Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap

Criss Cross Wire Wrap

by Karen Meador, Ph.D.

Category: Classic
Technique(s): Lashing, Making Loops
Skill Level: Beginner

Here's a good way to wrap an odd shaped flat stone. The criss cross pattern helps to hold the stone snugly while adding beautiful metal to the design.

Materials

24 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire

H11-24D

Lesson Quantity: 5.00 feet
Purchase Quantity: 5.00 1FT
Price: $0.22
Gold Club Price: $0.17

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20 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire

H11-20D

Lesson Quantity: 12.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $0.39
Gold Club Price: $0.29

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26 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire

H11-26D

Lesson Quantity: 12.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $0.15
Gold Club Price: $0.12

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square stone pendant

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Tools

C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.97
Gold Club Price: $11.23

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Chain Nose Wire Plier

G2-508

G2-508
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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6 1/2 Inch Bail Making Pliers

G2-18

G2-18
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $15.97
Gold Club Price: $11.98

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Instructions

Step 1

Loosely measure around the perimeter of the stone and triple that length. Flush cut eight 24g wires this length.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, flat stone

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, cut wires

Step 2

Put four of the wires side by side and neatly bind the middle of these together with 26g wire. Wrap around enough times to provide the length needed fit around a bottom corner of the stone (usually 10 or more).

Pro Tip: It's a good idea to use the chain nose pliers to snug (lightly flatten) the binding wires against the main wires. Repeat for the other set of four wires.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, wrap the wires together

Step 3

Use chain nose pliers to create a right angle in the middle of each binding. This will likely create a small gap in the binding.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, make a right angle

Step 4

Bend the wires apart on each side of the binding as shown in the photo.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, bend the wires apart

Step 5

Position a set of bound wires on each bottom corner and tightly tape these in place as shown in the photo.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, position the bound wires on each corner

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, tape in place

Step 6

Crisscross the wires on the front left with those on the front right weaving them over and under each other as shown in the photo. Repeat for the wires in the back.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, criss cross the wires

Step 7

Gather the wires from the front and the back (8 wires) on each side about 2/3 way up the stone and use the chain nose pliers to turn them straight up toward the stone top. Use 26g wire to bind the wires on each side being careful to keep them flat. They tend to want to form a cylinder.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, gather the wires and bind

Step 8

Pull the front wires on each side together to meet in the middle near the top. Then pull them straight up. Repeat for the back wires.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, pull the front wires

Step 9

Optional: For added security if the stone has a hole at the top, pull one back wire through the hole from back to front and up into the bundle.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, pull one wire through the hole

Step 10

Wrap a piece of 24g wire around the 16 wires a few times at the top of the stone. This is to hold them in place while you form the bail. (Optional: If you have pulled a wire through the stone hole, you can wrap the bundle with that wire.)

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, wrap around the wires

Step 11

Bend 7 or 8 of the bundle wires in the back straight down to lessen the number in the bail. Flush cut the back 8 wires and turn them under.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, bend 7 wires straight down

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, trim the wires

Step 12

Use chain nose pliers to bend the rest of the bundle towards the back at a right angle. Form the bail toward the front around bail-making pliers.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, form the bail

Step 13

Use chain nose pliers to push the end of the bail circle toward the bundle completing the bail shape.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, bend the bail

Step 14

Bind all the bundle with 20g wire starting at the bottom of the bail circle and wrapping down toward the stone. You will be securely capturing all the wires. Finish this binding by putting the end of the wire under itself in the back.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, bind the bundle of wires

Step 15

Flush cut the front bail wires to the desired length and create swirls or other desired shapes. Remove the tape on the corners of the piece.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Criss Cross Wire Wrap - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, flush cut the wires

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Karen Meador, Ph.D.

Karen Meador, PhD, is a retired professor, educational consultant and musician whose research endeavors focused on creative thinking and gifted education. Her numerous books and articles for teachers addressed these topics. Dr. Meador currently pursues art through wire work, enameling and metalsmithing.