What are Some
Jewelry Making Techniques?

There are quite a few different jewelry making techniques out there. When I first started making jewelry, I didn’t realize the techniques all had different names, styles, instructions, etc.... I thought jewelry making was jewelry making. Boy was I mistaken!!

Simple Jewelry Making
Techniques

Wire Wrapping

Wire wrapping can be either decorative, or functional. You can create entire designs made up of only wrapped wire, or you can add wire wrapped findings and accents to your designs.Click here for some wire wrapping techniques, or here to learn how to make wire components

Memory Wire

Working with memory wire is a technique in and of itself. It is a jewelry making wire with a memory, just as its name suggests. The wire is very stiff and unbending. It is great for simple necklaces and bracelets. You just have to make sure you are working with wire that is large enough for your project. Beads and charms are strung onto the wire, and then ends are glued into place. (The ends are sometimes curled or loops are created, rather than gluing on the ends. It just requires a strong set of pliers and arm to bend memory wire.) Read more about memory wire here

Beading

Beading is broken down into two (2) different categories. You have bead stringing, and then you have actual beading where you sew beads onto something, or sew them together into a beaded fabric or jewelry design. Click here for some simple beaded jewelry making instructions

• Bead Stringing

  Bead stringing is what most people think of when they think of making jewelry. You string beads on a wire or string, add some findings, a pendant or a few accent charms, and there you go. Project done.
  Click here to check out some of the different types of jewelry makings beads



• Bead Sewing
  
  
  

  This type of beading breaks down into (3) different categories. You have loom weaving, bead embellishing and plain bead sewing. All of these styles use smaller beads or seed beads.

• In bead loom weaving, you start with vertical threads on a bead loom. You weave and secure beads in horizontal rows onto the vertical threads.
• In bead embellishing, you sew beads onto something (craft project, hand embroidery or machine embroidery project, fabric, etc...) to embellish the existing design. This adds depth and dimension to an otherwise flat, project.
• In plain bead sewing, you simply sew the beads together in such a way that it creates jewelry, or you can sew it into a fabric with a pattern built in.
  

  This type of bead sewing is much like loom weaving, except loom weaving is a lot faster. This type of beading can be very tedious, but the finished products are very beautiful. (This is the type of beading used in a lot of Native American Jewelry.)

Knotting

Knotting is possibly the least known and used of the jewelry making techniques. This is where you form knots of all sorts to create your jewelry. (This could be considered a current version of the old macrame knot work, just on a smaller scale.)

You can incorporate beads into, or in between, your knots, to create some really interesting effects. Depending on what size of string or cord you use, you can use any size of bead to match. This is the most popular of the jewelry making techniques used in making hemp or twine jewelry.

These are just some of the simpler jewelry making techniques. The ones that require the least amount of tools, time, supplies and training (or experimenting!). Of course, there are much more involved techniques out there if you want to get really serious about making jewelry!!

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