Nautical Wire Word Sea Necklace

Create a beautiful nautical wire word necklace with sea shades of blue apatite. This is a simple wire wrap project, ideal for beginners.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start by finding the centre of the chain and cut it with side cutters.

Now it's time to create the wire wrapped briolette.

2. Use side cutters to cut your 0.2mm sterling silver wire to length - we recommend a length of wire approx 15-20cm for wire wrapping briolettes.

3. Slip the briolette onto the wire around 3-4cm down. Ensure one side of the wire is longer than the other - pinch both ends of wire together at the top of the briolette to form a triangle shape, making sure the briolette is central.

4. Hold both sides of the wire with round nose pliers and bend the longer length to a right angle. At this point, work half way up the plier nose to ensure you allow yourself enough room for a good wrap. If necessary, trim any access wire on the short side with side cutters.

5. Use round nose pliers to form a loop with the longer side of the wire by bending it to a right angle and wrapping it around the tip of the pliers. Hold the loop flat between the tips of snipe nose pliers and take the long end of wire and use your fingers to tightly wrap it around the stem of the wires - begin at the base and work downwards.

6. Use snipe or flat nose pliers to gently squeeze the coil together and continue to wrap upwards until you reach the top of the bead. Once you're happy with the wrap, use side cutters to trim excess wire and squeeze the end into the coil for a neat finish.

Click here for step by step instructions with photos of how to wire wrap a briolette.

As there are 10 beads and excess 0.2mm wire, you can add as many wire wrapped beads as you wish using the same method.

7. Next, It's time to manipulate the wire into a word. Choose the font, size and word and print off to follow as a guide - or hand write your own.

8. Begin by creating a small loop at the end of the 0.8mm wire. Catch in the end loop from the necklace chain. Place the wire on the word and use it as a guide. Use the round nose pliers and snipe nose pliers to manipulate the wire along the word. At the end of the word, thread on the briolette loop and create another loop with the round nose pliers and catch in the loose end of the necklace chain.

7. Using nylon jaw pliers, gently squeeze the wire along the length of the word to work harden it.

This will complete your necklace!

It is best to have a practise run with silver plated wire as we have before you use sterling silver wire. It is good to bear in mind that the sterling silver wire is softer and easier to bend than the silver plated wire.

WATCH OUR VIDEO TUTORIAL BELOW SHOWING THE TECHNIQUE

SUGGESTED TOOLS FOR THIS PROJECT

Side cutters - for cutting and trimming wire

Round nose pliers - for bending loops in wire

Snipe nose pliers or flat nose pliers - for bending metal sheet and wire

Double nylon jaw flat nose pliers - protects your wire from scratches and dents

You may like to get our pack of pliers & side cutters which is an economical way of buying all the pliers you will need for every project!

CUSTOMISE YOUR KIT

Make the design your own by using your favourite jewellery supplies.

Shop briolettes

Shop chain

Shop wire

HELPFUL PAGES

How to wire wrap a briolette

How to work harden jewellery wire

JEWELLERY MAKING BOOKS

'The Basics of Bead Stringing' by Debbie Kanan

'Beading Design' by Kim Glover

Kernowcraft's jewellery making kits are aimed to inspire you - therefore the step by step instructions are available online only with a shopping list, where you can easily customise the design to suit you. We recommend printing or bookmarking this page ready to follow.

The suggested products used in this project are suggestions to inspire you. Products used were compatible at the time of making but do be aware that gemstones are natural and hand cut stocks can vary, so do use your own common sense as to the compatibility of each item