This page provides step by step instructions on how to wire wrap individual beads to form a delicate beaded chain. Great for incorporating in your necklace, bracelet and earring designs.
This is a great technique to learn to enable many design options, it also helps your beads to go further.
In this tutorial we've used some amazonite beads that are approximately 8x5mm. As the hole in the bead is approximately 0.7mm, we chose to use 0.5mm sterling silver wire.
You can use any fully drilled beads of your choice and suitable-sized jewellery wire. You can use all the same beads or create your own design with different shapes and different coloured gemstone beads - have fun experimenting!
Choose from our selection of metal wire to complete your beading chain. Including plated, sterling silver, 9ct gold, copper, brass and more.
Choose a suitable diameter wire for your beads, that will run smoothly through the holes (smaller beads = smaller holes). We would usually recommend using between 0.3mm and 0.5mm wire depending on your choice of beads.
You will need a gemstone bead! We have so many beautiful beads to choose from in a range of gemstones in many shapes and sizes to choose from.
In this tutorial, we've used some amazonite beads. Just check the hole of your chosen bead is big enough to allow the wire to go through.
This tutorial requires a few pliers to complete the look including round nose pliers, snipe nose pliers and side cutters.
All of these are available individually or in our popular pack of pliers.
Line up your beads in the order you want them to be on the chain, this gives you a good idea of how they will look when strung.
Use side cutters to cut a length of wire. Approximately 5cm of wire per bead should do, but do bear in mind different wire gauges and bead sizes will require different lengths so it's worth trying a few first to see which will leave you with least wastage (the beads used here are around 5mm wide).
Tip: Having a bit more wire than you need will make wrapping easier.
Take the first piece of wire and form a loop one end using the round nose pliers, leaving a short length one side of the loop.
Use side cutters to cut off any excess wire as close to the coil as possible then use the snipe nose pliers to make sure it's tucked in and there are no sharp points. You should now have what looks like an eye pin with a loop at one end that has been wrapped closed.
Form another loop and repeat the process of tightly wrapping the wire back down the pin towards the bead. Again, cut off any excess wire as close to the coil as possible then use the snipe nose pliers to make sure it's tucked in and there are no sharp points.
Now you need to use this wrapping technique to form your chain. Start again by using one of the lengths of wire and creating a loop one end as before - this time threading the end loop of the previous bead onto the loop before wrapping it closed.
Your bead chain is now complete. You can create this look with any fully drilled bead of your choice!
Top tips for beginners:
The products used in this project are suggestions to inspire you. Products used were compatible at the time of making but do be aware that stocks can vary, so do use your own judgement as to the compatibility of each item when making.
If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with our friendly team who will be more than happy to give you advice over email or on the phone.
You can learn more and find inspiration by visiting our Jewellery Making Tutorials, Jewellery Making Kits and YouTube Channel. Don't forget to follow us on social media and tag us in your designs on Instagram & Facebook, we would love to see!