Simple Wire Loop Beads

In eight easy steps!

I’m going to show you a super simple tutorial below of the beads in the left image above. Once mastered, you can experiment lots with wire thickness, different head pin sizes and metals…

Grab your ingredients…

I’m using…
Sterling silver 38mm long head pins with ball end, 0.5mm thick (24 gauge)
Make sure your gauge is not too thick as you will struggle to wrap the wire if too thick, it just makes it that little bit more harder. And grab a pretty glass/stone bead of your choice – in the picture I’m using a 6mm bead.

Tools:
Round Nose Pliers
Square Nose Pliers
Quality Flush Cutters

To read more about the different types of pliers for beginners – check out my plier post right here.

Steps

Pop your bead onto your head pin.

2. Get your chain nose pliers. I normally pinch the wire about 2mm from the bead. With your fingers bend the wire like the image below.

3. Grab your round nose pliers and place them as per the image below. Your wire in between the two tips of the round-nose pliers.

4. Wrap your wire over the top of the pliers.

5. Bring the wire down to the tip of the bead.

6. Bring the wire under the plier tip to form a loop.

7. Using your square nose pliers hold firmly your loop. With your finger guiding, turn the pliers to wind the wire around the pin until you get to the bead.

8. Once you’ve wrapped your wire all the way around and it feels tight, (ie: bead not moving) I like it snug! Get your flush cutters and trim off your access silver wire.

Little Tip!
Don’t forget, if you regularly work with sterling silver you should really have a scrap jar to collect all your offcuts (more about scrap jars here!) – pop your off cuts in your jar.

Admire for the next hour and gift everyone you know something made with a looped bead 😁
Like these Sterling Silver Hook Earrings.

Experiment with wire thickness and colour, and hey… see how amazing they can look all messy!

Quick video – hope it helps… (excuse the sausage fingers!).

Remember practice, makes perfect especially with these!

Want to make super simple loops, why not try the beadsmith one-step looper...it’s awesome a little beading gadget for making simple loops with no pliers! 😮 or checkout the tools I use each day for your beading projects.

Hope you have found this useful!