Wire Wrapping Small Beads with Extra Large Beading Holes

Balance plays a great role not only in design, but it is also necessary for structural support when you are working with small beads. Small beads tend to need more structural support because they have more stress points as jewelry.

Creating the loop for the small bead with a large beading hole should be carefully considered, make sure that they are all the same size, a variance in size with your loop will stand out since smaller beads are more obvious against the smallest of details.

Use the tip of the nose pliers and create a bend by pushing both ends of the wires downward. Remember to measure 1/4 of wire fro the tip end.

Place the wire on the round nose pliers where it matches to the size of the beads beading loop. The further in you are in the round nose, the bigger the loop size.

Create your pivot points to keep the size of your loop. Do this by using the tip of the round nose pliers and using a pulling down motion to create an indentation to the wire.

Do the same motion to the other side of the wire. This should accomplish the size and shape of the loop.

With the loop you have just created, hold on to the loop by using a curved flat nose pliers and create and "L-Shape" by bringing the short wire across the long wire.

The loop with the "L-Shape" should look like so, with its right angle.

Wrap the wire around the longer wire half way down the size of the bead this will create tension for the bead and the wire to hold the bead in place.

Cut the excess wire as close you can to the wire wraps you have created.

The loop with the finished wire wrap should look like so. When wire wrapping small loops it is important to retain the shape as well as being able to maneuver your tools. As long as you have a balance with your size of the loop and the wire wraps are equal to half the height of the bead you are working on, the bead will hold in place.

When you are inserting your beads for the first time, before you move on to continue working with the rest of your chain links for the rest of your beads, it is important to look to see if you need to change any parts of your wire wrap.

Looking at each parts as you create these would give you the opportunity to adjust.

Use the tip of your round nose pliers and place the wire where you shaped the size of the loop on the other side.

Create an “L-Shape” by bending the wire at a right angle.

As you hold the place of the wire and the bead at the “L-Shape” right angle, bend the wire all the way down. The goal is to create a curve where the top of the bead to be able to create the loop.

Wrap the wire around the prong of the round nose pliers to create the round loop. Size the wire have been guided by the previous steps, it will naturally become round when wrapped. Be aware that when you are creating wire wraps with beads, each material will react differently to the actions you create, this will be different with all the materials that you will encounter, so adjust when necessary.

As the wire loop is hanging on the round nose pliers, wrap the remaining wire around until you feel a tension against the bead and the wire wraps.

The wire wraps, the loop and the bed should look like so, determine if you need to adjust before cutting.

After creating the proper amount of the wire wraps, cut the excess wire close to the edge of the beading hole.

Using the tips of the curved flat nose pliers, tuck the excess wire after cutting by pressing on its end. This will slip right in the bead.

With this wire wrapping technique you would be able to adjust how to work with small beads with extra large beading holes. There are many varieties of beads out there, share your pictures with us and tell us your story how you work these types of beads.