Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap | Contemporary Wire Jewelry

Stone Twist Wrap

by Karen Meador, Ph.D.

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Lashing, Wrapping
Skill Level: Beginner

This wrap is a good way to showcase any unusual shaped stone. The wire forms an interesting cage around any shape.
You can choose to 20-gauge or 22-gauge wire, depending upon the size of your stone. Likewise, for the wrapping wire, you can use either 24- or 26-gauge wire.

Materials

24 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire

H8-24D

Lesson Quantity: 3.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $1.08
Gold Club Price: $0.81

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20 Gauge Square Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire

H8-20SQD

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 feet
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $18.07
Gold Club Price: $13.55

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Tools

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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Tape Measure

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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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5 inch Plato Slim Flush Cutters for Wire Working or Beading - Pack of 1

G35-3

G35-3
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.57
Gold Club Price: $7.18

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Tape Measure

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Instructions

Step 1

Use a tape measure to determine the circumference of the stone or object.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, measure the stone

Step 2

Measure two pieces of the heavier gauge wire that are each at least 4 times as long as the circumference determined in step 1.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, cut the wire 4 times the circumference

Step 3

Bind the middle of these two wires with the lighter gauge wire by holding the tail of the wire and wrapping it around the two heavier wires. Wrap around five times or more.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, bind the 2 wires

Step 4

Spread the two wires apart on each side.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, spread the wires apart

Step 5

Bring the top two wires up and across each other and the bottom two down and across each other.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, cross the wires

Step 6

Use the chain nose pliers to twist the wires together one or two times where they cross.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, use pliers to twist the wires together

Step 7

Insert the stone and note that after you twist the wires, they will extend to the sides of the it. Note: The stone will be slippery and try to escape the wrap. Just hold it in place as best you can.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, insert the stone into the wrap

Step 8

Twist the one front wire and one back wire on each side of the stone in the same manner as steps 5 & 6. The wrap may look pretty messy at this point, but this will be alleviated in a later step.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, twist the wires together again

Step 9

Bring two wires back to the front and two wires to the back, twisting them again as in steps 5 & 6.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, bring the 2 wires to the front

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, twist the 2 wires

Step 10

Continue in this back and forth crossing/twisting manner until you reach to top of the stone. Then grasp three of the four wires together with the chain nose pliers in preparation for making the bail. Leave the front wire out for use in wrapping the bail.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, continue back to front of the stone

Step 11

Wrap the omitted wire once or twice tightly around the other three wires.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the omitted wire tightly around the other wires

Step 12

Wrap the three remaining wires from front to back around the bail making pliers.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the 3 wires around the bail making pliers

Step 13

Wrap the same wire used in step 10 a couple of times around the three wires to create the bail.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the 4th wire a couple times around the bail wires

Step 14

Wrap the three bails wires from the back to the front several times around the bail base and the stone finally tucking the ends in at the back.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the 3 bail wires

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, tuck the wires

Step 15

Take up any slack in the wrap by gently turning some of the straight pieces of wire between the twists with the chain nose pliers. You can do this in the back and/or the front. Be gentle or you might break the wires.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Stone Twist Wrap - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, take up any slack by twisting with pliers

Reviews

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.