- 1). Cut a length of wire appropriate to the size of the gemstones you'll be enclosing in a wire cage. About 6 inches of wire should be enough to make a cage for a 1/2-inch-diameter bead.
- 2). Make a curl at one end by wrapping the wire once around the round-nose pliers. Make the curl into a flat spiral. Hold the small circle in the flat-nose pliers, then continue to wrap the wire around itself several times.
- 3). Curl the other end of the wire, but in the opposite direction. Form an "S" shape, coiling both ends until they meet in the center.
- 4). Fold one spiral on top of the other. Tuck one underneath the other to create tension.
- 5). Open the center of the cage. Using both pliers, pull the spirals' centers in opposite directions. Place your gemstone in the middle.
- 6). Form a center stabilizing wire. Cut a short piece of wire. Make a loop at one end and thread it through the bead and the cage, looping at the other end. These loops can be used to hang or attach your wire cage to form jewelry.
previous post