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Making Friends, One Bead At A Time

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FREE JEWELRY MAKING LESSONS

Triple Loop Technique

You'll need:

round-nosed pliers
wire cutters
a few inches of your choice of wire
jeweler's files
nylon-nosed pliers

*Nylon-nosed pliers are not essential to this technique, especially if you are using really soft wire. However, if you use 20 gauge or larger, you may want to have them handy. They help flatten and straighten the wire.

1. The amount of wire you need and gauge depends on what you're making. If I'm making a clasp, I normally use at least 3 inches of 20 gauge half/hard wire. If I'm making head pins, I use 24, 22, or 21, soft or half/hard depending on the size of the hold in the bead.

2. After cutting the length of wire you need, use a jeweler's file to file both ends of the wire smooth.

3. Now position your round-nosed pliers so that one end of the wire is about in the middle of the pliers' nose and curl one end of your wire.

4. Again, position the nose right next to the curl and do another curl.

5. Repeat this yet again next to the second curl, and make sure you straighten up the remainder of the wire so that the triple loop section is at one end and the rest of the wire is coming straight up. This will allow you to use it as a head pin, or form the rest of the wire into a hook to make a clasp.

If you want, you can add a forth loop and create a flower design that can be used as a wire component or as part of a clasp.

All graphics and lessons created by Tammy Powley.