Not too long ago, a reader wrote to ask if I had come across a tutorial for wire wrapping bails.  I didn't but since then, I have come across these relatively easy tutorials for beginners.  If you have a bail forming pliers (see past tutorial post), I highly recommend it for some of these how-tos.

One outstanding free tutorial is the Snap-Set Pendant by Anne Lemons for Art Jewelry Magazine (Update : no longer available).   The ready made snap setting will take appropriately sized faceted gemstones. There is space at the back to thread the wires through to form the bail and decorative wire work.

If you are a beginner wire worker, don't forget the easiest bail is actually a wire wrapped loop. If you are going to slip a chain through the loop, make sure you make it large enough.  Ruby's Beadwork has this tutorial which illustrates how to add swirls and even a bead for a bit of flourish.

Karla of Auntie's Beads has a good basic video tutorial which covers how to make bails for top drilled, side drilled and vertically drilled stones. I recommend nylon jawed pliers to smooth wire.




If you work with the wire doubled over at the top as shown in the tutorial by Scientific Psychic, the two wires can be fanned apart. Long wire tails can be scrolled too for decoration.


Carrying on the coiling effect, Melita Gillet of MG Jewellery has a wonderful coiled wire bail tutorial which looks like a fan.  (Update : picture only, link no longer works)



Karen over at the Karen Makes Stuff blog has a really easy yet pretty bail tutorial which features hammering a twisted wire. She created it so it can be used for gluing to glass pendants but it is also lovely for other types of necklaces.


Jean Campbell, a contributing editor over at Beading Daily created this wire wrapped tutorial for flat hole-less pendants (update : link no longer available) such as cabochons and tiles. The wire wrapped bail is designed as a glue-on type.If you have a holed pendant for hanging, try playing around with some jump rings or extra lengths of wire.


Lindi Schneck's Brandon Park pendant tutorial has lovely swirls to show off a beautiful art bead. The very open wire work tutorial can be adjusted to make a smaller loop.  If your focal is front drilled not side drilled like this dichroic glass pendant, just use a jump ring to hang it.


This wonderful wire nest bail from Art Bead Scene is informal and can be dressed up in different ways. The tutorial shows the finished piece with embellishments added.  What I like about this design is the finer gauge wire used and yet it's strong enough as a bail.


Jo from Daisychain Jewelry has a hammered bail tutorial that really shows off a beautiful lamp work bead.  Care must be taken when hammering the thick wire after the bead is threaded on!


Tammy Honaman from Fire Mountain Gems's video tutorial shows how you can make a really pretty beaded bail with a head pin. The Swarvoski head pins are gorgeous to use.




If you can get hold of patterned wire which is wider than normal wire, then you can make an easy bail as shown in this video tutorial by the instructor from Wire Sculpture.
 





More wire work tutorials :
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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
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