Wire Flower Component

by Natalie Patten

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Wrapping
Skill Level: Beginner

Learn how to create pretty wire flowers that can be used to make adornments for a range of accessories such as earrings, pendants, brooches, hair clips and bag charms.

Materials

African Turquoise 6mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand

A1-734

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.35
Gold Club Price: $5.51

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Size 8 seed beads

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

20 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-20H

Lesson Quantity: 15.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $17.01
Gold Club Price: $12.76

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Add All Items to Cart

Tools

Chain Nose Wire Pliers

G2-508

G2-508
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Round Nose Wire Pliers

G2-507

G2-507
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.97
Gold Club Price: $12.73

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6 Step Barrel Plier - Pack of 1

G2-503

G2-503
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.95
Gold Club Price: $11.21

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Instructions

Step 1

Take at least 15 inches of 0.8mm/20 gauge wire. (The more wire you use, the more you will have to create decorative swirls and embellishments across the petals.) Starting from 1.5 inches in at one end of the wire bend up to a 90-degree angle.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, bend the wire

Step 2

Using chain nose pliers, positioned at around half an inch along the vertical wire, bend the vertical wire back down to create what will become your first petal.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, bend the wire back down

Step 3

Make a bend back up again, using pliers just below where you would like the wire to bend, so that they are even and bending at the same point.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, bend the wire back up againi

Step 4

Create six of these bends in the wire, trying to keep each point the same length.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, create six bends for six petals

Step 5

Once all six points are formed, bend the remaining long tail of wire horizontally so that it is in line with the starting point of the wire.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, bend the remaining wire out to the side

Step 6

Use the chain nose pliers to pinch in the tops of each of the bends.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, pinch the tops of each wire petal

Step 7

Using the largest step on the bail step pliers (a pencil will suffice if you do not have these), start to shape the petals individually, by positioning the bail step pliers into the bend so that the wire curves around it.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, use pliers to shape the wire petals

Step 8

Use chain nose pliers to pinch in the end around the bail step pliers to form the petal shape.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, shape the wire petals

Step 9

Use your fingers to position the petals close together before moving onto shape the next petal.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, positiion the wire petals

Step 10

When all six petals are formed, shape with your fingers into a flower shape.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, form the wire flower

Step 11

Attach the end petals together by wrapping the smaller tail of wire around the longer end. Pinch in with pliers to secure and bring the short wire down across the center of the flower.

Pro Tip: Hammer the petals of the flower on a metal block to strengthen the shape if desired.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, secure the wire around the petals

Step 12

Add a bead onto the short wire and position in the center of the flower.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, add a bead to the short wire

Step 13

Lock the end of the wire in place between the petals to secure the bead in the center and add structure to the flower shape.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, lock the end of the wire in place

Step 14

Ensure the wire is pressed down securely into the frame (if there is any excess wire it can be cut off and tucked in to the back of the flower frame.)

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, tuck any excess wire to the back

Step 15

Reposition the bead if necessary, so that it sits in the center of the flower.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, reposition the bead if necessary

Step 16

Curve the long wire around the bead.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, curve the wire around the bead

Step 17

Add seed beads to the wire to frame the bead and petals for added detail and a pop of color.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, add seed beads

Step 18

Secure the wire around the petals to lock the frame in place.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, secure the wire

Step 19

Position the seed beads across the petals, by creating curves with the wire. (Decorative detail can be added to each petal if desired.)

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, position the beads across the petals

Step 20

Fix the wire in place by wrapping around the frame and tips of the petals.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, fix the wire in place

Step 21

Use round nose pliers to create finishing swirls.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, create wire swirls

Step 22

When you are happy with your added detail, make sure the petals are in position close around the bead.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, reposition the wire petals if necessary

Step 23

Using round nose pliers, curl up the end of the petals to add shape and dimension to the flower.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, curl the ends of the wire petals

Step 24

The flower component is now complete and can be attached to earring hooks or a jump ring can be added to wear as a pendant or brooch etc. Additional seed beads or findings can also be attached with weaving wire if required.

Natalie Patten's Wire Flower Component - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, add to ear wires

Reviews

Natalie Patten

I'm Natalie Patten, I'm from Liverpool in the UK. I first discovered my love of wire work during lockdown and this hobby quickly spiralled into a huge passion and obsession, for wire wrapping crystal gemstones. So much so, that I changed my career working in education, to become a jewellery designer and set up my business Rock, Scissors, Paper specialising in wire wrapped, ethically sourced gemstone jewellery. I also secured my dream job designing and teaching for the UK's largest supplier of beads for jewellery making! I make lots of different jewellery designs with a variety of techniques but my absolute favourite is wire work and I feel absolutely blessed that I can spend my time creating, learning and sharing my passion with others!