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Tips & Techniques

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Wire Wrapped Cover on a Teardrop


About this Tip:

Enjoy wire wrapping? Here's a "messier" take on wire wrapping a bail that creates a cone on a teardrop.

Components:

The products featured in this tip are listed below.


Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1:
Cut enough wire and string it through your teardrop. I sometimes wrap a piece of string around the teardrop to approximate the length of wire I’ll need.
Step 2:
Bend wire with your fingers at both ends of hole and cross wire ends over each other. You want one longer end and one end that is only about 1.5” long.
Step 3:
Using your chain nose pliers bend the longer end so that it points straight up.
Step 4:
Using your chain nose pliers, grip both ends of wire just below where they cross, so that they can be secure while you wrap the shorter end. Wrap the shorter end twice around the longer end beginning at the bend to look like a coil. Using your wire cutters, cut the piece you just wrapped close the coil.
Step 5:
Bend the wire at a 90-degree angle up from the coil.
Step 6:
While keeping your grip with the round nose pliers, wrap the wire over the top round nose.
Step 7:
Begin wrapping around...
Step 8:
… and around and around until you get to just below the drill hole on the bead. You can do this perfect and neat or a bit messy if you prefer.
Step 9:
Remove your wire cutters and snip the wire, leaving a bit to bend with your chain nose pliers.
Step 10:
Using your chain nose pliers, tuck the small, bent end back up into the wrapping.
Step 11:
Here is a finished example of a messier wire wrapped cap bail on a teardrop.

Buy Products from this Technique

15 yd. spool
1$6.20
2-4$5.70
5+$5.27

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Piece
1$22.95
2-3$21.11
4+$19.51
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Read the comments (or add your own)

  1. Steve
    Steve says:

    I love this one! That messy wire wrapping is a cool touch.

  2. No Photo
    Joann B says:

    Liked the tutorial but one problem I have is having enough space between the wire and the stone to tuck it in after completing the wrap. I tried but it made the wrap uncoil.

  3. Jewelry by Shannon
    Jewelry by Shannon says:

    Joann B, you could also finish the end by bringing the wire diagonally across the recently wrapped section, hold it with your thumb and wrap it around the very top of the loop formed at the top. Trim the loose end and you are set … no need try to tuck in the loose end! SLS

  4. juku7
    juku7 says:

    I like that idea, Shannon

  5. No Photo
    ZUBEAJAY says:

    personally, i dont like the messy look, though i know its popular right now. and to me this style covers up too much of the stone.

  6. celticivy
    celticivy says:

    I’m in the same boat as Zubeajay, I understand it’s become popular, I remember seeing the style and I made a face and went ”eeeewwwwww’

  7. Nancy Mc
    Nancy Mc says:

    Thanks Shannon! Wire tucking is a killer! Kudos to the people who have mastered it tho. :+)

  8. No Photo
    M Clevenger says:

    How do we know how much wire is “enough”? Also, what guage are they using? The supply list says 20, but it sure doesn’t look like 20 in the photos.

  9. No Photo
    K rode says:

    I like the messy version and the regular one depending on the look of the piece. I have not mastered the wire tuck so I just wrap up to topand around again.
    Fun!!

    Attachment

  10. Kate
    Kate says:

    Looks great, KRode!

  11. RonnyJ
    RonnyJ says:

    I like the idea, but prefer a neat wrap. Wire tucking is a real bear, so I would do the wrap, go up diagonal and around, then make the bail loop and use the excess to hide the tail of the wrap.

  12. blpward
    blpward says:

    I like the messy look! I think it’s a lot more fun to create whimsical piece! That’s a beautiful stone and the wire color against the stone looks great.

    I can’t tuck wire that way either. If it was an 18 gauge wire I might have ended with a little swirl.

    Nice work!!

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