Wire Bracelet DIY Tutorial
This wire bracelet DIY is a really simple beginner jewelry making project that teaches the basics of working with wire to make the bulk of your pieces. You can check out my post on how to wire wrap a pendant if you prefer those, or scroll down for this tutorial. Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.
When my sister got married this Fall, I got an inexpensive dress (in the $30 price range to be exact!!)
I decided to dress it up with jewelry. I made myself a beautiful necklace wire wrap and simple DIY beaded earrings.
At first, I tried to crochet a cuff bracelet from wire, but I had overestimated my wire crochet abilities. Then, I went and made a simple wire bracelet DIY to wear. I also went ahead and redid this wire wrap bracelet tutorial in the correct colors.
In the end, I ditched it all, and stuck with my simple brushed silver bangle (the one you see layered in these photos) but I decided to share the wire bracelet DIY with you anyway – because it’s a fun and simple beginner wire jewelry tutorial.
I had actually made the wire bracelet DIY to layer with the bangle pictured but the opening caught on the bangle that I made and didn’t really work. So I decided to simplify.
This DIY bangle is really simple to make. I used sterling silver wire – you want to stick to a soft metal for this. You can use copper if you’d like to save money while you learn (like I did on this wire wrap stone).
Because I used what I had handy already, I used wires that were a bit thinner than I should have. It’s pretty and delicate, but you’ll want to go up a bit in thickness.
I hammered the main body wire of the wire bracelet DIY – that’s optional but adds a stunning texture. Okay, actually I do it because it’s almost better than therapy. Just kidding but hammering is a fun way to get out all those leftover negative energies from a frustrating day – so enjoy!
If you’re new to hammering metal, you’ll want a hammer with both a ball end and a flat one. The flat one flattens the wire, and hardens it so it holds a specific shape. The ball end is what adds the pretty texture.
You also need a steel bench block. this is the counter pressure that prevents your hammering from just nicking the surface underneath. The natural reaction is for the top softest surface in your “stack” – the wire and anything directly below it – to give. Having a hard barrier in between those layers makes the top layer give.
So a steel block, which is harder than your wire, ensures that your wire gets the texture and not your work desk.
To bend soft metal, you’ll want to work with non-serrated pliers, and when possible, nylon jaw pliers. This avoids nicking your metal. Nylon jaw pliers are best and most gentle, however they can be clumsy to work with.
Want to learn how to make jewelry out of anything? Get the book!
What you need to make a wire bracelet DIY:
- 24 gauge silver wire
- 16 gauge half-round silver wire
- Beads (I used stick pearls drilled the long way)
- Spacer beads
Tools:
- Round nose pliers (the pair I linked is a high end pair great for working with precious metals. You can use a budget pair too).
- Nylon jaw pliers and/or non-serrated needle nose pliers
- Flush wire cutters
- Ball peen hammer
- Steel bench block
How to make a wire bracelet DIY:
1. Create a wrapped loop at one end of your thinner wire.
2. String your beads on your thinner wire, with spacers, as you’d like them. I made mine take up about 1/3 of the final wire bracelet.
3. Push your beads flush against the first wrapped loop. Create a second wrapped loop tight against your beads, so that your beaded portion looks like this:
4. Take your thicker wire, and use round nose pliers to make a loop at the end. I did not solder mine shut. Trim your wire off the spool so that it’s about the size you want the rest of your bracelet to be +8mm for the second loop. For reference, the full size of your bangle should be just wide enough to slide over the widest point of your fist.
5. Placing the first loop off your block, and the rest of your wire on, hammer it using the ball side to add texture.
6. Your wire will respond to the direction you’re hammering it and harden in that shape. So turn your wire over as needed to form a straight line with a beautiful texture. I hammered less/avoided the very tip of the wire where the second loop will be formed.
7. I neglected to photograph the rest of the steps in detail, but you basically just need to gently form your curve of your wire bracelet, create the second loop. Connect this portion to the loops on the beaded portion and tighten them as much as you can using nylon jaw pliers.
This is the final result! I used 20 gauge wire for the wire-only portion which is really too thin as you can see. It doesn’t have as much substance as it should, but it’s still a beautiful wire bracelet DIY.
Using a thicker wire will give you a sturdier, more substantial bracelet. You can also use this tutorial to make simple beaded wire rings.
Have you tried this wire bracelet DIY tutorial? Which kinds of beads did you use on yours? Comment below!
Print the tutorial complete with images below:
Wire Bracelet/Bangle
Materials
Tools
Instructions
1. Create a wrapped loop at one end of your thinner wire.
2. String your beads on your thinner wire, with spacers, as you'd like them. I made mine take up about 1/3 of the final wire bracelet.
3. Push your beads flush against the first wrapped loop. Create a second wrapped loop tight against your beads, so that your beaded portion looks like this:
4. Take your thicker wire, and use round nose pliers to make a loop at the end. I did not solder mine shut. Trim your wire off the spool so that it's about the size you want the rest of your bracelet to be +8mm for the second loop. For reference, the full size of your bangle should be just wide enough to slide over the widest point of your fist.
5. Placing the first loop off your block, and the rest of your wire on, hammer it using the ball side to add texture.
6. Your wire will respond to the direction you're hammering it and harden in that shape. So turn your wire over as needed to form a straight line with a beautiful texture. I hammered less/avoided the very tip of the wire where the second loop will be formed.
7. I neglected to photograph the rest of the steps in detail, but you basically just need to gently form your curve of your wire bracelet, create the second loop. Connect this portion to the loops on the beaded portion and tighten them as much as you can using nylon jaw pliers.
This is the final result! I used 20 gauge wire for the wire-only portion which is really too thin as you can see. It doesn't have as much substance as it should, but it's still a beautiful wire bracelet DIY.
Using a thicker wire will give you a sturdier, more substantial bracelet. You can also use this tutorial to make simple beaded wire rings.
