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Wrapped Eye Pins |
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"The ancient rites of Africa have
affected us profoundly. In three decades of exploring the continent
widely and communicating with indigenous peoples, we have experienced
many alternate ways of thinking, acting, and believing. Most
importantly, we have learned how to embrace other points of view
and ways of living, without fear of losing our own identities
but, instead, expanding and enriching our lives and vision".
Angela Fisher and Carol Beckwith, African Ceremonies |
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Wrapped eye pins are particularly useful when you are using small
gauge wire (20-24 gauge). Why? Because unwrapped eyes are too
flimsy to hold their shape and they will create a weak link in
your jewelry. You can also wrap 14, 16, and 18 gauge wire eye
pins successfully. For your convenience, please click on
the images below to see an enlarged view. |
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What You Need
- 12" to 24" of 16 gauge copper wire
- Wire cutters
- Round nose pliers
- Chain nose pliers
- Sharpie pen
- Bead
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Click on thumbnails to see an enlargement. |
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Step 1. |
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Mark your round nose pliers with a Sharpie to create a guideline.
Grasp the wire with your round nose pliers leaving a tail about
2.5" to 3" long. |
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Step 2. |
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Wrap your wire around the lower prong of your round nose pliers
forming a loop - the tail will extend from the bottom of the
loop. The two ends of the wire should form a straight line as
shown in the photo. |
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Step 3. |
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Remove your round nose pliers and hold the loop at the joint
with the tip of your chain nose pliers. |
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Step 4. |
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Rotate your pliers towards your body, pressing the neck of the
wire against the index finger of your other hand. |
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Step 5. |
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Grasp the eye with your chain nose pliers so that the pliers
are perpendicular with your body. With your free hand grasp the
tail and wrap it around the neck of your eye pin. Start the wrapping
process very close to the eye and wrap each level next to the
previous wrap. Your free hand should be wrapping away from your
body. Wrap as many times as your heart desires. Three is nice. |
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Step 6. |
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Trim off the tail with your wire cutters close to the neck of
the eye pin. Remember to make a blunt cut with your pliers positioned
like you see in the photo. With your chain nose pliers press
the end so it lays flat against the neck. |
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Step 7. |
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Place your bead through the neck of the eye pin. Allow at least
2.5" to 3" beyond the end of your bead to make your
eye and to do the wrapping. Using your guideline, grasp the wire
with your round nose pliers leaving enough space to make your
wraps. Rotate your pliers away from your body until you
make a half loop. With your free hand grasp the tail and wrap
under your newly forming eye. Continue until the tail
is in a straight line extending from the bead. |
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Step 8. |
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Grasp the joint with the tip of your chain nose pliers, bend
the loop towards your body. Grasp the eye with your chain nose
pliers (you may need to move the tail towards the bead in order
to get a hold of the eye) and with your free hand wrap the tail
around the neck; the wrapping direction should be away from your
body. Snip close to the neck, and with the chain nose pliers
press the end down. |
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Previous Page
Eye Pin Variations |
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Please contact
me if these instructions aren't clear so adjustments can
be made.
Click here to download a
printer friendly Acrobat PDF file of this page. |
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