Home / Jewelry Making Patterns / Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet
Abby Hook's Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Making Chain, Chain Making , Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry. A simple way to add extra interest to a beaded chain is to create wrapped links.
Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet
by Abby Hook
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Chain Making, Coiling, Making Loops, Wrapping
  • Skill Level: Beginner
A simple way to add extra interest to a beaded chain is to create wrapped links. Not only is this style of chain very strong, you can also easily add extra detail by wrapping the wire around the beads. This makes the chain pretty enough to use on its own or make a focal necklace extra special.

The finished look is greatly affected by using different sized and shaped beads.

The finished length of this bracelet is 8 inches, with an inside circumference of 7 inches due to the size of the beads. You can adjust the length by increasing or decreasing the number of wrapped links you use accordingly.
Special Instructions: Companion Tutorials:
Embellished Hook Clasp

Materials

Yellow Turquoise 16mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-496
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $11.68
  • Gold Club Price: $8.76
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Prehnite 10mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-509
  • Lesson Quantity: 4.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $10.77
  • Gold Club Price: $8.08
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African Turquoise 8mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-735
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.47
  • Gold Club Price: $7.10
Out of Stock
Gold Filled J Hook Clasp w/ Fig. 8 Connector Small 14mm - Pack of 1
J3-74
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $7.20
  • Gold Club Price: $5.40
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20 Gauge Round Half Hard 14/20 Rose Gold Filled Wire
H6-20H
  • Lesson Quantity: 4.00 feet
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $31.61
  • Gold Club Price: $23.71
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Tools

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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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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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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Economy Nylon Jaw Pliers
G2-25
  • G2-25
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $11.97
  • Gold Club Price: $8.98
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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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Instructions
Step 1:
Prepare the wire
Start with a 10mm bead. Cut a 7” length of 20 gauge wire. Straighten by holding one end in the chain nose pliers and pulling the length through the nylon jaw pliers a couple of times.
Pro Tip: Each bead is wrapped using one piece of wire, which forms the fat wrap loops and also spiral around the bead. Therefore, different sized beads require different amounts of wire. For the purposes of this lesson, we are wrapping 8, 10, and 16mm beads but you can use any size you like. If you are unsure of wire length, use a piece too long, rather than too short. Measure it and you will know for next time! (See the end of the tutorial for wire lengths for the bracelet).
Abby Hook's Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet - Prepare the wire, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, straighten the wire
Step 2:
Bend the wire
Thread the bead onto the wire and place it in the centre (in this case at 3 1/2”).
Grasp the wire immediately after the bead with the flat nose pliers and bend the wire by 45° against the jaw of the pliers, using your thumb.
Abby Hook's Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet - Bend the wire, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, string the bead onto the wire
Abby Hook's Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet - Bend the wire, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, bend the wire after the bead
Step 3:
Form a loop
Remove the bead. Grasp the wire with the round-nose pliers just after the bend. Shape the wire around the jaw, so that the loop wire forms a 90° angle to the straight wire.


Pro Tip: For this chain, with larger beads, I am using the center of the jaw to form a loop 3/16” across. For smaller beads, you will want to form a small loop, so that it does not look oversized.
Abby Hook's Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet - Form a loop, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, grasp the wire with round nose pliers
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Step 4:
Wrap the loop
Now that the loop is formed, it needs to be wrapped, securing it closed and creating the base for the final wrap. Grasp the loop flat, with the chain nose pliers, so that the loop wire points straight up from the pliers. Wrap the loop wire around the straight wire, using your fingers to pull the wire round, keeping the wires at a 90° angle at all times. Coil 3 times.
Abby Hook's Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet - Wrap the loop, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, grasp with chain-nose pliers
Abby Hook's Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet - Wrap the loop, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the wire around the straight neck wire
Abby Hook's Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet - Wrap the loop, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the neck 3 times
Step 5:
Form a second wrapped loop
Thread the bead back onto the wire. Grasp the wire with the flat nose pliers, just after the bead. Bend 45° in the opposite direction to the existing loop. Form a loop and wrap 3 times as before.
Ensure that the straight wires are pointing in opposite directions and adjust if necessary.

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Abby Hook's Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet - Form a second wrapped loop, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, bend wire
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Abby Hook's Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet - Form a second wrapped loop, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, wrap the neck 3 times
Step 6:
Wrap the bead
Grasp one loop flat in the chain nose pliers and shape the wire coming from that loop around the bead to the loop on the opposite side, by grasping the end with your fingers and gently shaping it around the bead.
Coil once, locking the wire in between the existing coils.
Repeat on the other side.
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Abby Hook's Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet - Wrap the bead, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, coil once
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Step 7:
Create a fat wrap
Continue coiling around the existing coils on either end, by grasping one loop with the chain nose pliers and the wrapping wire with the flat nose pliers, ensuring that the coils sit in between each existing coil. This creates a double layer wrap.
Abby Hook's Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet - Create a fat wrap, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, continue wrapping a fat wrap
Step 8:
Trim and tuck the end in
Trim the tail wire close to where the loop wires cross, (taking great care not to catch the wrong wire with the cutters!). Tuck the end into the loop with the chain nose pliers.
The link is now complete!
Abby Hook's Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet - Trim and tuck the end in, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, trim the wires
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Step 9:
Complete the bracelet!
The bracelet is made up of the following beads and wire lengths:

1 x 16mm bead - 8” 20 gauge wire each
4 x 10mm beads - 7” 20 gauge wire each
2 x 8mm beads - 6” 20 gauge wire each

Remember to add the previous link that you made to the loop of the new link before you close it!
Pro Tip: Make the loop at the opposite end to the hammered hook clasp slightly larger than the other loops, to accommodate the thicker wire of the clasp and make closing it slightly easier.
Abby Hook's Wire-wrapped Bead Link Bracelet - Complete the bracelet!, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Connect the links

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