Sonja Kiser's Spiral Chain Drop Earrings, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry. Sometimes when I am working on a particular design, another idea comes to mind.
Spiral Chain Drop Earrings
by Sonja Kiser
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Wrapping
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
Sometimes when I am working on a particular design, another idea comes to mind. That is how this design came to be. While I was working on the Merry-Go-Round earring design, the idea to use a chain and a teardrop bead seemed like a possibility. After adding a few more steps and doing some things a little differently, "Spiral Chain Drop" earrings are now a reality. Feel free to explore different variations by using various chain designs as well as different bead shapes and sizes. (Within this pattern, I have also included instructions for making the earrings a bit shorter.)
Special Instructions: Make both earrings at the same time, working one step on one earring, and then the same step on the other.

Materials

22 Gauge Square Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-22SQH
  • Lesson Quantity: 25.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $11.12
  • Gold Club Price: $8.34
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Sterling Silver Beads Bright 2.5mm - Pack of 25
K9-138
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $2.32
  • Gold Club Price: $1.74
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4mm Crystal Aurore Boreale 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 10
A13-94A
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $1.57
  • Gold Club Price: $1.18
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Sterling Silver Beads Bright 2mm - Pack of 25
K9-139
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $2.32
  • Gold Club Price: $1.74
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Blue Tiger Eye 10x14mm Oval Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-95
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $8.95
  • Gold Club Price: $6.71
Out of Stock
Silver Filled Oval Cable Chain 2.85x2.15mm - 10 Feet
C10-325U
  • Lesson Quantity: 6.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $28.97
  • Gold Club Price: $21.73
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Silver Filled Headpins 24GA 2 inch - Pack of 10
S8-15
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $1.59
  • Gold Club Price: $1.19
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Silver Filled Earwire w/ 2mm Ball 18mm - Pack of 10
S19-22
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $3.48
  • Gold Club Price: $2.61
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Tools

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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Flat Nose Wire Plier
G2-506
  • G2-506
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Round Nose Wire Plier
G2-507
  • G2-507
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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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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3.6 Volt Automatic Wire Twister (Cordless Screwdriver)
G5-15
  • G5-15
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $42.97
  • Gold Club Price: $32.23
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12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler
G7-30
  • G7-30
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.23
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Marker -extra fine
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
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Instructions
Step 1
Using 22-gauge square half hard wire, straighten, clean, and cut one 25" piece. Twist this wire using an automatic wire twister. So that the twists are consistent, cut the 25" wire in half, and then cut 1/2" from the end that was in the twister and 1/2" from the end that was in the pliers or vise. Each twisted wire should now be 12" long. Cut 2 pieces of chain, each 2 1/2" long (or 1 1/2" long if you want your earrings to be shorter.)
Sonja Kiser's Spiral Chain Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Twisting 22-gauge square half hard wire.
Step 2
Mark 1 1/2" from one end of each wire. Use flat nose pliers to make a 90° bend at each mark.
Sonja Kiser's Spiral Chain Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, 90 degree turn made using flat nose pliers.
Step 3
At each bend, use round nose pliers to begin a wrapped loop.
Sonja Kiser's Spiral Chain Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Wrapped loop with round nose pliers.
Step 4
After making just the loop, slide the end link of one piece of chain into the loop.
Sonja Kiser's Spiral Chain Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Adding chain to the loop.
Step 5
Finish wrapping the loop in, trim wire, and tuck in the end.
Sonja Kiser's Spiral Chain Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Wrapping loop.
Step 6
Mark 1/4" above bottom of each wrapped loop. Using flat nose pliers, make a 90° bend at the 1/4" mark. Make a wrapped loop, then do not cut this twisted wire. Leave it extended to the side.
Pro Tip: It may be easier to complete the wraps using your hands instead of the pliers.
Sonja Kiser's Spiral Chain Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Using Flat nose pliers to bend angle and make more wrapped loops.
Sonja Kiser's Spiral Chain Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Using Flat nose pliers to bend angle and make more wrapped loops.
Step 7
On each 2-inch head pin, put a 2.5mm sterling silver round bead, a 4mm crystal AB bi-cone bead, a 14mm teardrop bead, and a 2mm sterling silver round bead.
Sonja Kiser's Spiral Chain Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Adding beads.
Step 8
After the last bead, begin a wrapped loop to connect the headpin to the bottom of the chain. Remember to place the last link of the chain into the loop and then complete the wrap.
Sonja Kiser's Spiral Chain Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Wrapped loop to connect to headpin and chain.
Step 9
Using the long extended wire, beginning at the bottom, wind the wire tightly around a round pencil, forming a spiral. Carefully slide the pencil out of the wire.
Sonja Kiser's Spiral Chain Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Forming spiral with wire.
Step 10
Use chain nose pliers to grasp the end of the spiral, and gently pull downward. Pull until the bottom of the spiral is below the bead. When you let go of the spiral, it should spring upward and be about even with the top of the bead.
Sonja Kiser's Spiral Chain Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Chain nose pliers working on spiral.
Step 11
Use chain nose pliers to make a tiny loop at the end of the spiraled wire. Now gently work the chain (with the bead) to the inside of the spiraled wire. Curve the end of the spiraled wire, creating a circle containing the chain with the bead inside the spirals.
Sonja Kiser's Spiral Chain Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Chain nose pliers making loops in spiraled wire.
Sonja Kiser's Spiral Chain Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Chain nose pliers making loops in spiraled wire.
Step 12
Attach each component to an ear wire.
Sonja Kiser's Spiral Chain Drop Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Attaching ear wire.