Coiled Wire Earrings

by Natalie Patten

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Coiling
Skill Level: Beginner

This tutorial shows an easy way to create a frame and decorative elements around a bead. Using minimal materials, you can produce this style to make earrings and a matching pendant. (Any sized bead and crystals will work for this design, by adapting the wire lengths to accommodate your chosen beads.)

Materials

20 Gauge Half Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-20HRH

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $2.00
Gold Club Price: $1.50

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26 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire

H8-26D

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $4.08
Gold Club Price: $3.06

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Malachite 6mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand

A1-695

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $17.85
Gold Club Price: $13.39

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Rhyolite 6mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand

A1-415

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.60
Gold Club Price: $7.20

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Sterling Silver Earwires Textured 19mm - Pack of 2

K19-66

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.87
Gold Club Price: $3.65

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3mm crystals

Lesson Quantity: 50.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 50.00 each

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Tools

Round Nose Wire Pliers

G2-507

G2-507
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Chain Nose Wire Pliers

G2-508

G2-508
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.97
Gold Club Price: $12.73

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Add All Items to Cart

Instructions

Step 1

Take 12" of 20 gauge/0.8mm wire and position the bead on to the wire at approximately 2 3/4" up from the end and bend the longer end sharply as it exits the bead.

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, string the bead onto the wire

Step 2

Bring the wire tightly around the curve of the bead and lock around the wire that is exiting the top of the bead.

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, curve the wire around the bead

Step 3

Continue to curve the wire closely around the bead, positioning it in front of the wire coming out of the drill hole at the bottom of the bead.

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, continue to curve the wire around the bead

Step 4

Wrap around the top vertical wire again to lock into place.

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, wrap the wire around the vertical wire

Step 5

Leaving a 4" tail end of weaving wire before forming the coil, wrap a coil of approximately 2" in length using 26 gauge/ 0.4mm weaving wire directly around the 20 gauge/0.8mm wire that is wrapped around the bead. Do this by making continuous wraps, ensuring the weaving wire is neatly positioned up close to the last wrap.

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Step 6

A wire coiling gizmo can be used if preferred.

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coiling gizmo

Step 7

If using the wire coiling tool method, leave a 4" tail of 26 gauge/ 0.4mm wire attached at the end of the coil (to help secure onto the vertical wire on the earring.)

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, coil the wire

Step 8

If the coil has been created separately using a gizmo, slide the coil onto the 20 gauge/ 0.8mm wire (if not already coiled directly onto the 20 gauge/0.8mm wire.)

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, slide the coiled wire onto the vertical wire

Step 9

Use the tail end of weaving wire to anchor the coil on to the vertical wire at the top of the bead to secure.

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, anchor the wire

Step 10

Bring the coiled wire around the bead, positioned behind the inner most bare wire that frames the bead.

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, bring the coiled wire around the bead

Step 11

Wrap the coiled wire around the vertical wire exiting the top of the bead.

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, wrap the coil up the vertical wire

Step 12

Add some small, faceted crystals to the 26 gauge/ 0.4mm wire (These can be slid directly onto the 20 gauge/ 0.8mm wire if the drill hole is large enough, but using this 4" tail end of the weaving wire, will enable you to use a larger variety of small crystals.)

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, add some crystals to the wire

Step 13

Position the crystal strung wire around to frame the outside of the coiled wire and use the tail of 26 gauge/ 0.4mm wire to secure in place by wrapping it around the vertical wire before trimming off any excess and tucking in to the frame.

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, encircle the coiled wire with the crystals

Step 14

Bend the vertical wire exiting the bead a few millimeters up from the coil.

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Step 15

Make a wrapped loop to attach an earring hook to (if using a lever back earring finding, attach this through the loop before securing your wrapped loop.)

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, make a wrapped loop

Step 16

Cut off any excess wire and secure any ends by pressing into the wrapped loop.

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, trim excess wire

Step 17

Repeat steps 1-16 to make your other earring. (Doing so at this stage, will enable you to create mirror symmetry when adding decoration with the excess wire.)

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, repeat all steps

Step 18

Using the remaining 20 gauge/ 0.8mm wire, make swirls and decorative details.

Natalie Patten's Coiled Wire Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, make some decorative details with the remaining wire

Step 19

When you have achieved symmetry with both of the earnings, cut off any excess wire and secure down any tail ends.

Step 20

You can create this design again to make a matching pendant.

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Reviews

Natalie Patten

I'm Natalie Patten, I'm from Liverpool in the UK. I first discovered my love of wire work during lockdown and this hobby quickly spiralled into a huge passion and obsession, for wire wrapping crystal gemstones. So much so, that I changed my career working in education, to become a jewellery designer and set up my business Rock, Scissors, Paper specialising in wire wrapped, ethically sourced gemstone jewellery. I also secured my dream job designing and teaching for the UK's largest supplier of beads for jewellery making! I make lots of different jewellery designs with a variety of techniques but my absolute favourite is wire work and I feel absolutely blessed that I can spend my time creating, learning and sharing my passion with others!