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Simple Pin Tutorial©

by

Cheryl Coccaro, of GypsyWomanCaravan.com

December 2006

Start with 9-10 inches of wire and cut both ends flush. Measure out 3" of the wire just cut and wrap it around the wide section of your round nose pliers.

After wrapping around pliers, squeeze it to look like the example above. You want to achieve a bulb like end.
About 1/2" from bulb end, wrap the double wire length around the widest portion of your round nose pliers to create the look above and shape it to conform.

At the end of the short wire, bend it at a 45 degree angle as shown and continue to wrap wire around the longer wire 2 or 3 times.
After 2-3 wraps around cut off excess wire keeping the cut end towards the inside loop and shape as shown above.

If you are planning to use beads, add them now. I chose larger hole beads as they fit over the 20 gauge wire easily. In the remaining photos, I have removed the beads so you can see the steps more clearly.

About 2" from the hook end, bend the wire at a 45 degree angle and wrap around the wide end of your round nose pliers 2-3 times, ending the wire so that it is facing the hook end.

You will need to straighten out the wire using a jewelry cloth which will also harden up the wire.

You next cut the end into a point using your cutters, making the point at a very sharp angle. I filed the sharp end at an angle with my nail file being careful that I do not remove too much wire. You need the end angled sharply so that it will separate the fabric and not cut the fabric when it is being put on.

The correct ending length is where the wire fits into the bulb loop end as shown above.

Above is the copper pin with antiqued fluted gold balls and the photo above, is my pin done in 14KT GF 20 gauge wire. I used wide hole beads and centered a black Cloisonne bead in the middle.

You can adjust the spring of the pin by lifting away from the bulb end. There should be some resistance in the wire as you press down on it and it should spring back.
The finished pin....and a great gift.