Secrets to Wireworking Video 8: Wire-Wrapped Bails Single-Strand Necklace with Black Onyx Gemstone Focal, Crystal Passions® Beads and Drops and Wirework

Using the smallest barrel of stepped wire-wrapping pliers, create a U-shaped bend four inches from the end of a 14-inch length of 20-gauge copper wire. Create a hook 2mm from the U-shaped bend then bend the wires outward 90 degrees.

Place the donut on the hook and hold securely. Bend the long wire tail around and across the front, creating an arc along the hole.

Bring the wire around and across the back. Tightly wrap the short wire tail around the long tail twice. Trim excess from the short tail.

Wrap the wire across the front of the donut, creating a parallel arc 6mm from the first.

Bring the wire to the back of the dount then wrap tightly around the center wire twice to secure. Move the wire out and perpendicular to the hole, then create a wrapped loop that slightly extends past the edge of the donut.

Note: If needed, temporarily bend the stem of the loop away from the donut for more room while wrapping.

Use a 5-inch length of wire to tightly wrap the hook and closest arc together four times. Trim any excess wrapping wire.

Tightly wrap the end of a 14-inch length of silver wire at the edge of an arc.

String on two 3mm bicones then tightly wrap twice around the opposite arc. Cross the wire back to the first arc and tightly wrap twice. Repeat until the arc has been filled with bead embellished wire weaving, then tightly wrap around an arc three times to secure. Trim any excess wrapping wire.

Note: This pendant needed ten rows of bicones to fill the arcs, but this can vary with each piece.

Using the smallest barrel of stepped pliers, create a U-shaped bend 1-1/2 inches from the end of a 14-inch length of 20-gauge copper wire. Create a hook that is the same length as the radius of the donut.

Place the bail on the donut opposite the wirework and hold securely in place. Approximately 12mm from the donut edge, create U-shaped bends so each wire is brought to the end of the hook on the back. Gently flare the top of the bail out with stepped pliers and then move the wire to create a taper from 4mm to 8mm from the hole to the top of the bail.

Remove the donut from the bail. Create a simple loop on each end of the wire, just above the hook, then replace the donut.

Use a 5-inch length of wire to securely wrap the simple loops on the back of the bail to the hook.

Use the wire weaving technique from Step 7 to embellish the bail with a row with one 3mm bicone, a row with one 4mm bicone and a row with one 5mm bicone. After the last bicone, wrap tightly around the opposite side of the bail to secure. Do not trim the wrapping wire at this time.