How to wire wrap a headpin

Wire wrapping headpins is a useful skill to master. It is relatively simple, but can be fiddly. It gives a pleasing aesthetic finish to pieces of jewellery with an added finish. It is also a useful skill to have, especially if the wire gauge of the headpins is very high as this ensures that the headpins don’t fall off like they might if they were simply looped instead.

Step 1:
Add the bead on to the head pin. Hold the headpin just above the bead with a pair of round nose pliers and bend the wire to a 90 degree angle.

Step 2:
Now adjust your hold so that the pliers are holding the headpin on the main piece of headpin next to the bend (see arrow above, second picture). Wrap the wire over the pliers to create the loop.

Step 3:
Holding the loop you just created with another pair of pliers (ideally chain nose but round nose will also be OK), wrap the length of wire around the gap that is between the bead and start of the loop.

Step 4:
Continue to wrap until the wire is used up. Use chain nose pliers to ensure that the end of the wire is flush with the wrapping above the bead.