Focal Bead Pendant

Skill Level: Intermediate

Technique: Precise Bending & Forming Heavy Square Wire

While working out the instructions for my Interchangeable Pendant Frame, this idea jumped into my mind. The pattern below is made using a 1-inch long bead, but it can be easily altered. Experiment and record your results for different sizes. Maybe even try a multiple bead combination!

Materials

• 1 8" length of 16 Gauge square soft silver wire
• 1 2" length of 18 Gauge round half-hard silver wire
• 2 4" lengths of 22 Gauge square silver wire
• 1 1" focal bead

Tools

• Chain Nose Pliers
• Flat Nose Pliers
• Round Nose Pliers
• Angle Cutters
• Ruler
• Tape
• Black Marker

Instructions

1. Using the 16g wire, straighten, measure and then cut one piece 7-3/8 inches long. Mark the center of wire at 3-11/16 inches and then measure and mark 1-5/8 inch on each side of the center. From the 1-5/8 inch marks, measure toward each end and mark at 1-3/16 inches. Use chain-nose pliers to hold the wire at the center and bend the wire up, forming a 40° angle.
   
   

2. Use chain-nose pliers to hold frame at a 1-5/8 inch mark and bend inward, forming a 130° angle. Repeat on other leg of frame.
   
   
   

3. Use chain-nose pliers to hold wire at the 1-3/16 inch mark and bend the wire at 28° to from bail wires. Repeat on other leg.
   
   

4. Tape the ends of the bail wires together. Use 18 gauge ½ round wire to wrap up from the base of bail, 3 times to show. On the back of the frame, use small bail pliers or round-nose to roll the wire ends toward the back, forming the bail. From bottom of last wrap, measure down each leg 3/8-inch and mark. Place the frame to the side.
   
   

5. From the end of each of the two 3-7/8 inch long, 22g square wires, measure down ¾-inch and mark. From this mark measure another 5/16-inch and mark again. Just below the 5/16-inch marks, tape these two wires together. On the 5/16-inch mark, use chain-nose pliers to hold the wire pair and use fingers to bend the wires away from each other until they form a 130° angle.
   
   

6. At the ¾-inch mark, use chain-nose pliers to hold the wire and fingers to bend it back 90°. Repeat on the other leg.
   
   

7. Hook one of these bent wires over the frame at the 3/8-inch mark and use it to wrap from the mark up, 3 times to show and trim. Repeat with the other bent wire.
   
   

8. Remove the tape and slide the bead onto the center wires. At the base of the bead, separate the wires and use chain-nose pliers to grasp one wire directly below the bead and bend outward. Repeat with other wire.
   
   

9. From the bottom of the bead, measure down each bent wire 1-1/8 inch and mark. Attach them each to the frame, wrapping down, 3 times to show.
   
   

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