Tweetheart Bracelet

This charming Tweetheart Bracelet uses just one technique – the wrapped loop – and a strand of coordinated lampwork beads.

Posted by MillLaneStudio

About

With the chirpy little bird perched between coiled wire beads, even if your wrapping technique is a little messy, it will add to the homespun feel of the bracelet.

For designs like this one that use heavier beads and components, it's better to use a wrapped loop rather than a simple loop to make the loops stronger and the bracelet more secure.

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You Will Need (11 things)

  • 22 gauge silver, non-tarnish Wire
  • Plaid Select Design 51 Lampwork Bead Strand (birds and hearts)
  • Bead Gallery Silver Wire ball beads
  • Silver Toggle Clasp

  • Tools

  • Flush Cutters
  • Flat Nose Pliers
  • Round Nose Pliers
  • Chain Nose Pliers
  • Crimping Pliers
  • Ruler

Steps (16 steps, 120 minutes)

  1. 1

    For each link, you will need to allow 3" (7.5cm) of wire to wrap the loops, plus the length of the components for that link. Cut the wire for the first component and create a wrapped loop on one end. String a seed bead, a red and white polka dot bead and another seed bead. Grip the wire with the tip of the chain nose pliers just above the second seed bead and bend it at a 90° angle.

  2. 2

    Remove the chain nose pliers and position the round nose pliers in the bend of the neck you just formed. Wrap the wire around the top jaw of the pliers to form a loop.

  3. 3

    Remove the round nose pliers from the loop and grip it with the flat nose pliers. Wrap the tail neatly around the neck.

  4. 4

    Sometimes this can be fiddly and you might find it is easier to use chain nose pliers to wrap the tail rather than your fingers.

  5. 5

    Wrap the wire neatly around the neck two or three times, or until the wire sits snugly against the last bead added.

  6. 6

    Trim the excess wire close to the neck. Use crimping pliers or chain nose pliers to press the cut end neatly against the neck.

  7. 7

    The finished double wrapped loop should look like this.

  8. 8

    Cut the wire for the heart component. It needs to be long enough for two seed beads and the heart, plus 3" (7.5cm).

    Create a right angled bend at the 1 1/4" (3cm) mark. Place the round nose pliers in the neck of the bend and wrap the wire around the top jaw of the pliers to form a loop. When crossing the wire at the front of the neck, leave a gap between the front and the back wires large enough to hook a component through.

  9. 9

    Hook the loop of the polka dot bead onto the loop you just formed.

  10. 10

    Grip the loop with chain nose pliers and finish the wrapped loop. Trim the excess wire.

  11. 11

    String a seed bead, a heart and another seed bead onto the wire.

  12. 12

    Create a neck and form a loop.

  13. 13

    Wrap the wire around the neck two or three times to firm up the beads.

  14. 14

    For the bird component, replace the seed beads with wire beads. Continue adding wire wrapped components using the photograph as a guide. To make the bracelet longer, add additional wire beads.

  15. 15

    To attach the clasp at each end of the bracelet, cut a length of wire for the wire bead and create a wrapped loop on the polka dot component. String the wire bead. Form the loop and hook on one half of the clasp.

  16. 16

    Complete the wrapped loop. Repeat on the other end of the bracelet to attach the second half of the clasp.