Fortune's Wheel

Skill Level: Intermediate

Technique: Lacing a Beaded Frame/Doughnut

Working on new things for summer, I decided to use one of the mother of pearl donut shapes from the wirejewelry warehouse. When made using silver, this pendant is lightweight, airy, and really completes a brightly-colored cotton outfit with a bit of sophistication. It would also look great with an autumn or winter sweater, making this a versatile addition to anyone's wardrobe. If this pattern is followed on two smaller donuts, you will have matching earrings!

Tip: Although this design is for one ear cuff and two are shown in the photo, if you choose to make a matching pair, make both ear cuffs at the same time, working one step on one cuff and then mirroring the same step on the other.

Materials

• 1 30" piece 24-gauge round dead soft wire
• 21 4mm round metal beads
• 1 30mm shell donut

Tools

• Flat Nose Pliers
• Round Nose Pliers
• Double barrel bail pliers
• Ruler
• Marker

Instructions

1. Insert the 24-gauge round wire into the donut so the short end of the wire is behind the top part of donut, and it is 2" (5cm) long from the outer edge.
   
   

2. Bring the long tail (working wire) toward you and bend it to the side, behind the short wire.
   
   

3. Bend the working wire in 90° and slide on a 4mm bead. Insert the wire through the donut's hole and bring it out so the wire end is inside the loop. Tighten the wire.
   
   
   
   
   

4. Slide on a second bead and make another "slip-stitch," repeating step 3. Continue working until you have one more bead to go.
   
   
   

5. Slide the last bead onto the working wire. Pass the short wire end through the bead as shown and tighten. Squeeze with fingernails (if you value your manicure, use flat nose pliers) the wire ends just above the bead as shown.
   
   
   
   

6. Use either double barrel bail or round nose pliers to form a bail, curving the wires towards the backside of the donut. Trim the short wire end so it is above the last bead (red arrow).
   
   
   

7. Using the long wire end, and working down toward the doughnut, start wrapping so you wrap at least 3mm of the short wire. Continue until you reach the last bead from the backside. Trim the wire so that its end is in the middle of the bead. Using chain nose pliers, tuck the wire end under the coiled part of the bail.
   
   
   

8. Your pendant should now look like this, a Ferris wheel.
   
   

9. To turn the Ferris wheel into Fortune's Wheel, place flat nose pliers on the middle of each crossover wire, and give it a slight twist in a clockwise motion. Repeat on each wire, always in the same direction.
   
   
   

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