I introduced this wire-wrap spider web pendant project on Jackie Guerra's show Jewelry Making on the DIY Channel. The pendant is easy to make with a little practice. Hang it from satin rattail cord (shown), leather, or ribbon.

Tools & Supplies List

- Small round-nose pliers
- 1 ¼ inch wooden dowel (or similar object to serve as a mandrel)
- Small flat nose pliers
- Small bench block
- Chasing hammer
- Small flush-cut wire cutters
- Small needle nose pliers
- Plastic jaw pliers
- 6 inches of 14-gauge nickel silver wire
- 11 inches of 22-gauge nickel silver wire
- 15 inches of 26-gauge nickel silver wire
- Three 17-inch lengths of black satin cord
- 2 white metal bullet ends
- Matching hook and ring clasp

Instructions

1. Start by creating the pendant frame. Using the round-nose pliers, gently curl the ends of he 14-gauge wire away from you to create to side loops.

2. Starting at the middle of the wire, wrap the wire up around the large mandrel to create a rounded U-shape.

3. Use the flat nose pliers to wiggle the loops closed on the sides, like you would close a jump ring.

4. Take the frame to the bench block, and gently hammer the loops and frame bottom with your chasing hammer to finish and work-harden them. (If the loops start to open, just wiggle them back closed with flat nose pliers.)

5. Begin wrapping one end of the 22-gauge wire around one side of the frame. Leaving a short tail of wire, hold the wire against the frame with your fingers, then gently coil the long end around the frame a few times.

6. Using flush cutters, trim off the short tail of wire and flatten the end down with your needle-nose pliers.

7. Pull the remaining long end of the 22-gauge wire across the frame at a diagonal, and coil it around the frame wire on the other side. When you're finished with that coil, trim and flatten the wire at the coil. You now have the first "spoke" of the spider web completed.

8. Create two more spoke wires starting and ending at different places on the frame. Making sure all the spokes cross each other at the same point. I like to make the center of the spokes a little off-center in the frame, for a more natural look.

9. Wrap the 26-gauge wire around the center of the spokes, coiling it a couple of times, to secure the spokes together. Trim off and flatten any short tail that remains.

10. Begin wrapping the wire around each spoke in an outward, circular direction, to complete the spider web. (As you do this, the small gauge wire may bend or kink. It's a good idea to keep some plastic-jaw pliers on hand to straighten the wire as needed.) I like to create three or four rows of wire between the spokes. You can experiment with more for a denser look.

11. Coil the end of the 26-guauge wire around the last spoke and trim off the tail.

The pendant is now ready for stringing. I often add wire-wrap gemstone drops or beads to liven up my designs. You can embellish yours with beads, metal chain, or wire-work spiders and bugs. Have fun experimenting!

To learn more about wire work, take a look at All Wired Up, by Mark Lareau, available at Amazon.com.

Chris Franchetti Michaels is a writer and jewelry artisan specializing in beaded designs, wire work, and metal fabrication. She is the author of the books Teach Yourself Visually: Jewelry Making and Beading, Beading Quick Tips, and Wire Jewelry Quick Tips. Visit her website BeadJewelry.net for more jewelry-making help and inspiration.