Copyright 2004 Eni Oken  www.enioken.com Page: 1
Tutorial 2: Circular Orange pendant
By Eni Oken ... www.enioken.com
This tutorial shows how to create a pendant
constructed over a circular armature fabricated with
18 ga (or 16 ga) wire. Over this armature, 28 ga
wire is used to attach several beads using three
different methods.
Step 1: Shape the circle
Using 18 gauge wire, a simple 0.5 inch circle was
constructed by wrapping it around a wooden dowel
or a thick knitting needle. A tail of approximately
0.35" was left for the loop.
Step 2: Form the loop
Using the round nose pliers, create a small loop at
the top of the circle. Notice how a small portion of
the circle is overlapped. The direction of the loop and
the circle are also important, the overlap should
remain to your left if you are right handed (and
reversed if you are left handed).
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Step 3: Flatten the shape
Using a chasing (ball-peen) metallic hammer over an
anvil, flatten the entire piece a bit, making the
structure more rigid. Open the shape a bit to have
access to all portions of the armature.
Step 4: Re-shape the armature and attach thin
wire
Cut a 2 feet long piece of 28 ga wire (you can use 26
also, but it's a bit trickier to work and beads need to
have large holes). Attach the wire to the left of the
loop (if you are right-handed) by coiling it around
the armature two or three times. You will work in
clockwire direction.
Step 5: String in two beads
Slip in one larger bead (shown in copper) and one
smaller bead (shown in silver). Take the wire back
through the large copper bead, forming a loop.
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Step 6: Pull tightly to form a picot
Now comes the tricky part -- the wire must be pulled
tightly, without letting the beads loose. To do so,
hold the two beads as closely as possible to the
armature with your left hand, while pulling the wire
tightly with your right hand (if you are right handed).
This forms a picot, which is placed usually around
the edge of an armature. Pass the wire behind the
armature, to form the next picot.
Step 7: Form the second picot
AForm another picot right next to the first one. Keep
them as close together as possible.
Step 8: Form picots around the entire circle
Form picots around the entire edge of the circle. It is
preferable to have an even number of picots
however, it is not fundamental. Sometimes the size
of the armature (as in this case) does not allow for
even picots.
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Step 9: Start attaching the second row of beads
When you reach the beginning, start a new layer of
beads: string in one pearl and wrap the wire around
the armature, slipping it between the loop and the
first picot and pulling tightly.
Step 10: Attach another pearl
String in another pearl and wrap the wire around the
armature, slipping it through the first and second
picots.
Step 11: Complete a full circle of pearls
Attach a full circle of pearls around the armature.
Depending on the size of the pearls, you may require
less pearls than copper beads. To compensate for
the smaller size of the inner circle of pearls, skip one
or two copper beads. When you reach the beginning,
coil the wire around the armature once or twice to
secure it.
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Step 12: Add a third row of beads
Start attaching the smaller seed beads in between
the pearls and copper beads. String in 4 or 5 seed
beads (amount depends on size of seed beads and
pearls) and slip the wire carefully through the loop of
the pearl. Gently pull the wire tight.
How many seeds are required? You should form a
nice, rounded scallop shape around the pearl. If you
added too little or too much, don't worry: you can
compensate on the second and last scallops by
adding or subtracting one seed bead.
Step 13: Form a full row of scallops
A full row of beads was then attached to the
armature.
Step 14: Attach the center bead
To finish up the scalloped seed bead row, coil the
wire around the armature a few times, taking the
wire to the very top, under the loop. Slip the large
focal bead to the center and attach the wire to the
bottom portion of the armature by coiling a few
times.
Copyright 2004 Eni Oken  www.enioken.com Page: 6
Step 15: Finish up and trim the wire
Bring the wire to the front of the pendant and trim
it closelyp. Add a hand-made bail to the loop and
all done!
You are welcome to try to make your pendants
similar to this one for personal or commercial sale.
Thanks and enjoy!
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Copyrights 2000 Eni Oken - www.oken3d.com/jewelry