uncommon jewelry designs, fine art photography &  adult and youth jewelry classes

San Diego, CA  Visual Artist  & Educator Denise J. Bonaimo

Back to Lesson Plans Menu

Step by Step- Triangle	Finished Design
Step by Step - Square or Rectangle	Finished Design

This lovely variation on the spiral has so many possiblitites. Recommended Gauges- 18, 20 or 22 gauge for dangling charms or earring components; 10-16 gauge for larger more substantial centerpiece pendants.

Tools: Round Nose Pliers and Side Cutters.

Materials: round or square wire, dead soft.

1) We start our design in the middle of the spiral by making a small simple "P" loop.

Grasp the tip of your wire with the tip of your round nose pliers. The wire and pliers should intersect at a perpendicular angle ("L").

Using your thumb on your free hand, press the wire firmly against the jaws of the pliers. (Your thumb should touch both the wire and the pliers to get a nice snug fit.)

Simultaneously, rotate your plier hand inward until the wire tip and wire body touch to turn a loop.(Do not correct for the 'Lazy Head".)

2) Depending on which shape you want to make, Grasp the wire at Point 1 on the diagrams. Make sure your loop is sitting on a perpendicular plane to the plier jaws.

• Firmly push the wire with your thumb up against the pliers creating a bend.
• Squares and rectangles have a 90 degree angle bend; triangles have a more extreme bend.
  

3) Repeat Step 2 with all the points indicated on the diagram, notice each new placement is just a bit longer in length than the previous leg.

• Continue until your design is the width you desire.

4) Make the loop from which your design will connect to other components.

• You will need to leave about 1/8- 1/4 inch of wire at the end to allow for this. Snip off any excess (if necessary).
• Turn a simple loop in the opposite direction.

Denise J. Bonaimo
Jewelry Designer and Instructor
www.bonaimo.com