Instructions

Forming Basic Spheres

1. You may wish to practice this technique with some discarded wire first. Use wire cutters to flush trim the tips of the wire. Use chain-nose pliers to form a teardrop shape approximately 1⁄8" (3 mm) long at one end of the wire. For a larger ball, start with a larger teardrop; use a smaller teardrop to make a smaller ball.
2. At the point where the cut end meets the loose wrapping wire, use chain-nose pliers to bend the wrapping wire at a 90° angle (see photo).
    
   
3. Hold the wire close to this bend with the pliers and use your thumb to push the wire gently so it encircles the teardrop loosely (see photo).
    
   
4. Keep working the wire around the center, changing the direction of the wrapping to form a sphere, as if you were winding a ball of yarn (see photo). In general, the ball should not be wrapped too loosely. You want to achieve some airiness, but for stability, the wrapping wire should touch the wires of the spherical core at some points. If your sphere is too loose and getting hard to hold, pass the tail through the center and gently pull it out from the other side. Continue wrapping. This step can be repeated as needed, although a point may form where you pull the tail loose from the ball. To prevent this, try to curve the wire as you’re pulling it through the ball and, if possible, pull the wire at a gentle curve.
    
   
5. Now that you've gotten the hang of making spheres, try it with the silver wire. Once you’ve established a small spherical core, start threading beads onto the wrapping wire. Work with only one or two beads at a time so you can space them evenly around the ball (see photo). Continue adding beads to fill “holes” in the sphere and round out the ball visually. You can wrap over some of the beads if you like; this will add visual depth to the ball.
    
   
6. Continue wrapping, adding beads, and rotating until the ball is the desired size with a tail remaining. Feed the tail through the center of the ball and gently pull it out from the opposite side. Don’t pull too hard or the ball will collapse.

Making Double-Loop Ball Links

7. Use wire cutters to flush trim the tips of the long wire. Use chain- and round-nose pliers to form a simple loop on one end of the wire. Approximately 1⁄4" (6 mm) down from the loop, fold the wire loosely back on itself (don’t flatten the wire together) to establish a central stem (see photo). The length of the stem determines the size of the ball; 1⁄4" (6 mm) is on the small side, so vary the length of the stem for different ball sizes.
    
   
8. At the midpoint of the stem, use chain-nose pliers to bend the wrapping wire at a 90° angle. Wrap a loose, open spiral around the stem, working up toward the loop. It works best to hold the pliers parallel to the center post and use your fingers to wrap the wire around them (see photo).
    
   
9. Start bending and working the wrapping wire around this central stem to form a sphere as described in steps 4 through 6. As the ball gets bigger, the wrapping wire starts touching the interior wires, creating a more solid and stable ball overall (see photo).
    
   
10. When the sphere is roughly blocked out, start threading beads onto the wire and position them around the ball as you wrap.
11. When the ball is the desired size, pass the wire through its center, starting at the loop end and continuing through to the other side. Pull gently until the wire is taut (see photo).
     
    
12. Use chain-nose pliers to bend the tail at a 90° angle flat against the ball. Use wire cutters to flush cut the wire to loop length and use round-nose pliers to form a simple loop (see photo). Try to make the loops perpendicular to each other. If the starting loop gets slightly buried, grasp it flat with chain-nose pliers and pull it gently so it sticks out slightly.
     
    
13. Repeat steps 7 through 12 to make an assortment of balls in a variety of colors and sizes—at least 25 for a 17" (43.2 cm) necklace.

Assembling the Necklace

14. Lay out the balls in a graduated necklace pattern. Link the balls together by connecting the simple loops at the sides of each ball. To connect the loops, first use flat-nose pliers to open a loop on one ball, just as you would a jump ring, then attach the next ball and close the loop.
15. Look for any size or color problems in the necklace. Maybe the ball size gradient is awkward at a point or a color is needed in one area. Make specific balls for these spots until the necklace is the desired length and hangs well.
16. Add a purchased hook-and-eye clasp (due to the size of the balls, a toggle clasp is not recommended). Or try your hand at making a custom hook-and-eye clasp that is incorporated into the balls and blends with the necklace design.

Making the Clasp Eye

17. Use round-nose pliers to make a large, double simple loop at one end of one of the 8" (20.3 cm) pieces of wire by coiling the wire twice around the base of the pliers. When the wrapping wire meets the cut end of the coil, use chain-nose pliers to bend the wire at a 90° angle that’s perpendicular to the loop.
18. Use the wire to make an extra-small ball with beads for one end of your necklace. End the ball in the same way as the others, by pulling the tail through the center of the ball and ending with a simple loop.
19. If necessary, file the exposed cut end of the double simple loop. Connect the ball to the necklace by using flat-nose pliers to open the small loop, just as you would open a jump ring, attaching the ball, and closing the loop.

Making the Clasp Hook

20. Use the second 8" (20.3 cm) piece of wire to make a small hook on one end of the wire. Hammer and finish the hook.
21. Form an extra-small ball below the hook, measuring the center stem from the point at which the hook’s teardrop loop meets the stem.
22. Add the beads while wrapping, and end the ball in the same manner as the other balls. Connect the ball to the other necklace end. Adjust the hook opening as necessary to work with the eye.

Spherical Earrings

23. Start a ball as described in steps 1 through 6 from the instructions for the necklace.
24. When the ball is the desired size, and at least 1-1⁄2" (3.8 cm) of the wire remains, pass the tail through the center, pulling gently from the opposite side until the wire is taut. Use chain-nose pliers to bend the tail at a 90° angle on top of the ball. Use wire cutters to flush cut the tail to loop length and use round-nose pliers to form a simple loop.
25. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make a matching ball.
26. Use flat-nose pliers to open the loop on one ear wire, just as you would open a jump ring. Attach one of the balls to the ear wire loop and close the loop (see photo). Repeat this step with the other ball.