Creative Wire-Wrapping Techniques

Class Preview

Learn to craft an array of wire components, and mix and match your creations for beautiful custom jewelry!

Basic Components

Meet jewelry artist Debora Mauser and learn about techniques covered in class, wire types to look for and some considerations for choosing the best tools. Dive into creating foundational wirework components: balled wire — perfect for head pins and ear wires — and paddles. You’ll make balled wire using a small torch and form ear wires with pliers. Then, learn to paddle wire with a hammer.

Embellishing Flat Components

Spice up flat links with innovative techniques! First, create simple bars and dumbbells with round-nose or bail-making pliers. Then, learn how to add stamping to your wirework repertoire. Because bending and hammering metal can make it brittle, Debora shows how to anneal, or soften, your pieces before stamping. Finally, add texture and wire accents to your pieces.

Coiling & Swirls

Coils and spirals require some finesse with your pliers. Debora shows how to create smooth, even curls in your wire by hand, with a mandrel jig and on a drill. Get inspired with the endless variations you can make using these techniques — you’ll master closed spirals, open coils, Egyptian coils and even Danish love knots!

Wire Beads & Wraps

With Debora’s guidance, learn how to add stunning accents to beads with wire-wrapping embellishments, including coils, bead cages and caps. You’ll even make your own beads out of wire, with free-form and coiling techniques.

Riveted Components

Learn to add prefabricated rivets to your wire components for decorative accents or sturdy connections! Demonstrating on a unique heart component, Debora helps you prepare your wire for riveting, punch holes and finish your rivet. Use a similar technique to add eyelets to any metal piece, from which you can hang chains, paddled wire, beads or jump rings.

Lashed & Woven Components

Debora demonstrates how to lash pieces of metal or wire together for an unusual textural and structural design element. Then try your hand at designing a wire pendant with an outer armature and inner curl that you can attach with simple wire weaving.

Focal Pieces

Round off your new toolkit of techniques by creating perfect focal pendants to complement your creative wire components. Make a bold, modern flower with a large bead at the center, as well as a woven armature that makes a dramatic setting for a large stone. You’ll learn how Debora designs and links her pieces, as well as how to achieve that professional polish on your wirework jewelry!