How to Make a Wrapped Loop (the Core Jewelry-Making Skill)
If there is one skill that unlocks jewelry making, it is the wrapped loop. It is the secure connection that holds beads, charms, and chains together, and once it is clean, you can make real pieces. Here is how.
- The wrapped loop is the fundamental jewelry connection: a loop in wire, secured by wrapping the tail, that will not pull open like a simple bent loop.
- You need three pliers: round-nose (to form the loop), chain-nose or flat-nose (to grip and bend), and flush cutters (to trim wire).
- The sequence: bend the wire at 90 degrees, form a loop around the round-nose pliers, then wrap the tail down the stem two or three times and trim.
- It takes practice to get neat, even loops. Make a dozen in a row on scrap wire before you commit to real beads.
- Master the wrapped loop and you can make earrings, pendants, and beaded links; it is the connector behind most designs.
Why the wrapped loop, not a simple loop
Beginners often make a simple loop, bend the wire into a circle and cut it, but a simple loop has a gap where the wire meets, and it can pull open under weight or wear, dropping your bead or charm. A wrapped loop closes that gap: after forming the loop you wrap the leftover tail of wire around the stem below it, locking the loop shut. It is stronger, more secure, and looks more finished, which is why it is the standard connection in quality handmade jewelry. It is also the skill everything else builds on, dangly earrings, beaded chains, pendants, are mostly wrapped loops joining components. Get this one move clean and repeatable and a huge amount of jewelry making opens up.
Making the wrapped loop, step by step
Start with a head pin or a length of wire through your bead. Above the bead, grip the wire with chain-nose pliers and bend it to a sharp 90-degree angle. Switch to round-nose pliers: grip the wire just above the bend and roll the wire up and over the top jaw to form a loop, bringing the tail back down alongside the stem. Now hold the loop flat in your chain-nose pliers and, with your fingers or a second pliers, wrap the tail neatly around the stem (the gap between the loop and the bead) two or three times, keeping the wraps snug and touching. Trim the excess tail flush with flush cutters, and press the cut end down with your pliers so it is not sharp. That is a wrapped loop.
Getting them neat, and where the loop goes from here
Your first loops will be lopsided, and that is normal. Consistency comes from gripping the round-nose pliers at the same spot each time (mark the jaw with a marker for a consistent loop size), keeping your wraps tight and even, and trimming close. Practise a dozen on cheap craft wire before using nice beads or you will waste them. Once the loop is clean, you can chain them: open a loop before you wrap it to link it to another component, or use jump rings to connect finished loops. From there you can make drop earrings (bead plus wrapped loop on an ear wire), pendants, and beaded links for bracelets and necklaces. The wrapped loop really is the gateway skill.
Mark your round-nose pliers with a permanent marker at the spot where you form the loop. Gripping the wire at the same jaw diameter every time is the secret to loops that all come out the same size, which is what makes a pair of earrings actually match.
Common questions
What is a wrapped loop in jewelry making?
What pliers do I need to make jewelry?
Why is my wrapped loop messy or uneven?
What is the difference between a simple loop and a wrapped loop?
What can I make once I can do a wrapped loop?
Gear guides for Jewelry Making
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