For September we’re going to make this lovely swingy pendant.  This is a fairly good size and will look great with those fall and winter wardrobes.

TOOLS:

 Round nose pliers

Flush cutters

Flat nose pliers

Small ruler

Rounder/bur cup or file for wire ends

Small ruler

Fine tip black marker (not shown)

MATERIALS:

20ga round half hard wire of your choice*

Two 6mm jump ring

Two 4mm jump rings

One good size bead with large hole.  The one I used here is a 20mm ceramic that I got a small string of at my local Michaels Craft Store

 *Cut your wire pieces as follows

One 4” piece

One 3” piece

One 6” piece

NOTE:

Start by making a mark on your round nose pliers just about at the half way part of the length.

Step 1:

Mark your 4 inch wire at 1 7/8” from one end.  Using the mark on your round nose pliers take a hold of your wire over its mark and wrap it around the pliers as shown. 

Step 2:

Next, using your flat nose pliers grab one wire end as close to the loop as possible…and bend up straight.

Step 3:

Repeat step 2 for the other side.  Using your fingers straighten the wires and align the bends at your loop.

Step 4:

Squeeze the wire ends together and push through the bead hole.

Step 5:

Now take the shorter end and spread it outward to the side

Step 6:

Using your round nose pliers grab the tip of the wire with the tips of your pliers.

Step 7:

Start curling the wire inward and into a tight curl

Step 8:

Using your flat nose pliers begin to form your flat coil by carefully winding the wire up on its self.

Step 9:

Once you have that wire coiled snug against your bead take and bend the other wire out to the opposite side.

Step 10:

Repeat step 7… 

Step 11:

…then step 8 but stop short of the bottom of the bead.

Step 12:

Now bend that coil upward onto the bead.  You may have to do some adjusting in the curl/coil for a nice look and fit.  This will be the front of your bead.

NOTE:

We used a 4” wire but you can use longer wires and have larger coils as well.  You can also form this piece with both sides being equal and bend one coil up the front and one up the back. 

Step 13:

Now to form the framework.  Take your 3” piece and make a mark at the 1 ½” point.  You are now going to make a loop just like we did in step 1.  Just do not spread the ends out too far.

Step 14:

Grab one end of the wire piece about midway between the mark on the pliers jaw and the end of the jaw…

Step 15:

…and make a pretty little curl to the outside.

Step 16:

Repeat step 15 for the other side.

Step17:

Now it’s time to work on the bottom half of the frame.  Take your 6” wire and make a mark at 3”.  Using your round nose pliers at the largest part of the jaws, bend this wire until you have a nice V shape

Step 18:

Grab your wire at about 1 ½” again with the largest part of the pliers jaw and bend out and down.  Repeat on the other side.

Step 19:

Now you have a piece that looks kind of like a funky M…

Step 20:

You now need to make nice curls on the ends as you did with the top part in steps 15 and 16.

Step 21:

Once you have completed step 20…using your round nose pliers hold your piece and bend those ends inward towards the body of the piece.

Step 22:

Before assembling dry fit all your large pieces and make any adjustments as necessary.  You want the bead to be able to swing freely and the ends of the top and bottom to line up nicely before putting on the jump rings.

NOTE:

When opening your jump rings make sure you spread the two sides out to the side as shown.  When you retighten be sure the ends are as flush to one another as possible.

Step 23:

Using your 6mm jump ring attach your bead to the center of your top frame.  Ring must go through the loop and come between the two sides.  Believe me; this can be a little tricky with the pieces wanting to move around.

Step 24:

Using the 4mm jump rings, attach the bottom half of your frame.  Remove all marker marks with a little nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth.  Add a chain or cord and enjoy!

NOTE:  You can use a bead with a smaller hole.  Just skip steps 1-3.  Form a loop on one end and run the wire through your bead and make a coil at the bottom.  The bottom coil can stay below the bead or come up onto the bead which ever you prefer.