| These are the all important jewellery making | | | | You will notice you are left with a long 'tail', don't |
| techniques which are used primarily in bead | | | | worry, you are going to wrap this around the |
| stringing projects. | | | | wire you have left between this and the bead. |
| · Flattened crimp - this is where you hold | | | | Hold the newly formed loop with your round pliers |
| the crimp bead in your pliers and squeeze the | | | | so you don't bend it out of shape, then with your |
| pliers firmly so you flatten the crimp bead shut. | | | | other pair of pliers wrap the remaining wire |
| Make sure you have made a loop with your wire | | | | around the stem you have left, trying to pull it as |
| and have brought it round on itself or you won't | | | | tight in as you can. If you are left with any 'tail' |
| have any loop to attach your clasp to. *tip, you | | | | once you have done this then trim it off with |
| must put the crimp bead on the wire first then | | | | your wire cutters. |
| pass the end of the wire back through the crimp. | | | | · Wrap a top drilled bead - make sure |
| · Folded crimp - follow the steps above, | | | | your bead is central on a piece of wire that is |
| only once the crimp bead has been flattened use | | | | about 3cm in length, fold ends of the wire |
| two pairs of pliers to slightly bend the crimp bead | | | | upwards so you have a triangular shape and cross |
| so it forms a slight 'v'. Then take one pair of pliers | | | | the wire over to form an 'X'. Next with your pliers |
| and put the crimp bead in the jaw and press to | | | | make a small bend in each of the wires upwards |
| fold. Alternatively you can buy a crimping tool, but | | | | to form a right angle (keeping the triangle shape |
| in all my years of jewellery making I've never | | | | as much as you can), wrap one of the wires |
| needed one. Sometimes you will come across an | | | | around the other like a wrapped loop about four |
| item called a 'crimp end' this is a crimp bead which | | | | times and trim the excess wire. |
| has a loop already on it and they are useful for | | | | · Jump rings - these are another really |
| making jewellery with cord or leather thing. Just | | | | handy item and they are used to attach materials |
| use the same method for these as described | | | | together. They are a circle made of metal with a |
| above. | | | | split through them, don't just pull them apart, you |
| · Plain loop - this is usually used to form a | | | | need two pairs of pliers held each side of the ring, |
| loop in a headpin which has a bead on it. You take | | | | pull one side towards you while pushing the other |
| the headpin and trim it with your wire cutters to | | | | side away. To close, just reverse the method. |
| about 10mm above the bead, bend the headpin at | | | | · Surgeons knot - this comes in handy if |
| a right angle close to the bead. With the tip of | | | | you are working with a Fire Line(TM) type of |
| your round nosed pliers grab the end of the | | | | material, hemp for surfer jewellery or any |
| headpin where you have just trimmed it and roll | | | | material that is 'floppy'. Make first a knot as you |
| to form a half loop, let go and repeat until the | | | | would usually by crossing the right end over the |
| loop is fully formed. | | | | left and then left over right but pass the last end |
| · Wrapped loop - this is a more secure | | | | through twice and pull to tighten. |
| version of the plain loop. Instead of cutting your | | | | I hope these techniques are eloquent enough for |
| headpin, leave it the length it is and instead of | | | | you to understand, although you may have to |
| making your right angle close to the bead, leave a | | | | use your 'minds eye', it shouldn't be too hard for a |
| gap which is just about the width of the end of | | | | creative bunch like you. |
| your flat nosed pliers. Form your loop as above. | | | | |