Creating a Simple Coiled Wire Necklace

While I plan to produce my own how-to videos for coiling artistic copper wire into jewelry soon, I wanted to at least get a couple of slideshows posted to demonstrate my techniques.

To start with, let's take a look at my workshop:

That "thing" in the middle is my coiling gizmo.  The coiling gizmo is a wonderful tool that I could not live without, but it absolutely, positively, MUST be permanently mounted to a very sturdy base.

In my case, we mounted it to a thick, heavy piece of walnut wood that is both attractive and functional.

(If you need a base for your gizmo, email me at donna@fashionablywired.com.  I make and sell custom gizmo bases that are made from recycled plastic board.  They are pre-drilled and ready to use, and heavy enough to do the trick.)

Here is the set that I will be making in this demo:

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Step One: Create your coiled wire components

For this simple coiled wire necklace, I have to create 5-6" single coils using the smaller of the two coiling rods.

I take 3 of the single coils and coil them double again.

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Step 2: Make the center wire nugget

Then I take one of the double coils, and coil it again, making a triple coil, which I call a Wire Nugget.  This particular nugget is made from the full 6" original single coil, so it is a substantial piece.

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Step 3: Create the small earring coils

I always make earrings to match each of my necklaces, and I like to make ones that are unusual.  In this case, I am making matching coiled wire earrings.  I create 2-1.5" single coils, and then coil them double.

You can see the resulting earrings here.

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Step 4: Assemble the necklace

I string all my necklaces on a 2-ft section of 20-gauge wire to match the necklace.  In this case, I am using a bright gold necklace wire.

The 20-gauge wire provides a firm setting for all of my other components.  It keeps its shape nicely and is just the right heft for making the hook and eye clasp at the end.

In this design, I am hanging the wire nugget as a pendant with a crystal dangle at the bottom.  I add various metal accent beads and crystals to fill in the gaps, plus here I have added two painted china beads for effect.

When all the beads and accents are in place, I form a hook at one end of the wire, cinch all the beads up tight to that hook, then form an eye loop at the other end.

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Step 5: Wear it!

The necklace and earrings are now ready to wear!

In the next post, I will demonstrate the making of one of my Serpentine Seed pieces.