How to Make a Wire Wrap on a Top-drilled Bead

Many times our customers ask how they can use a top-drilled bead as a pendant or dangle. The most attractive way is to use a wire wrap. In this example we used 24 gauge half hard sterling silver wire and the 6301-TO8 Swarovski crystal.

Tools Used

Side Cutters - Semi Flush (TOOL-131)
Round Nose Pliers (TOOL-108)
Chain Nose Pliers (TOOL-106)

Cut five inches of silver wire and straighten it out. Slide a bead onto the wire and position it in the middle.

Squeeze the wire against the bead with your index finger and thumb.

Cross the wires above the bead.

Cross the wires above the bead.

With your chain nose pliers carefully grab the wire in the back and bend it up so that it is sticking straight up from the top center of the bead. This piece will stay stable while the other piece wraps around it.

Hold the crystal and wrap the wire about three times. Cut the excess wire from the tail.

Work the wire like you would for any simple loop. For instructions on a simple loop check our Learning Center.

If you are attaching the bead to a chain, make sure to run the wire through the chain before finishing the loop.