered. f it is slightly off center, insert the loop fully in your pliers and twist it one way or the other until the loop is centered o!er the !ertical wire segment abo!e the beads. 'ee the picture below(right.

Step "

Step #

Step $

Step %: 0ow we are ready to cut the e1cess wire. 2rientate your flush cutter so that the flat side of your cutter is toward the finished wire component and cut the e1cess wire at the point were it o!erlaps the beginning of the loop. Step &: .fter cutting the e1cess wire the loop will be slightly open as shown at left. /e need to close this opening. This is done with your bent chain nose pliers, grasping the loop and twisting so that it is closed. The finished, closed loop will appear as shown at

right.

Step %

Step &

'inished Bead Dangle

2ur -ewelry making instructions continue with instructions on how to make a wrapped loop and with other techniques for making an open loop. The wrapped loop is !ery popular in making wire components because it is strong and can be used essentially in any -ewelry component. +lease !isit our instructions for these -ewelry techniques.

Many e1pensi!e gemstones are made in a style called 3riolette, shown at right. This style of bead is teardrop shaped with a hole hori#ontally through the top of the teardrop. Mounting these briolette beads in -ewelry can be a challenge because you can not use a head(pin as you would with normal teardrop beads. These instructions will describe one way to mount a briolette bead. Je(elry Making S)pplies: # inches o- #. (ire Briolette bead Je(elry Making Skills +e,)ired:

*ools +e,)ired: +o)nd 1ose 2liers

'l)sh 3)tter 3hain 1ose or Bent 3hain 1ose 2liers 4 5 " 6in)tes o- -ree ti6e

/bility to bend (ire )sing bent chain nose pliers /bility to (rap (ire aro)nd itsel-0

6aking a (rapped loop.

Step 14 5ut and straighten a 6 inch segment of &6 gauge wire. (/ith some briolette beads, &7 gauge will also work.) Step 4 'lide & inches of this wire through the hole in the top of the bead. 0ow bend both sides of the wire up to form an "8" abo!e the bead. The wire should appear as shown at right. Step !4 ,rasp the longer segment of wire -ust before the cross in the "8" and bend this wire segment up. 'ee the picture, below left. Step 44 /rap the short segment around the long segment about two times. Step "4 5ut the e1cess wire. "sing one pair of bent chain nose pliers grasp the two wire segments below the wrap. /ith a second pair of bent chain nose pliers squee#e and twist the short segment of cut wire so that it is flat. .t this point your 3riolette bead should appear as shown bottom, right and you can use this as you would any bead dangle made with a head(pin.

Step

Step !

Step 4

Step "

The first question is e1actly what is a bead dangle and why do need to know how to make one9 0ormally, a bead dangle is one or more beads held in place by -ewelry wire, with a loop at one end so that the bead dangle can hang from that loop. 3ead dangles can be an important -ewelry making component of earrings or necklaces. . bead dangle is an important -ewelry making component, frequently made using a -ewelry finding called a head(pin. . head(pin is a piece of metal with a "head" like the head of a pin on one end and a straight wire tail usually between $ and :" long. "nlike a regular straight pin, the head pin is not sharp on the end opposite the "head", but ends in a flat or flush cut end. The "head" of the head pin holds the beads in place, the wire tail of the head pin is used to make the loop on the opposite end. ;ou can !iew a selection of head pins here. . bead dangle is made by sliding one or more beads onto the head pin. /ith the head pin held !ertically, with the head on the bottom and the wire tail point up, push the beads to the bottom against the head of the head pin and grasp the wire tail -ust abo!e the beads with your chain nose or bent chain nose pliers. Then bend the wire to an angle of about <* degrees. 0ow grasp the wire tail near this bend with your round nose pliers and make an eye loop in the wire. =isit here to see how to make this loop and cut the wire. .nother approach to making this loop is to make a wrapped loop instead of a simple eye loop. This is a more ad!anced technique and is described in detail in our online book on -ewelry making called 7Wire Design Basics7. >et us start with a simple definition of a bead dangle. . bead dangle is one or more beads hanging from a -ewelry component like an earring body. ;ou can !iew a simple bead dangle at right. n most cases, beads will be strung on a head pin to make the bead dangle. ?inally, a bead dangle may ha!e a wrapped loop at the top like the one shown at right, or they may ha!e an open loop at the top like the large bead in the center of the earrings shown at left. The bead dangle is a !ery important -ewelry making skill because we use it so often. n fact, being able to make a bead dangle may be the one skill that differentiates a rank beginner from an ad!anced beginner. 2ur approach for making a bead dangle is slightly different from the approach that was commonly taught $@ years ago. This modification is based upon the fact that we ha!e

de!eloped some new bent chain nose pliers, with thinner tips that we call fine bent chain nose pliers. n order to be successful with our approach you need bent chain nose pliers with tips that are about $mm wide. ;ou also need round nose pliers and a second pair of chain nose or bent chain nose pliers. The steps in!ol!ed in making a bead dangle are described starting below. Step 1: Thread a head pin through your beads or beads. Step : +ush the bead all the way to the bottom of the head pin (touching the "head" of the head pin. Step !: ,rasp the head pin in your bent chain nose pliers immediately abo!e the bead as shown at right. The distance that you grasp the head pin from the tips of the -aws of your pliers will determine where the loop in the bead dangle begins. /e want this distance to be the same for all bead dangles in a particular -ewelry item, so please notice where on your pliers you gripped the head pin. 2n your second bead dangle, you will want to grip the head pin at the same point on your pliers.

Step 1

Step

Step !

Step 4: "sing your thumb, while gripping the head pin firmly in your pliers, push the wire o!er to an angle of <* to )* degrees as shown at right. +ush with your thumb close to the -aws of the pliers so that the bend will be sharp and not rounded. Step ": /hen the bend is completed your head pin and bead should appear as shown at left.

Step 4

Step "

Step #: 0ow we need to begin the process of making a loop in the head pin, centered abo!e the bead. "sing your round nose pliers, grip the head pin on the longer, hori#ontal wire segment, but as close to the <*()* degree bend in the wire as possible. 'ee the picture below(left. Step $: Transfer your round nose pliers from your dominant hand to your non(dominant hand. "sing the thumb on your dominant hand, push the wire up and o!er the top -aw of your round nose pliers as shown below center. ;ou can not complete the loop in the wire in one step because the lower -aw of the pliers is in the way. (/hen you are beginning it is better to make this loop larger rather than smaller. ,rasp the wire closer to the hinge of your round nose pliers, further from the tip, to make a larger loop.) Step %: .t this point, we need to re(orientate our grip on the head pin so that we will ha!e room to complete the loop. >oosen your grip on the pliers enough to allow you to rotate the head pin as shown below(right. 2nce the head pin is in the position shown, grip the head pin firmly. +lease note that to make the best possible loop, you will want to grip the head pin at the same point in the -aws of the pliers in both steps A and <.

Step #

Step $

Step %

Step &: 0ow, while holding your pliers in your non(dominant hand, use the forefinger on your dominant hand to push the wire to complete the loop. 'ee the picture at right for how the wire component should appear after you ha!e pushed

the wire to complete the loop. Step 18: Bemo!e the wire component from your pliers. .t this point the head pin with bead should appear as shown at left. ?requently at this point, you will notice that the loop is not centered abo!e the bead. n those cases, re(insert the loop on one of the -aws of your round nose pliers and slide it down the pliers until the entire loop is touching the pliers. .t that point, you can twist the loop to the left or to the right until the loop is centered abo!e the bead. Step 11: .t this point you can choose if you want to make an open loop bead dangle or a wrapped loop bead dangle. ;ou can !iew an open loop bead dangle, below(left and a wrapped loop bead dangle below center. f you choose to make the open loop bead dangle, you would cut the e1cess wire at the point where it starts to o!erlap, as shown below(right. 2nce you'!e cut the e1cess wire, you ha!e essentially completed the open loop bead dangle. n order to add that dangle to a piece of -ewelry, you would use your bent chain nose pliers to twist the loop up, allowing it to be added to the -ewelry item. 2nce it is in position, then you would twist the loop down to close the open loop. That would complete the process of making and using an open loop bead dangle.

Open Loop

Wrapped Loop

3)tting the 9:cess -or an Open Loop

Step 1 : The wrapped loop bead dangle, is stronger and more permanent than an open loop bead dangle. .fter the wire is wrapped closed, that bead dangle will remain in that position until it is cut off. ?or this reason, when making a wrapped loop bead dangle, you need to put the bead dangle in its final position before you begin wrapping it closed. n the picture at right you can !iew how the wire component was positioned prior to wrapping. 'ometimes you may find that using your pliers to open the loop slightly will make it easier to position the wire component.

Step 1!: 0ow we need to grip the loop in the -aws of our fine bent chain nose pliers and hold the loop firmly. 3y holding the loop in our pliers while we wrap the wire around itself, we preser!e the round shape of the loop. 'ee the picture at left for how you should

grip the loop with your pliers.

Step 14: .t this point you are ready to wrap the wire around itself. Cold your bent chain nose pliers in your non(dominant hand and with the fingers of your dominant hand push the wire to begin wrapping. 2ne important thing while you are wrapping is to keep the wire tail perpendicular to the wire you are wrapping around as you wrap.

Step 1": 5ontinue wrapping until you ha!e filled almost all of the space between the bead and the loop at the top of the bead dangle. .gain, keep the wires perpendicular for

the entire wrap as this will allow a tight wrap without gaps. Step 1#: /hen you ha!e completed the wrap you will still ha!e some e1cess wire that you will need to cut. 5ut the wire with the flat side of your flush cutter toward the bead dangle so that you won't ha!e a sharp end left on your wire. 5ut as close to the bead dangle as your cutter will allow.

Step 1$: The final step in making a wrapped bead dangle is to squee#e and twist the small cut end of the wire flat. This step requires two pair of chain

nose pliers. 2ne pair of chain nose pliers is required to hold the loop in the wire -ust as we did in step $: The second pair of chain nose pliers is used to squee#e and twist the !ery short cut end of the wire flat. n the picture at left, the pliers at the bottom hold the loop while the pliers on the top squee#e and twist the cut end of the wire until it is flat. The end result is the finished wrapped bead dangle shown at right.

. "5age" is a wire pattern around a bead. The pattern is based upon spiraled wire wrapped around a bead held on either a head pin as shown at right or around a wire similar to a wrapped bead link.

3age O;er #66 bead

These earrings are a quick -ewelry making pro-ect and are rather unique. The finished product emphasi#es the cage and the wire and de(emphasi#es the beads themsel!es.

3age 9arrings Je(elry S)pplies: $< inches of &*, soft gold(filled wire

;ie(s

Je(elry *ools +e,)ired: Bound 0ose +liers ?lush 5utter

Two &" gold(filled head pins Two 6 mm crystal beads Two & or &.@ mm round gold( filled beads

5hain 0ose or 3ent 5hain 0ose +liers (&) .ny /igDig acrylic -ig 'piral Maker for -ig & metal pegs and one $%7 or @%<" 'uper +eg

:* minutes of free time Je(elry Making Skills +e,)ired:

"se of a /igDig and 'piral Maker to make a spiral. .bility to combine two spirals on one piece of wire into a "5age". .bility to make an ear wire using /igDig, metal pegs and 'uper +egs

Step 1: 5ut and straighten a piece of &*, soft wire @" long. Step : "sing the /igDig 'piral Maker, make a spiral in $%& of this wire. /hen the spiral is completed there should be a wire tail &$%& inches long. The spiral will appear as shown at right (the center wire tail of the spiral is pointing away from the camera in this picture.) nstructions for making a spiral with the /igDig 'piral Maker can be found here.

Step

Spirals

Step !: 0ow make another spiral with the wire tail. /hen making this spiral, the center wire of the spiral should point in the opposite direction from the first spiral and the spiral should spiral in from the end in the opposite direction of the first spiral (if the first one is clockwise, then the second is counter( clockwise). /hen completed the two spirals should appear as shown at right.

Step ! *op Vie(

Step ! Side Vie(

Step 4: 0ow, by hand, continue wrapping the smaller of the two spirals until it completely o!erlaps the other spiral. The two spirals should be flat like two pancakes stacked one on top of the other, with the center wires pointed in opposite directions. The picture at right shows how this should appear.

Step 4 O;erlapping Spirals

Step ": .t this point you can easily see the ad!antages of using the /igDig 'piral Maker to make this cage. The two center wire tails become natural handles to pull the cage apart, making a figure as near to a sphere as possible. Try to space the wire loops e!enly.

Step " 2)ll /part 3age

Step #: 0ow we need to open the cage so that we can put a bead in the center of the cage. This is done by hand, pulling apart two sides of the cage as shown at left. Step $: .t this point we need to cut the wire tails off using our flush cutter. This lea!es us with an open clamshell of wire. Step %: n the center of the clamshell place a 6mm bead. Thread a & or &.@mm metal bead onto a &" head( pin and thread the headpin into the hole of the 6mm bead. Step # Open 3age

Step &: 0ow close the cage by hand and thread the head(pin completely through the 6mm bead and the opposite center of the cage.

Step & 'inished 3age

Step 18: To finish this earring, attach the head(pin to the ear wire with a wrapped loop. ?or this earring made the ear wire using a pattern like the one here. The steps for making the wrapped loop are also shown here. The finished earring is shown at right.

Step 18 'inished 9arring

'tart with a flush cut at one end of the wire. "sing round nose pliers, place the wire between the -aws with the wire end flush with the edge of the pliers. ,ently press the wire tail around the nose to form the ma-ority of the loop. Belease pliers' grip, and mo!e pliers slightly to e1pose the unwrapped portion of the loop. ?inish loop by either twisting pliers slightly to close loop, or use fingers yto wrap wire around the -aw to complete.

"sing round nose pliers, place one -aw inside loop and grasp at the base. Turn pliers slightly to align the loop directly on top of the wire tail.

1O*94 The length of the wire tail after the cut is critical. 'ee ne1t page for important details.

Thread bead onto wire and clip wire tail with the flat edge of cutters towards the bead to form a straight edge in wire tail. ,rasp wire tail in round nose pliers and form a basic starting loop. "sing round nose pliers, place one -aw inside loop and grasp at the base. Turn the pliers slightly to align the loop directly on top of the wirer base.

>oops can be made in same direction as shown on left. 2r, they can be made in the opposite direction, depending on the design and%or your peresonal preference.

The wrapped loop is one of the more important skills in!ol!ed in the wire working technique called "/ire /rapping". This technique is important

because it allows us to make a loop in wire that is as strong as if it were cast or soldered. This is !ery important for making beaded chains and for connecting wire components into chains that are !ery strong. ;ou can !iew a wrapped loop at right. This technique can also be used to make a bead dangle using a head pin as shown at left. The steps in!ol!ed in making a wrapped loop bead dangle are described below. Step 1: 'lide your beads onto your head pin all the way down. /hile holding the head pin upright, grasp the wire immediately abo!e the beads with your bent chain nose pliers. Step : 3end the wire o!er to an angle of about )* degrees. Ensure that you ha!e about $" or &@ mm of wire on the now hori#ontal wire segment.

Step !: ,rasp the hori#ontal wire segment in your round nose pliers on the hori#ontal segment, but as close to the )* degree bend as possible.

Step 1

Step

Step !

Step 4: "sing your thumb, push the wire up and o!er the -aw of your round nose pliers as shown below. Step ": .t this point you will need to re(orientate the wire in the -aws of your pliers so that you can complete the loop. Be(grip the wire as shown at right. Step #: 5omplete the loop as shown at left.

Step 4

Step "

Step #

Step $: Bemo!e the wire from your pliers. .t this point we need to inspect the loop to see if the loop is centered o!er the !ertical wire. f the loop isn't centered (which happens most of the time), slide one -aw of your round nose pliers all the way into the loop so that

the entire inside of the loop is touching the -aw of your pliers. Then grip the loop and twist it slightly so that the loop is properly aligned so that the !ertical wire points to the center of the loop. ?or the loop shown at right, you would twist the loop slightly clockwise as we are looking at it to center the loop o!er the wire and beads below it. Step %: 0ow we are ready to connect this loop into your -ewelry component. This ob!iously must be accomplished before wrapping the loop closed if you are connecting to another closed loop as shown abo!e(left.

Step $

Step %

Step &: /ith your loop connected as described abo!e, grasp the loop using your bent chain nose pliers. ,rasp it firmly. /e aren't trying to crush the loop only to make sure that it doesn't mo!e. To be able to accomplish this step, as shown at right, you need one of two things (( Either you need pliers with -aws that are thin so that you can grasp the loop and still ha!e room to wrap the loop closed, or the other alternati!e is that you need to make a larger loop in steps :, 7, and @ so that you will ha!e room for the -aws of your bent chain nose pliers. /e ha!e worked with manufacturers to de!elop bent chain nose pliers with thinner -aws called our -ine bent nose pliers. f you don't ha!e these pliers, make a larger loop, so that you will ha!e room to grasp the loop with your pliers. ,rasping and holding the loop while you wrap the wire preser!es the round shape of your loop. Step 18: /rap the wire around one, two or three turns according to the needs of your pro-ect. n general, it is good to wrap as many turns as necessary to co!er the wire between your loop and your beads. Try to be consistent and use the same number of wraps each time. /hile wrapping the wire, keep the wire tail that you are wrapping perpendicular to the wire that you are wrapping it around.

Step & Step 18 Step 11: /hen you ha!e completed your wrap, you will need to cut the e1cess wire. Fo this with your flush cutter, holding the flat side of your cutter toward the finished piece as shown at right. Step 1 : /hen you ha!e cut the e1cess wire, you will ha!e a !ery small wire tail that will stick out at the cut end of the wire. f done correctly it will only protrude about $mm, but e!en this small amount is too much so we need to squee#e and twist this wire tail flat. This is done by holding your loop in your bent chain nose or fine chain nose pliers as shown and using a second pair of chain nose or flat nose pliers, squee#ing and slightly twisting, so that the small wire tail will lay flat and not protrude. /hen done correctly, the small wire tail will disappear as shown at right. This completes your wrapped loop. These same steps will apply if you are using this loop to connect a bead dangle and head pin in earrings and%or necklace, or if you are making a wrapped loop as a component in a chain. f more detailed instructions would help you to better understand this skill, we suggest purchase of our 7Wire Design Basics7 online book.

Step 11a

Step 11b

Step 1 a

'inished Dangle

These instructions will document how to make a wrapped bead cap as shown at right. This technique is a decorati!e way to embellish a bead using wire. Step 1: 5ut a segment of && gauge wire about 6" long. 'traighten this wire using your nylon -aw pliers.

Step : 3end the wire )* degrees about & $%&" from one end. Make a wrapped loop at this point, but do not cut the e1cess wire. ;ou should ha!e about $ :%7" of e1cess wire. Make the wrapped loop with about two wraps of wire around the stem. ;ou can !iew our free instructions for 6aking a (rapped loop here. .fter you ha!e completed the wrapped loop add an <mm or larger bead to the wire. .t this point your wire

and bead should appear as shown at right. Step !: "sing your bent chain nose pliers, grasp the wire immediately abo!e (or below as shown at left) the

bead and bend the wire about )* degrees Step 4: "sing your round nose pliers, make a loop in the wire centered on the wire inside the bead. Make the loop as close to the )* degree bend in the wire as possible so that the final loop will be centered on the wire inside the bead. .t this point your wire and bead should appear as shown at right.

Step ": f you are connecting this bead in a chain, you can connect this segment to the rest of the chain at this point, before you complete the second wrap. /hen you are ready, grasp the new loop with your bent chain nose pliers and wrap the wire tail around the wire coming out of the bead. .t this point you will ha!e a wrapped loop abo!e and below the bead with about & wraps of wire on both sides.

Step #: ,rasp the loop on one end in your bent chain nose pliers and hold the loop while you continue to wrap the wire. .t this point the wire should begin to make a spiral on the side of the bead. 5omplete about 7 loops of wire on either side of the bead. 'ee the pictures below for how this should appear.

Side Vie(

9nd Vie(

Step $: "sing your flush cutter, cut the e1cess wire. 'quee#e the cut end of the wire with your bent chain nose pliers so that it lays flat. 'ee the picture at right for a completed bead with end cap wraps.

There are two things different about these chandelier earrings as compared to our pre!ious chandelier earrings. The first difference is that these earrings are smaller. The second difference is the way these earrings are made. These earrings are made with the starting and ending loops at the top of the chandelier wire component. Each step in making these earrings is !ery simple to accomplish and while there maybe many steps in making the completed earrings, the o!erall pro-ect is easy, so this is a beginners -ewelry making pro-ect. 3ecause these earrings are smaller than most of our other chandelier earrings, many will prefer them to our other designs.

Je(elry S)pplies: $& inches of &*, wire ($%& hard preferred) 'i1 $ $%&" head(pins 'i1 mm crystal beads Two 7 mm round crystal beads $ pair of commercial ear wire findings Je(elry Skills +e,)ired:

Je(elry *ools +e,)ired: Bound 0ose +liers ?lush 5utter 5hain 0ose or 3ent 5hain 0ose +liers (&) .ny /igDig acrylic -ig 6 metal pegs

:* minutes of free time

"se of a /igDig to make wire components. .bility to make a bead dangle from a head(pin and beads. .bility to make a figure < connector from wire. .bility to connect an ear wire finding to a wire componen

Step 14 5ut and straighten a piece of &* gauge wire @ $%& inches long. $%& hard wire will work best, but soft wire will work. Step 4 Make a loop in the end of the wire. Step !4 +lace fi!e metal pegs into a /igDig 5yclops as shown below, left and place your initial loop in your wire onto the center peg. The peg pattern for the /igDig Felphi will be pro!ided later. Step 44 /rap your wire tightly around the bottom, left peg as shown below. +ush the wire with your fingers as close to the peg as possible to help keep the wrap tight. +lease note that the bottom, middle, and bottom, right pegs were mo!e out of the way to make performing this wrap easier. +lease remember, when working with $%& hard wire you need to push the wire beyond where your want it to end up so that it rela1es back into its finished position. This is why the pegs were mo!ed out of the way.

Step "4 Beplace the bottom(middle peg into its regular position, and wrap the wire around this peg. .gain, push the wire close to the peg to help keep the wrap tight around the peg. Step #4 .t this point we need to remo!e the wire from the -ig and position the bottom, right peg back into its regular position. Beplace the wire back onto the pegs in the mirror image position, as shown below left. This step helps to make this wire component more symmetrical.

Step !

Step 4

Step "

Step #

Step $4 /rap the wire around the bottom left peg. Step %4 0ow wrap the wire around the first peg, in the middle of the /igDig 5yclops as shown below. .gain, it will help make the wrap tighter by pushing the wire with your fingers close to the peg. Step &4 Bemo!e the wire from the -ig and cut the e1cess wire. 5lose the loop that you -ust completed. Step 184 0ow using your round nose pliers with the same technique used to make an eye loop, con!ert both the initial and final loop in this wire component into eye loops.

Step &

Step 18

Step $

Step %

Step 114 0ow we need to grasp each of these eye loops with your bent chain nose pliers, one at a time, and bend or twist them )* degrees. /hen the wire component is laying flat on the table the two loops should be perpendicular to the surface of the table. This is hard to show in a & dimensional picture, but the picture below is taken from the side to try to show this. Step 1 4 .t this point we need to bring the two loops together so that they end up as shown below. This is done first by grasping the wire with your bent chain nose pliers -ust below the loop and bending it slightly. Fo this for both loops. "sing your hands, bend the two top wire segments together so that when your hands are remo!ed they naturally rest against each other. This approach is called "hand finishing". Step 1!4 "sing the e1cess wire from making the wire component, cut off one end of the wire with a flush cut and make a loop in that end of the wire. Step 144 +lace this loop o!er the top left peg in your /igDig 5yclops. Step 1"4 .dd a 7mm bead to the wire and position the bead so that it rests between the two pegs as shown. Step 1#4 0ow wrap the wire around the top, right peg as shown.

Step 11

Step 14 Step 1

Step 1"

Step 1#

Step 1$4 Bemo!e the wire from the -ig and cut the e1cess wire off. 5lose the second loop that you -ust completed. Step 1%4 "sing your round nose pliers con!ert both loops into eye loops as shown below.

Step 1&4 2pen both loops and place this second wire component onto the first wire component as shown below center. 5lose both loops to make this permanent. Step 84 "sing the e1cess wire from abo!e first cut sharp end off the wire then, make a ?igure < connector. 2pen one end of the figure < connector and connect it to the two top loops of the wire component that you completed in step $). Step 14 2pen the top loop of the figure < connector, and connect this loop and wire componet to your ear wire finding. ?or the earrings shown, the 7mm ball with loop, post style earrings were employed. Step 4 0ow add three bead dangles to the three bottom loops in the wire component. These bead dangles are made of a head(pin finding with some combination of beads. Cere is where you can be !ery creati!e with your combination of beads. Make a second earring using the e1act same steps.

Step 1$

Step 1%

Step 1&

Step 8

Je(elry S)pplies <sed in Making *hese 9arrings &* gauge gold(filled round, half(hard wire, =te6 181 @1Amm ?ire +olished ,lass 3eads Buby Bed, =te6 18%4 7mm Bound &@ ?acet round 'waro!ski 'iam >ight beads, =te6 % " ,old(filled $ $%& inch thin head(pins, =te6 88#& 7mm 3all with >oop, +ost 'tyle Ear /ire ?indings, =te6 ##8 ,old(?illed Medium Ear 5lutch, =te6 84 &

/lternati;e con-ig)rations: The peg pattern for making these earrings on the /igDig Felphi is shown at far right. The earrings made using this pattern are shown at near right. .ll of the steps in!ol!ed are identical. The beads used at right are 'waro!ski, 6mm bicone amethyst beads, =te6 "88 from our store.

$: &) $*A 6 @A@

>et us start this -ewelry making discussion with a basic description of the anatomy of an earring. The generic components of an earring are the ear wire, the earring body, and possibly a connector and%or one or more bead dangles. 0ot all of these components are required. 'ome earrings will combine the earring body and the ear wire into one component. /e call these simple earrings "one piece" earrings and we document many designs for these earrings in our online book, "$ +iece Earrings". 2ther, more comple1 earrings like the one shown at right, will ha!e all of these components. n this topic, we will discuss ways to complete the Earring 3ody wire component using one of our /igDig tools. The pictures below show fi!e ways to complete the top of an earring body. The simplest to make of these fi!e is on the left. The earrings below get slightly more difficult to make as you progress to the right.

n the section below, we will show techniques for completing earrings using each of these styles.

The point in this discussion is not that these are the only way to make earrings. The point is that here are si1 different ways to take a simple wire component and con!ert it into an earring. Copefully this will pro!ide the reader with an idea how to con!ert any wire component into their own unique earring design.

One Loop Style 9arrings

/e call the style of earring body shown at right, "2ne >oop", because the top is simply one loop. This is a !ery easy design to make and for this reason is great for beginners. The pattern for this design is shown at the far(right. The Gueen of 5lubs earrings shown below, right both use this one loop style of earring body. nstructions for making the Gueen of 5lubs earrings can be found by selecting either picture below.

*(o O;erlapping Loops Style 9arrings

/e call this ne1t earring style, shown below(left, "Two >oops", because the top is simply two loops made on the same peg in your -ig. This is a !ery easy design to make and for this reason is great for beginners. The pattern for this design is shown below(right and uses the same peg for the starting and ending loops. 3y crossing the wire near the top, you can also use the hole that is formed to hang a bead dangle. /hen you are finished wrapping the wire, merely remo!e the wire from the -ig and cut the e1cess wire. 5lose the final loop with your bent chain nose pliers and you can connect the top of this earring body to your ear wire finding or to a modified -ig)re % connector.

*(o Loops 9arrings

*(o Loops 2attern

Dia6ond 3handelier 9arrings

The pattern for the wire at the bottom can be as many loops or whate!er wire shape suits your fancy. The pattern abo!e right has four loops made on the /igDig 5entaur or /igDig 5yclops. /e ha!e other earring designs that use &, : and @ loops as well as some geometric shapes. The earrings shown abo!e far(right use this two loops style of earring body. 3elow we will describe a similar technique for making an earring body that may be slightly more attracti!e.

Modi-ied *(o Loop Style 9arrings

The style for making earrings shown at right uses two loops on the beginning and ending peg as described pre!iously, but changes the orientation of those loops after the wire is remo!ed from the -ig. nstead of lea!ing these two loops where they can be easily seen, in this style, the loops are first con!erted into eye loops and then bent )* degrees so that they are perpendicular to the rest of the earring. ?inally, a small bend is made -ust below the loops so that the two loops lay flat against one another. nstructions for making the earrings shown below, center(right and far(right are pro!ided. +lease select either picture to !iew these instructions. 3elow, we describe how the top two loops are first con!erted to eye loops, then bent )* degrees and finally, we show how the two loops are bent so that they will lay flat against one another.

Mod. *(o Loops

2attern

One 2iece 3handelier

S6all 3handelier

3o6po)nd 9arring Body Style 9arrings

This third technique for finishing an earring body is slightly more work than the first two techniques, but belie!e that the e1tra effort is well worth it. This technique makes two simple wire components and connects these two components to make an earring. /e call them compound earrings because there are two wire components in the earring body. /e show one simple e1ample of a compound earring below(left. n the picture below center( left, we show the peg pattern for that compound earring. This technique for making these compound earrings calls for con!erting the two loops in the upper earring body wire component first into eye loops and then rotating them )* degrees so that they can easily connect to the bottom wire component. 'ince this connection is similar to a hinge, the motion of the "hinge" when worn adds to the interest in these earrings.

'elect either picture below center(right or below far(right for detailed instructions in how to make that style of compound earrings.

3o6po)nd 9arring

2eg 2attern

7V7 Shapped 9arrings

'o)r 2l)s 1 3handelier 9arrings

'i;e 2l)s 1 9arrings

Cere is a relati!ely simple modification to the compound earring we discussed abo!e. 'imply replace the one piece top wire component in the earrings shown abo!e with two spacer bars, one connected to either end of the bottom wire component and connect the tops of the spacer bars to your ear wire or to a figure < connector. Cere are some e1amples of this modification to the compound earring style. ?rom these e1amples, hopefully you will be able to see the power in this style of earring body.

Lo( Wall Be>el 9arrings

*riangle 9arrings

Mod 3lassic 3handelier 9arrings

Mil(a)kee 9arrings

3o6ple: Wrapped 9arring Body:

The earring -ewelry making technique shown below is slightly more difficult than the earlier styles because it uses wire wrapped around itself to permanently set the shape of the piece. This technique is suitable for ad!anced beginners and abo!e, but is not suitable for beginners to making -ewelry. This earring style is made with the beginning and ending loop on the same peg similar to the earlier two loop style, but instead of cutting the e1cess wire and re(orienting the loops, the e1cess wire is wrapped around the top of the earring body one or more times. The important question here is why would you go to the e1tra step of wrapping the wire around the earring body to finish the earring. The answer is simple (( it makes the earrings stronger and is a more professional finish to an earring body. The key in completing these wrapped earring bodies is to make a nice, clean wrap at the top, without losing the shape of the basic earring body. This is relati!ely easy to do when you grasp and hold the beginning and ending loops in your 'tep Daw +liers (or round nose pliers if you don't ha!e step -aw pliers) while you wrap the wire around the top. This style of earrings can be made with soft wire, but it will be easier to complete the wraps if you use $%& hard wire. 'elect either picture below center(right or below far(right for detailed instructions on how to make these comple1, wrapped earrings.

3o6ple: Wrapped 9arring

2eg 2attern

'o)r Dangle 9arrings ?1

'o)r Dangle 9arrings ?

/d;anced 3o6ple: 9arrings:

This style of earrings is the most difficult to complete, but when done correctly may be the most professional way to finish an earring body. This technique is suitable for ntermediate wire workers. The instructions for making the two earring designs shown at below(right are pro!ided in our online book 7Wire Design Basics 7. /e also ha!e -ree instr)ctions -or 6aking o)r 7Diogenes7 earrings here.

/d;anced 3o6ple: 9arrings

2eg 2attern

Diogenes 9arrings

Wrapped 3handelier 9arrings

Wrapped Dia6ond 9arrings

.eneral 3o66ents on Making 9arrings:

There is no way that we could possibly describe all the ways to make earrings. Many simple earrings consist of only an ear wire and a bead dangle, although as shown below, the design of the ear wire itself, or of the bead dangle could be quite comple1.

2aper 3lip

S,)are

Si6ple

3aged

9arrings

9ar Wire 9arrings

9ar Wire 9arrings

Beads 9arrings

?inally, some earrings consist of rather comple1 and custom made earring bodies. There are almost an infinite !ariety of earrings that can be made using wire and beads. Copefully, this section will pro!ide the reader with some ideas that you can incorporate into your own unique -ewelry designs. 'ome e1amples of comple1 earring bodies can be !iewed below.

Sapphire 'ig)re % AigBAag Dangle 9arrings 9arrings /hen you are de!eloping any new technology, you occasionally make a breakthrough, finding a new way to do things that is more powerful than the prior techniques. 'ometimes you are smart enough to recogni#e the power of the breakthrough immediately. 'ometimes you only understand the ad!antages after a period of time. n the case of the compound earring designs shown below, we ha!e to admit that we did not understand the power of this approach until after we had used it for se!eral months. Money 9arrings Lisa@s 9arrings

Step $: 2nce you ha!e a loop in the end of your wire, grasp the wire by the loop and pull the stem of the loop through the -aws of your nylon -aw pliers se!eral times to straighten the (ire. Step %: 0ow using a /igDig 2lympus, 2lympus >ite, Felphi or 5entaur, position two pegs in your -ig as show at right. +lace the initial loop in your wire on the lower of the two pegs, peg $. (We ha;e a .pdte6plate -or this peg pattern that yo) can print and )se to help deter6ine (here to place yo)r pegs -or yo)r WigJig Delphi or 3enta)r here.) Step &: "sing the tip of the inde1 finger on your dominant hand, push the wire with your finger as close to peg & as possible. /hile you are pushing the wire with the tip of your inde1 finger on your dominant hand, rotate the -ig counter(clockwise using your non(dominant hand. "sing your inde1 finger guide the wire up and o!er peg $ until the wire is in the position shown at left. Step 18: .dd peg & to your pattern and remo!e the wire from the -ig. Beplace the wire back on the -ig in the mirror image position as shown at right. The reason that the wire was remo!ed from the -ig and flipped o!er is that the finished piece that results will layflatter by doing this.

Step %

Step &

Step 18

Step 11: 0ow we need to wrap the wire around peg & a second time. /e do this by pushing the wire with the inde1 finger on our dominant hand while we rotate the -ig in a counter(clockwise direction using our non(dominant hand. ,uide the wire with your inde1 finger o!er peg $ until the wire rests in the position shown at left. Step 1 : Bemo!e the wire from your -ig and grasp the clo!er component you made on pegs $, & and : in the -aws of your nylon -aw pliers as shown at right. 'quee#e gently in se!eral orientations until the wire settles into its final shapeand then gi!e the wire a good firm squee#e. Step 1!: Bemo!e the wire from the -aws of your nylon -aw pliers. .t this point the wire should appear as shown at left. f the wire doesn't appear e1actly like this, this is the time to do some "Cand ?inishing" and maneu!er the wire using your round nose pliers and your fingers into this shape.

Step 11 Step 1 Step 1! Step 14: .dd a bead to the wire as shown at right. 'lide the bead all the way onto the wire until it is in contact with the clubs wire component made in your -ig. 'ee the picture below(left. Step 1": "sing your bent chain nose pliers grasp the wire immediately abo!e the bead as shown below, center(left. +lease note the orientation of the clubs component. ;ou are looking at the edge of the clubs wire component in the picture. Step 1#: "sing your thumb, push the wire o!er )* degrees as shown below, center(right. /hen completed, the wire component should appear as shown below(right.

Step 14

Step 1"

Step 1#

/-ter Step 1#

Step 1$: 0ow we need to make a loop at the top of the wire component. /e begin by grasping the wire close to the bend that we made in step $@, but on the hori#ontal sideof the bend as shown at left. Step 1%: "sing your thumb, push the wire up and o!er the -aw of your round nose pliers as shown at left. ;ou will not be able to complete the loop here in one motion as the -aws of your pliers and the bead on the wire will get in your way. Step 1&: To complete the loop at this position, you will first need to reposition the wire in the -aws of your pliers. 'ee the picture at right. This is accomplished by rela1ing your grip with your pliers, mo!ing the wire until you get it into position as shown, then tightening the grip with your pliers. ;ou want to make certain that all of the wire in the loop is touching your pliers. This is accomplished by sliding the wire in or out on your round nose pliers. n essence, we are gripping the wire at the same point in your round nose pliers as you did in step $A so that the loop in the wire will be a circle. f you grip the wire at a different point in the -aws of your round nose pliers, the loop won't be round.

Step 1$

Step 1%

Step 1&

Step 8: 0ow we are ready to complete the loop. +ush the wire the rest of the way around to complete the loop at the top of the wire component. /hen completed the wire should appear as shown at left. Step 1: Belease the wire from your pliers and !iew the loop at the top of the wire component. loop isn't centered abo!e the bead and clubs wire component, this is the time to manually center the loop. 'hould you need to ad-ust the loop you do this by inserting your round nose pliers all the way into the loop and then rotating your pliers left or right until the loop iscentered. Step : .t this point, we could grasp the loop with our bent chain nose pliers and wrap the wire around the stem of the clubs wire component, or we can cut the e1cess wire. ?or this beginner's pro-ect we will cut the e1cess wire. "sing your flush cutter, with the flat side of the cutter toward the finished piece, cut the wire at the point where it o!erlaps. .fter the cut, the wire component will appear as shown at left. 0otice that the loop at the top is slightly opened.

Step 8

Step 1

Step

Step !: "sing your bent chain nose pliers grasp the open side of the loop at top. 'ee the picture at right for the orientation of your pliers. /hile holding $%& of the loop as shown push the rest of the wire

component up while twisting your pliers down, until the loop at the top of the wire component is closed. f you ha!e difficulty getting the loop closed, you can use bent closing pliers to squee#e closed a small gap in a loop. +lease scroll to the bottom of the page to !iew bent closing pliers in action. Step 4: .t this point you ha!e completed the Gueen of 5lubs earring dangle. ;our wire component should appear as shown at right. The only thing that remains to be done is toconnect that wire component to your commercial ear wire as shown at left. The way that this is done is to open the loop in the top of the Gueen of 5lubs earring dangle, or the loop in the bottom of your commercial ear wire and connect the two wire components, then close the loop. Opening and closing loops is done using your bent chain nose pliers to grasp one side of the loop you want to open, then twisting the loop open. do nor want to open the loop open by pulling the loop to increase the si#e of the gap. This will distort the loop so that it will not be round. nstead, you grasp one side of the loop as shown at right and twist up to open, then twist down to close. Make two earrings using the same steps and you are done. 0ow you need to find interesting beads so that you can make se!eral pairs of the Gueen of 5lubs /ire H 3eads Earrings.

Step !

Step 4

'inished 9arrings

n the following section, we will abbre!iate these instructions. These abbre!iated instructions may be -ust the thing to use as class notes, or to print and sit by your work space when you are making these earrings.

Open Loop 4

Open Loop "

Open Loop #

Open Loop$

Open Loop %

'inished 9arrings

Make Loop Step 1

Loop Step

Loop Step !

Loop

Make 3lo;er on Jig 1

3lo;er

3lo;er !

3lo;er

'latten 3lo;er

'inished 3lo;er

/dd Bead

Make Open Loop 1

Open Loop

Open Loop !

Open Loop 4

Open Loop "

Open Loop #

Open Loop$

Open Loop %

Step .: /rap the wire around pegs 7 and A in the pattern as shown at right. . Step C: .t this point we need to remo!e the wire from the -ig and flip it o!er into the mirror image position. 'ee the figure below(left. The initial loop will be back on peg $. Step =: /rap the wire around pegs 7 and A as shown below(center. Step J: Bemo!e the wire from your -ig and it should appear as shown below(right.

Step C

Step =

Step J

Step D: n this step we need to grab and hold one of either the initial wire segment or the final wire segment and bend it up. n the pictures below, you can see that we bent the initial wire segment up. can tell it is the initial wire segment since it has the loop on it. 'ince the final wire segment had more wire, it would probably ha!e been smarter to bend the final wire segment up and then wrap the shorter initial wire segment around the final wire segment in a later step. To perform this step, grasp the final wire segment with your bent chain nose pliers, -ust prior to the point where the wire crosses the center of the wire component. /hile holding this piece of wire, bend the end of that wire segment up until it is centered and pointing up as shown in the picture below(right.

Be-ore Step D

/-ter Step D

Step L: .s we get ready to wrap one wire tail around the other to fi1 the design and make it permanent, we need to bend the wire segment that will be used to wrap so that it is perpendicular to the wire !ertical wire segment that we will wrap it around. The secret to making good wraps is to start with the wrapping wire perpendicular to the wrapped wire. n the picture below(left you can see that we bent the wire tail so that it was perpendicular to the beginning wire segment. .t that point the piece is no longer two dimensional. t is now three dimensional. To perform this bend, grasp the wire with your bent chain nose pliers. Cold the wire with your pliers -ust prior to the bend and push the wire to bend it. Step M: 0ow you are ready to wrap. Bemember, keep the wrapping wire perpendicular to the wrapped wire. /rap one or two times. 'ee the picture below(center. Step 1: 2nce you ha!e completed the one to two wraps, cut the e1cess with with your flush cutter. cutting the e1cess wire you need to use your bent chain nose pliers to squee#e and twist the cut end of the wire until it lays flat as shown in the picture below(right.

Cead 2in

Dangle (ith Open Loop

Wrapped Loop

Wrapped Loop

Step 2: /ith the loop completed you are ready to add this wire component to an earring or necklace. ?or earrings the orientation of the top loop shown abo!e will be appropriate. ?or a necklace, you will probably want to twist the top loop )* degrees so that it can be threaded on a necklace with the proper orientation.

Larger Lea- 2endant:

n the following section, we pro!ide instructions for making a similar -ewelry design. 'ee the picture at right for our >arger >eaf wire component. This wire component is larger than the prior components that we made. t also has loops at the end of each "leaf" in the design. These loops allow you to hang bead dangles or other decorati!e components from each loop. This is a significant ad!antage o!er the pre!ious designs, where without these loops, you won't be able to easily keep a bead dangle in the appropriate position. .t this point, we belie!e that we ha!e pretty well documented the steps in making similar wire components so we aren't going to describe how to make this wire component in the same detail as we ha!e pre!iously. f you can make the wire component that we described abo!e, you will be able to make this wire component. /e will describe the changes in the instructions in detail and allow the reader to use our prior instructions where they ha!en' t changed. The peg pattern for making this wire component can be seen below center. 3oth the :%$6" 'uper +eg and the regular metal pegs are positioned further apart to make this component. /hen wrapping the wire around the pegs, you wrap partially around the 'uper +eg, then around the opposite side of the regular

metal peg and back around the 'uper +eg. >et's describe in detail the process for making the loops around pegs & and :. The same process will apply for all other loops. 'tart by placing the loop in the end of your wire on peg $, then bring the wire from peg $ so that it is abo!e peg & (in the same position as for our prior designs). Then wrap the wire clockwise, $%& way around peg & and counter clockwise around peg :. .fter wrapping the wire counter(clockwise around peg :, wrap the wire clockwise around the other half of peg & until it is touching peg 6.

/e hope that one of these alternati!es will be interesting for our readers.

3ack to Top * * $** : &** I &*$: /igDig J wig-ig.com .bout /igDig ?.Gs 5ustomer 5are 'hipping Beturns H Befunds 0ewsletter /holesale 3ead 'tore 5lasses Besources ,ift 5ards

5ustomer ?eedback nternational /igDig 5ontact "s 'ite Map $(<**(@A)()7A: Email4 infoJwig-ig.com

These earrings are a relati!ely easy -ewelry making pro-ect and yet with the right combination of beads in the bead dangles, the final result can be quite striking. ,i!en the current popularity of chandelier earrings, they are an e1cellent beginner to intermediate pro-ect.

Dia6ond 3handelier 9arrings

Je(elry Making S)pplies:

Je(elry *ools +e,)ired:

$* inches of &*, wire ($%& hard works best, but soft will also work) 'i1 &" gold(filled head pins &7 or more beads 2ne pair of ear wire findings ( used

Bound 0ose +liers ?lush 5utter 5hain 0ose or 3ent 5hain 0ose +liers (&) .ny /igDig acrylic -ig

7 metal pegs :* minutes of free time

ear clips for these earrings.)

Je(elry Skills +e,)ired:

"se of a /igDig to make -ewelry wire components. .bility to make a bead dangle using a head(pin. .bility to make a modified figure < connector.

'tep(by('tep Dewelry Making nstructions for Fiamond 5handelier Earrings4

Step 1: 5ut and straighten a piece of &*g wire : $%& inches long. Step : Make a loop in one end of the wire (the end with the flush cut). Step !: +lace four pegs in your -ig in the pattern shown below left. +lace the loop in the wire o!er the top peg in the pattern. This pattern will work on the 2lympus or 2lympus(>ite as well as the Felphi. >ater in these instructions we will pro!ide the pattern for the /igDig 5yclops or Electra. Step 4: Make a loop around the furthest right peg as shown below, center. Step ": Bemo!e the wire from the Dig and replace it in the mirror image position as shown below, right.

Step !

Step 4

Step "

Step #: 0ow wrap the wire around the bottom peg in the pattern, as shown at right. Step $: Bemo!e the wire from the -ig and place it back on in the mirror image position as shown below, left. Step %: /rap the wire around the left most peg in the pattern, as shown below, center. Step &: /rap the wire around the top peg in the pattern as shown below, right. .t this point, you will ha!e two loops around the top peg, the initial loop, and the final loop that you -ust completed. Step #

Step $

Step %

Step &

Step 18: Bemo!e the wire from the -ig and cut the e1cess wire tail off. 5lose the loop at the top. This completes the basic diamond chandelier wire component that forms the body of this earring.

Step 18

Step 11: The easiest way to complete these earrings is to turn this wire component upside down so that the two loops that were on top, now become the bottom. (+lease note that this was not the way the earring at right was completed.) /ith these two loops on the bottom, you can connect the top loop directly to one of your ear wire findings by opening the loop in the ear wire finding using your chain nose pliers. .fter adding the loop to the ear wire finding, close the loop in the ear wire finding. The two loops combined are likely to be too large to easily connect to the ear wire finding, but the single loop can do this easily. n the following section, we will describe how to make the modified figure < connector used in the earrings at right.

Step 1 : 0ow complete this earring by hanging three bead dangles from each of the bottom loops in the diamond chandelier wire component. Each bead dangle should be about $%& inch to :%7 inch long. n the earrings upper, right, used Topa# >ight si#e $$ seed beads as spacers between two 7mm .methyst >ight and one 6mm .methyst beads. There are many !ariations on this color pattern that can work. ?or high end earrings you can use gold(filled metal beads instead of seed beads. The combination of .methyst >ight and .methyst beads can work with 5#ech glass, fire polished beads, or with 'waro!ski, .ustrian cut glass crystals, and the color combination can be changed to 'apphire and 'apphire(>ight, or Bose and Bose(>ight, or any other pair of complementary colors.

/lternati;e Designs:

The first alternati!e to this -ewelry making pro-ect is that this pattern can be made in a !ariety of si#es on the /igDig 5yclops or Electra. The peg pattern for these round hole pattern -igs is shown at right. 3y mo!ing all of the pegs in or out one or more pegs, you can change the si#e of this wire component. This demonstrates one of the ad!antages of the round hole pattern -igs that we call scaling. ;ou can make this component in a !ariety of si#es.

2eg 2attern -or WigJig 3yclops or 9lectra

The second alterati!e to this -ewelry making pro-ect is wrapping of the wire component -ust before the beginning and ending loop with fine gauge wire. "sing &7, &6 or &<, wire, you can wrap the fine gauge wire around the &*, wire ad-acent to the two loops as shown at right. This has the effect of soldering or gluing this wire together and can add a decorati!e accent when done in a complimentary colored wire.

.nother alternati!e -ewelry making pro-ect is to connect the two beginning and ending loops in the diamond chandelier wire component to your ear wire by a modified figure < connector. The steps for making this modified figure < connector are pro!ided in the following section. 3oth of the earrings shown at right use this modified figure < connector.

Making a +ight /ngled 'ig)re % 3onnector: ?irst let's discuss why you would want to make a modified figure < connector. This might seem like a lot of unnecessary work, but the rational is simple. ;ou want your earring body to hang in the same orientation as it would normally hang if it were directly connected to your ear wire finding. /ith a normal figure < connector, the earring body wire component will normally hang in a plane parallel with the ear wire finding. n this case, we want the earring body to hang perpendicular to the ear wire finding. To make this happen we use the right angled figure < connector shown in two !iews below, right. 3egin making this component by cutting a piece of wire about $ $%& inches long and making an eye loop in the end of this wire. 0ow grasp the eye loop with your chain nose pliers at the point where the loop becomes the wire tail and bend the wire in a plane perpendicular to the eye loop. This sounds complicated, but you -ust grasp the eye loop and bend the wire against the -aws of the chain nose pliers. The end result will appear as shown below, left. 0ow grasp the wire tail, ad-acent to the bend you -ust made with your round nose pliers and make a loop in the wire. Making the loop is a two step process as you will need to re( orientate your pliers mid(way through this step. The completed loop will appear as shown below, center. ?inally cut the e1cess wire and close the loop. The finished connector will appear as shown below, right.

9ye Loop

Step

Step !

+ight /ngled 'ig)re % 3onnector

.lternati!e Dewelry Making Fesign4

This alternati!e design for the Fiamond 5handelier earrings -ewelry making pro-ect uses two short segments of commercial chain to increase the length of the earrings, but uses shorter bead dangles. The pro-ect is made in e1actly the same manner as the design sabo!e until 'tep <. 5omplete 'tep <, but do not use 'tep ). nstead, proceed as discussed below.

Step &a: .fter completing 'tep <, remo!e the wire from the -ig and flip it o!er, replacing it on the -ig. The wire will now be in the position shown at right. (?or the earrings shown abo!e right, used a wire component made on the /igDig 5yclops using the peg pattern shown at right.) Step 18a: /ith the wire still on the -ig, grab the wire tail and bend it up, while holding the wire component down on the -ig. The goal is that the wire tail should be pointing straight up. Step 11a: Bemo!e the wire from the -ig. ,rasp the wire -ust below the initial loop with your chain nose pliers in a manner that holds both the wire tail and the wire between the first and second loops (now on the left in the picture at right). /hile holding these two wire segments, bend the wire tail o!er so that it crosses the top loop. The wire will appear as shown below, right(center.

Step &a

Step 18a

Step 11a Step 1 a: Be(grasp the wire with your chain nose pliers and bend it around the initial loop so that it makes one complete loop. Step 1!a: 5ut the e1cess wire and press the wire tail flat. 'quee#e the wire component in nylon -aw pliers or Step 1 a with your fingers to flatten the wire. Step 14a: 5ut two $%& inch segments of commercial chain.

Step 1!a

Step 1"a: "sing a piece of &7g wire about & $%& inches long, make a wrapped bead link to connect the top of the wire component you completed in step $:a to one of the segments of commercial chain. Step 1#a: 2pen the loop on an ear wire finding and connect the top of the commercial chain segment to the ear wire finding. Then close the loop in the ear wire finding. Step 1$a: 0ow with three head(pins, add three bead dangles to the three bottom loops in the wire component. used 6mm 'waro!ski crystal beads for the bead dangles. .t this point, your earring should appear as shown at right. Make a second earring and you are done with this -ewelry making pro-ect. This wrapped loop wire component is more difficult to make than the wire component that we competed abo!e. t may be easier to make the abo!e earrings using the wire component made earlier. This will work fine. Make two of the wire components using the earlier pattern and then -ump to 'tep $7a abo!e.

These earrings are chandelier earrings with fi!e bead dangles each. This -ewelry making pro-ect is an ad!anced beginner's pro-ect. The earrings are relati!ely easy to make gi!en a grasp of the basis skills like making wire components on a /igDig tool, making a loop and finally the skill for con!erting a con!entional loop to an eye loop. This pro-ect uses a ?igure < connector to connect between the ear wire and the earring body. . -ump ring or split ring could ha!e been used instead of the figure < connector if desired.

Je(elry Making S)pplies:

One 2iece 3handelier 9arrings (ith Beads Je(elry *ools +e,)ired:

$$ inches of &* gauge sterling sil!er, gold or gold(filled wire preferably $%& hard. Ten $ $%& inch head pins Ten 6 mm beads $ pair of commercial ear wire findings. Je(elry Making Skills +e,)ired:

Bound 0ose +liers ?lush 5utters 3ent 5hain 0ose +liers .ny /igDig (e1cept .thena) 0ylon Daw +liers (recommended) ?ine 'tep Daw +liers (recommended) &* minutes of free time

"se of a /igDig to make wire components. .bility to make an eye loop out of a regular loop. .bility to open and close loops.

.bility to bend wire. .bility to make a ?igure < connector. .bility to make a bead dangle with beads and head pins. The peg pattern for making these earrings on one of our -igs with a square pattern is shown at right. /e will pro!ide the peg patter for a round -ig toward the end of these instructions. Step 1: 5ut a 7 $%& inch long segment of &* gauge wire. Calf(hard wire is best if it is a!ailable, but soft wire will work. Make a loop in the end of this wire segment with the flush cut (not the sharp end). Step : 'traighten this wire by pulling it repeatedly through the -aws of nylon -aw pliers if you ha!e them.

2eg 2attern

Step !: .dd pegs $ and & to your -ig and place the loop you -ust made on peg $ as shown at right. Step !

Step 4: /rap the wire around peg & as shown at right. Step 4

Step ": .dd +eg : to the -ig and wrap the wire around peg :. Step "

Step #: .dd +eg 7 to the -ig and wrap the wire around peg 7. Step #

Step $: Bemo!e the wire from the -ig. .dd pegs @ and 6. Bemo!e peg &. 0ow place the wire back on the -ig in the mirror image position as shown at right. (This step will make the wire component symmetrical about the center of the piece.) Step $

Step %: /rap the wire around peg :. Step %

Step &: .dd peg & to the -ig and wrap the wire around peg &. Step &

Step 18: 0ow wrap the wire around peg $. Step 18

Step 11: Bemo!e the wire from the -ig and cut the e1cess wire (with the flat side of the flush cutter toward the finished piece). 5lose the loop -ust completed. The wire component should appear as shown at right.

Step 11

Step 1 : 0ow grasp in turn the initial and then the final loops made around peg $ with the tips of your round nose pliers. 3on;ert each o- these 727 loops into an eye loops.

Step 1

Step 1!: "sing your bent chain nose pliers, grasp in turn the initial loop and the final loop and twist them )* degrees. These loops do not show in the picture at right because the camera is !iewing the edge of these loops.

Step 1!

Step 14: /e complete this wire component by grasping the initial and final loops and bending them back to the position shown at right. This will take some "hand finishing" meaning that you will need to bend the wire by hand some until the wire rests in the shape shown at right.

Step 14

Step 1": 5ut a $ inch segment of &* g wire and make a -ig)re % connector. Step 1#: "sing the ?igure < connector connect the wire component completed in 'tep $7 on one end to the ear wire finding on the other. Open and close the loops in the ?igure <.

Step 1$: 0ow with fi!e head pins and fi!e 6mm beads make fi!e bead dangles, one hanging from each loop in the wire component that you completed in step $7. Step 1%: Bepeat the abo!e steps for the second earring and you are done. S)pplies <sed: &* ,auge /ire

&* ,auge $%& Card ,old(?illed /ire (=te6 181 ) or &* ,auge $%& Card 'terling 'il!er /ire (=te6 18)

Ear /ire ?indings

Earring +ost with >oop ,old(filled (=te6 ##8) or >e!er 3ack Ear 5lip ,old(?illed (=te6 811$) or Earring +ost with >oop 'terling 'il!er (=te6 #"&) or >e!er 3ack Ear 5lip 'terling 'il!er (=te6

84 1) 'waro!ski 6mm beads

6mm Bound &@ ?acet .methyst 3eads (=te6 $& )

/lternati;e Designs: 2ur first alternati!e design is to mo!e peg $ at right up one hole. This will result in earrings that are more elongated. 2ur second alternati!e is a modification to how the top of the wire component is finished. This alternati!e is slightly more difficult than the original design. "se @ inches of wire instead of 7 $%&. .fter completing step $* from our original design, remo!e the wire from the -ig and insert fine step -aw pliers into the two loops around peg $. 0ow, while holding the wire component in the step -aw pliers with your non(dominant hand, wrap the wire tail around the place where the initial and final wire segments cross -ust below where peg $ was. Make two complete wraps then cut the e1cess wire and squee#e it flat using your bent chain nose pliers. This design requires a 6odi-ied -ig)re % connector. The finished earrings with the changes described in .lternati!e $ and & will appear as shown below, right.

Step 18

2ur final alternati!e designs is the pattern for making these earrings using the /igDig 5yclops or Electra. This pattern is 3yclopsE9lectra 2attern shown at right. /ith this pattern, peg $ can be left where shown for elongated earrings or mo!ed down one hole to make earrings that are closer to a diamond shape. The earrings made with the pattern shown abo!e right can be seen at right. These earrings use 'waro!ski 6mm 3icone beads in the color =iolet (=te6 818$). The earrings at right are finished with the wrapped loop style described in .lternati!e & in the prior section.

/e discuss the figure < connector many times in this web site. The reason is simple (( we use the figure <, o

connector that we call a modified figure < connector, frequently. t can be used to connect a clasp to a chain. connect an earring body to an ear wire finding. ?requently we use a figure < connector as a way to connect t would be otherwise impractical to connect, for a !ariety of reasons including a si#e mis(match. /e also use as shown abo!e(right to connect two loops and change the orientation of the loops that are connected. This a frequently used when connecting an earring body to an ear wire as shown at left. "sing the figure < connecto change the orientation of the earring body, so that in this case it will hang parallel to the wearer's ear. 2lease o)r -ree Fo) *)be ;ideo on 6aking G)6p rings and -ig)re % connectors. nstructions for making a figur below.

Step 1: 'elect a piece of wire at least $ $%&" long. Make a regular "+" loop in one end of this wire using you pliers. Step : Cold this loop and straighten the wire.

Step !: 0ow using your round nose pliers again, grip the wire as shown at left. Try to grip the wire at the sa pliers as you used when you made your first loop in step $.

Step 4: "sing your thumb, push the wire up and o!er the -aw of your pliers making a second loop in the wir

Step 1

Step !

Step 4

Step ": 0ow reposition the wire in the -aws of your pliers so that you can tightly finish this second loop. ;o in the position shown abo!e(left. +ull the wire so that the second loop in the wire rests tightly against the -aw making it a round loop.

Step #: Bemo!e the wire from your pliers and using your -l)sh c)tter cut the wire at the point where the wi figure < connector.

Step "

Step #

Step $

Step $: "sing your bent chain nose pliers close this final loop and you ha!e a completed figure < connector.

Many times you will find that you need to make a lot of figure < connectors. 3elow we will discuss the techn many figure < connectors.

Making M)ltiple 'ig)re % 3onnectors

n the abo!e page, we discussed how to make a single figure < connector. 2n this page, we will discuss how figure < connectors while conser!ing your wire. Step 1: 'traighten a segment of wire at least $ inch long. 3e certain that you ha!e a flush cut on the end of picture below(left. Step : ,rasp near the end of the wire with your 'ine Step Ja( 2liers. 'ee the picture below(center.

Step !: Make a loop in the end of the wire. This is a two or three step process. ;ou will need to twist the p partial loop, then re(orientate the wire so that you can complete the loop. n the picture below(right, you can squee#e and twist the pliers one more time until the loop is fully closed.

Step 1

Step

Step !

Step 4: Bemo!e your wire from your pliers. ;ou loop should appear as shown below(left.

Step ": 0ow we need to make the second loop in the figure < connector. ;ou can use your fine step -aw pli easiest way is to grasp the wire as near the first loop as possible with your round nose pliers. ?irst, insert you into the initial loop so that you can see where on the round nose pliers you need to grip the wire so that both same si#e. Then grip the wire at that point as shown below(center.

Step #: 5omplete the second loop as shown below(right. This is a two or three step process as you will nee

loop, then re(orientate the wire on your pliers so that you can fully complete the loop. .fter you ha!e reorie the wire the rest of the way around the -aws of your pliers. /hen completed it will appear as shown.

Step 4

Step "

Ste

Step $: Bemo!e the wire from the -aws of your pliers and it should appear as shown below(left.

Step %: 0ow you need to cut the e1cess wire with your flush cutter. +osition the flat side of your flush cutte center and cut the wire at that point. Step &: ;our finished figure < connector should appear as shown below(right.

Step $

Step %

Step 18: 3ecause the cut of the wire in step < left a sharp end on the w in order to be ready to make your ne1t figure < connector, you need to cut about $%$6 inch of wire of the end the cut with the flat side of your flush cutter toward the spool of wire. 0ow you are ready to go back to step ne1t figure < connector.

n some applications we need a connector similar to the figure < connector so that we can connect two loops otherwise be unable to connect, but we do not want to change the orientation of the components being conne situations we use a modified figure < connector made as described below.

Making an Modi-ied 'ig)re % 3onnector

The modified figure < connector is an important connector used to connect two loops without changing the orientation of the two components (as would occur if a regular figure < were used.) This component is important in connecting earring bodies to ear wires and in connecting two closed loops to one(another. The modified figure < connector appears as shown abo!e(right. nstructions for making this connector begin below.

Step 1: 'elect a piece of wire at least $ $%& inches long. "sing your round nose pliers, make a "+" loop in th +lease select here for our instructions on how to make a "+" loop.

Step : 5on!ert this "+" loop to an eye loop. 'ee page 6 for directions on how to con!ert a "+" loop to an e

Step !: ,rasp the eye loop with your bent chain nose pliers and bend the wire tail about )* degrees in the p to the loop that you -ust made. /hen completed the wire should appear as shown at right.

Step 1

Step

Step !

Step 4: "sing your round nose pliers grasp the wire tail near the )* degree bend and make a loop in the wir probably be a two step process as you will probably need to release your grip on the wire and re(grip so that the loop without your pliers getting in the way. /hen completed the wire should appear as shown below(rig Step ": 5ut the e1cess wire with your flush cutter. Step #: 5lose the final loop and you ha!e a completed modified figure < connector.

Step 4

Step #

.n alternati!e approach to making a modified figure < connector in!ol!es making a regular figure < connect each loop in a different pair of bent chain nose pliers. 2nce you are holding both loops tightly then twist on that it ends up perpendicular to the other.

Making a Wrapped 'ig)re % 3onnector

.bo!e we discussed making a con!entional figure < connector. /e also discussed making a modified figur 3oth of these connectors had open loops on either end. The connector that we will make here has loops that closed and are therefore stronger. This type of connector would be appropriate to use for a -ewelry compone additional strength like a watchband. ;ou can !iew a wrapped figure < connector at right. The steps in!ol! wrapped figure < connector are described below4

Step 1: 5ut and straighten a piece of &* gauge wire that is about & $%& inches long. 'oft wire will work, bu tends to work better if it is a!ailable. Step : "sing your round nose pliers make a loop in this wire segment about :%7" from one end. The loop complete loop as shown below(left.

Step !: .gain using your round nose pliers, make a second loop in the wire, ad-acent to the first loop, but in direction. /hen done, your wire should be in a figure < shape with about :%7" of e1cess wire on either side the figure < as shown below center(left.

Step 4: .t this point, you can open one side of the figure < using your bent chain nose pliers and slide one you intend to connect into position as shown at right. 0ow you are ready to wrap that end of the figure < co

Step

Step !

Step 4

Step ": To wrap one side of the figure < connector closed, hold the figure < loop in your bent chain nose pl wire tail $<* degrees. n the picture shown abo!e far(right, the short end of the wire is the end that was wra

Step #: 0ow connect the opposite end of the figure < to the other component that you want to connect as yo wrap that side of the wire $<* degrees as you did in step @. 3oth sides of the figure < will now ha!e about $ Step $: 5ut the e1cess wire on either side, lea!ing between $%< and $%$6" of e1cess wire on either end.

This e1cess wire will be squee#ed flat to complete the wrap.

Step %: To complete the wrapped figure < connector, use your bent chain nose pliers to grasp one side of th connector and using a second pair of bent chain nose pliers squee#e the cut end of the wire on that side of th +erform this same squee#e using two pair of bent chain nose pliers on the opposite side of the figure <. This your wrapped figure < connector as shown at right between the watch face and the hea!y sil!er chain.

The picture at left shows how two wrapped figure < connectors were used to make a watch band from a brac segment of sil!er commercial chain. To complete this watch, the commercial chain bracelet was cut in the m sufficient links remo!ed so that the o!erall length of the watch band with watch was A $%&" our target length length could be different based upon the circumference of the intended wearer's wrist.) 3ecause the figure < wrapped closed, this watch band will be !ery strong.