Judy Larson's Sweetheart Round Cabochon Pendant

Sweetheart Round Cabochon Pendant

by Judy Larson

Category: Classic
Technique(s): Wrapping
Skill Level: Intermediate

Swirling wires mimic the lines of a sweet heart in this classic wire wrapped pendant. Use a beautiful round cabochon and follow along to learn how to wire a bezel for an elegant design.

Materials

21 Gauge Square Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire - 10 FT

CLH8-21SQH-10FT

Lesson Quantity: 36.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $19.95
Gold Club Price: $14.96

Add to Bag

21 Gauge Half Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire

H8-21HRH

Lesson Quantity: 18.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 1FT
Price: $1.11
Gold Club Price: $0.84

Add to Bag

Carnelian 25mm Round Cabochon

E8-33J

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $5.97
Gold Club Price: $4.48

Add to Bag

Blue Goldstone 25mm Round Cabochon

E8-22J

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.68
Gold Club Price: $3.51

Add to Bag

Golden Obsidian 25mm Round Cabochon

E8-16J

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.68
Gold Club Price: $3.51

Add to Bag

Iron Zebra Jasper 25mm Round Cabochon

E8-21J

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.36
Gold Club Price: $3.27

Out of Stock

Sterling Silver Beads Bright 3mm - Pack of 25

K9-140

Lesson Quantity: 3.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $3.34
Gold Club Price: $2.51

Add to Bag

Add All Items to Cart

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

Add to Bag

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

Add to Bag

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

Add to Bag

3 Step Wire Wrapping Pliers - Pack of 1

G2-19

G2-19
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $13.00
Gold Club Price: $9.75

Add to Bag

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

Add to Bag

Scotch 3/4 Inch Painters Tape for Taping Wires Together

G13-5

G13-5
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $5.97
Gold Club Price: $4.48

Out of Stock

Add All Items to Cart

Instructions

Step 1

Measure the circumference of your cabochon: Wrap the outer edge of your cabochon with a narrow strip of painters tape. Cut the tape off where it overlaps.

Judy Larson's Sweetheart Round Cabochon Pendant - , Classic Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, cab pendant

Step 2

Remove the tape and place it on a piece of paper. Measure the tape as shown. The photo to the right is the actual size diagram for a 25mm round cab, with length and markings at the top edge of the blue tape.

Step 3

Straighten and cut four 21 gauge square wires 9" long each. Lay the wires side by side, ends even. Use painters tape to secure the wire ends together. This makes the wire bundle easier to work with.

Step 4

Mark the center of the wire bundle with a Sharpie marker. Center this mark on the center mark made with the tape in Step 2. Using the sharpie marker, transfer all markings to the wire bundle.

Step 5

Using your half round wire, make seven wraps to show on the center marked line. Starting on the next lines out from center and working outward, make four wraps to show with half round wire. Place the wrapped bundle next to your diagram and check to make sure that the wraps are lined up with the marks. If the wraps need to be moved, use your fingernail or a wooden dowel, NOT a metal tool, to move the wraps. Once the wraps are where you want them, you can snug them down tighter with your flat nose pliers. Front and back sides are shown below.

Step 6

You will be making a 90° bend AWAY from the wrong side of the bundle, TOWARD the outside (right side) of the wire bundle. Place your flat nose pliers on the outer line so you can barely see the line. You could even cover the line just a hair. With your fingers, bend the bundle of wires 90° over the top of the pliers.

Step 7

Center the wire bundle on the 1" mandrel. Carefully bend the bundle around the mandrel. The 90° bent wires should meet or be extremely close. When you pull the top wires close together around the cabochon, they should meet and the cabochon should be tight in the wire bezel you just created. The bezel will spring out a bit, right photo, until you wrap the bent wires together.

Step 8

Using painter's tape, secure all the wire ends together. Temporarily secure the cabochon in the bezel with painter's tape.

Step 9

Make a hook about 1" from the end of the half round wire. The bend should be wide enough to accommodate two thicknesses of square wire. Position the hook at the base of the straight wires with the cut end toward the back and the bend on the front of the assembly. Wrap tightly around the square wires, tightening down the half round wire after each wrap, until there are 5 wraps showing in the front. Try not to overlap the wraps but have them nestle tightly side by side. DO NOT CUT THE WRAP WIRE OFF!

Remove the tape from the wires. Pull the back two wires slightly away from the bundle.

Step 10

Using the largest section of a 3-step pliers, grasp the two separated wires about ½" up from the last wrap. Bend the wires around the plier barrel as shown until they touch the back of the cabochon.

Step 11

Make a 30° bend in the bail wires about 1/8" up from the last wrap. You will need to hold the assembly up and "eyeball" where to place your pliers for the bend.

Step 12

Make sure that the wrap wires are underneath the bent bail wires on the back of the assembly (see the photo). Hold the bail wires tightly to the cabochon. Using the long wrap wire, wrap, going down around the bail wires and previously wrapped section, securing the bail wires tightly to the assembly. Tighten down the half round wire after each wrap. Try not to overlap the wraps but to have them nestle tightly side by side. Trim the short wrap wire off close to the bail wires after three wraps have been made.

Step 13

Trim the bail wires off below and flush with the last wrap. Slip the wrap wire tail between the cabochon and bezel just under the last wrap. Pull the wire tightly to the front. Trim the wire even with the bezel wires. When you remove the tape holding the cabochon in place, push the wire up into the assembly.

Step 14

Remove the painters tape from the cabochon. Use round or chain nose pliers to make bends in the outer back wire close to each wrap on the back of the cabochon. Notice that the tips of the pliers are spread a bit. Note: Be extremely careful to not scratch your cabochon. Once you make a bend, you really can't go back and fix it, so go slowly and be patient. You do not need to make bends at the top of the cabochon.

Step 15

Turn the assembly over to the front. Use your thumbnail to separate and push up the top wire on either side of center bottom. Note: If you do not have thumbnails long enough to do this, use a non-serrated knife to separate the wires and a ½" dowel to push the wires up.

Step 16

Separate the remaining wires, three to each side. Optional: Twist the center wire in each section.

Step 17

Curve each wire set around as shown. If you can't do this easily or neatly by hand, bend the wires around a 5/16" mandrel.

Step 18

Trim the left side wires so that they overlap the cabochon slightly. Using round or chain nose pliers, make a small curl at the end of each wire. Note: You may need to trim the wires to get the desired effect.

Step 19

Make a curved sweep over the top of the cabochon with the wires from the right side. Trim the wires so that the wire closer to the center of the cabochon is shorter than the one to the outside. Slide three 3mm beads on the longer wire. Using round or chain nose pliers, make a small curl at the end of each wire. Note: You may need to trim the wires to get the desired effect.

Step 20

Make adjustments in the curls so that they are staggered up the cabochon. Your pendant is finished!

Reviews

Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!