If you want to make loops like a pro, then you need to make this necklace.
In this week’s tutorial I’m making a beautiful necklace from purple Indian Glass Beads. Along the way, I’m going to be talking about how to perfect your jewellery loops and what to do if they go wrong.
The first thing you need to know is the larger the number, the thinner the wire. An 18 gauge wire will be thicker than an 26 gauge wire.
When I make loops, I tend use a 20 gauge half hard German style wire. I find that this is a great all-purpose wire to use for most loops. On occasion I will use an 18 gauge for heavier projects, or even a 22 gauge in a pinch. If it’s thinner than a 20 gauge though, I do tend to wire wrap it as I don’t trust that the loop will not stretch out of shape.
This necklace is made up of a series of components which we then join together.
Please note that I’m not going to go into the details of making and troubleshooting the loops in this blog post. I suggest you watch the video to get all the sneaky tips and tricks that I share.
To make the first component, cut a piece of wire, making sure that you have a flush cut. What this means is that you cut the wire with the flush side of your cutters close to the piece you want to keep. I explain this more in the video. I’m not going to go into too much detail here as there’s so many tips and tricks I cover in the video, I do suggest that you watch it.
Next, make a right angled bend in the wire, about 1cm from the end.
Put the tip of the short piece of wire into the jaws of the round nose pliers, making sure that you can’t feel the tip sticking out of the pliers.
Turn your hand until it can’t go any further. Readjust and turn again.
Feed on the following beads:
Make another loop.
Turn both loops so they are facing the same way.
Repeat – you need two of these components.
The focal is made in exactly the same way as Component 1, except using a head in so that it only has a loop on one end.
Feed the beads onto the headpin in the order listed above. Make a loop in the top.
Component 2 is made in exactly the same manner as Component 1. Thread the beads on in this order.
Make a loop and turn so they are facing the same way.
Repeat – you need 2 of these.
This one is made using the exact same technique as Components 1 and 2.
The beads go on in this order.
Make a loop and turn so they are facing the same way.
Repeat – you need 2 of these.
Component 4 is a single bead component made in the same way as the others. Make a loop, thread on the Electroplated Glass Bead, make another loop.
Make a loop and turn so they are facing the same way.
Repeat – you need 2 of these.
Make component 5 in the same way. Thread on the beads in this order.
Make a loop and turn so they are facing the same way.
Repeat – you need 4 of these.
If you’re struggling with loops, I do suggest that you watch this video all about making the perfect loop.
In this video I talk more about what to do when loops go wrong.
Now we’ve made all the components we just have to join them altogether. We do this using 6mm jump rings. If you haven’t used jump rings before, here’s a handy video all about jump rings.
Open the jump ring and thread on the centre focal and the two Component 2 pieces. Close the jump ring.
Open another jump ring and feed on the loop of Component 2 and Component 4. Close the jump ring. Repeat for the other side.
Continue adding the components with jump rings in the following order.
You will notice that you use two of Component 5 on each side.
We will use a 6mm jump ring first – this is the ring that the clasp will do up into. Open the jump ring and feed on the last loop of Component 5. Close the jump ring.
To add the clasp, we will use a 4mm jump ring. Open the jump ring and feed on the loop of the clasp and the last loop of the remaining Component 5. Close the jump ring.
In the video I was wearing my Moody Statement Necklace.
The earrings compliment the necklace I made this tutorial. You can see how to make them here:
If you make this necklace, please let me know by sharing it on your social media and tagging me.
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December 12, 2023
Hi, my name is Carol Karl. I live in little old New Zealand. My family and I strive to live the most ‘real’ life we can – by that I mean that we eat real food, we live real lives and just generally be our most authentic selves.
