Wire Jewelry Making: Musical Jewelry

Musical jewelry can be versatile, fancy and fun; and you can make it with wire. Learn to make these simple wire treble clefs. Add them to earrings. Dangle them from bracelets or even a necklace. Get creative and in no time you'll have an entire wardrobe of musical jewelry to show off the music lover in you.

Tools

- Pliers
- Round nosed pliers
- Wire cutters
- 600 grit sandpaper or use a cushioned emery file from a beauty supply or drug store.
- Hammer and Block (Optional)

Materials

- 16 and 20 gauge wire
- Jump rings or a bail for a pendant
- Earwires for Earrings

Treble Clef Earrings

-Cut two - 2 inch pieces of 20 gauge wire

-Use round nosed pliers to form a loop at each end of both pieces

-The loops should face each other (#1 illustrations)

-Use the loops at one end to make a coil

-In forming the coil, start out with tight rotations. The last turn should be loose and open. (See #1)

-Leave 1 inch of straight wire between the loop end and coiled end.

-Measure 5/8 inch from the tip of looped end

-At that 5/8 inch point, use your round nosed pliers to curve the wire so the loop and coil face opposite directions.

-The looped side should be a little more than 1/8 inch longer than the coiled side.

-If you have a hammer and block, gently flatten the pieces

Okay, you've finished the easy part. Here's where it gets a bit tricky.

-With the coil facing right and the loop facing left, gently swing the looped side behind, then back over the top of the coiled side. (Try to keep the straight part straight)

-Tuck the looped side beneath the coil.

-It's easier if you open the coil outward a bit, like a little door, tuck the looped section beneath it, then gently push it back into place when you're done.

-Your piece should look like a treble clef now.

-Don't get frustrated if the straight part of your treble clef is bent a little and the coiled part gets a bit misshapen. Just make a few adjustments with your pliers.

-Use sandpaper or an emery to file to rub away tool marks.

-Add earwires.

It takes practice to finish the piece smoothly, but once you figure it out, you'll be just fine. Practice and take your time and you'll be a treble clef pro in no time.

Make a Larger Clef

If making a small, delicate pair of clefs for earrings is too tedious, try using 16 gauge or bigger wire for a bolder look. The instructions are the same as above, just on a bigger scale.

-Cut 4 inches of 16 gauge wire.

-Use round nosed pliers to form a loop at the ends.

-Turn one loop into a coil.

-Leave at least 2 inches of straight wire between the loop and the coil.

-Measure 1 & ¼ inches from the top of the looped end and curve the wire at that point.

-The loop and coil should be facing opposite directions.

-The looped end should be about ¼ inch longer than the coiled end.

-Finish your bold treble clefs the same as above.

-For a necklace add a jump ring or bail and hang it on a chain or cord.
-For bold treble clef earrings, make two and add earwires

Treble Clefs for Musical Jewelry

Practice your technique for making treble clefs. Once you get used to making them, you'll find dozens of uses for these little wire charms.

-Use your treble clefs alone as earrings.

-Add small and large clefs to a bracelet

-Create them in bold wire and add a bail for a pendant.

-Mix and match them with beads and other wire shapes to create great "Party Girl" Earrings.

-Make them in copper, gold filled, sterling, brass or even color coated metals for a different look

If you have a tumbler or other mass finisher, throw your treble clefs in and tumble them to a shine.

Source:
My personal projects