Start Wire Weaving: Cabochon Pendants

Class Preview

Start creating the artisan jewelry you’ve always admired! Learn to weave a stunning wire pendant, bail and embellishments that will showcase any stone in style.

Introduction to Wire Weaving

Meet your instructor, Dawn Horner, as you gain a sneak peek of the beautiful pendant you’ll make in class. Next, learn how to select wires for your pieces, prevent injury while you work, and start practicing a figure-eight weave.

Building the Bezel Walls

Now that you’ve learned some weaving basics, it’s time to use them to build gorgeous bezel walls. Dawn shows you an easy way to measure your stones, and demonstrates how to weave and compress the bezel as you work. Additionally, you’ll learn how to create a beautiful sawtooth variation.

Preparing the Bail

Working with a bail can be intimidating, but Dawn shows you how to look at this jewelry component in a new way to recognize its artistic potential. Learn how to weave the bail, determining the best size and shape in the process. Dawn also shares the best ways to control the stone as you work.

Designing the Bail

After you’ve woven the wires for your bail, it’s time to shape it and secure the base with wire. After using Dawn’s trick to align the weave perfectly with the front of your piece, get inspired as Dawn helps you add a customized design in the process.

Finishing the Back

Why leave the back of the pendant plain when you can have so much fun designing it? Dawn shares techniques for placing your design and sewing it in snugly with wire. She also shares tips on accounting for a bezel that’s too loose or too tight to ensure that your stone and designs stay in place.

Finishing the Front

The back wires are in place, and now it’s time to reassess the stone to see how it’s fitting within the bezel. Dawn shows you how to secure the fit and alter the final design accordingly, offering design variation ideas and helpful tips to hide mistakes along the way.

Antiquing & Finishing

To antique, or not to antique? Learn the benefits of leaving your piece as-is or antiquing it to show off your weave in a different way. Dawn shows how to work quickly and safely to create the look you want, finishing with cleaning and polishing methods that will make all of your pieces shine!