Wire Wrapped Dreamcatcher Pendant

I've always like the idea of Dreamcatchers, something that is able to filter through then good and hold back the negative. Keeping one above your bed is supposed to protect you from bad dreams. I don't know about you, but I tend to daydream. A lot. So I wanted to make one I could always have with me, to help keep me positive. On that same note I am not very delicate and was destroying dreamcatcher pendants that were made from more traditional materials. So, I decided to combine my love of wire wrapping and the dreamcatcher idea, into a pendant that would holdup to daily wear.

Step 1: What You Will Need

Things you will need for this project:

-Steel rings, key rings, metal loops. It really doesn't matter what it is, as long as it is solid and the seam won't pull open on you.

-22 gauge aluminum wire. I used Ant. Brass for this project, but you can use any color you like.

-Beading Wire. brand doesn't matter, as long as it's soft and fine (significantly thinner then your wire).

-Pliers and/or nail clippers

-A single small bead

-Jump rings

-Feather shaped charms or beads

Step 2: Getting Started

First thing first, pick what size and shape metal ring you want to use. A plain circle will be easiest to try for your first pendant. Also a ring with a thinner form and larger diameter will make it easier to work with. Then grab your 22 gauge wire and straighten out a piece as long as your arms are wide. No need to over extend your arms, but you want the longest piece you are comfortable working with. Without cutting the wire, feed it through the middle of your metal ring, so it's close to the wire spool. Then with that obnoxiously long piece of wire start wrapping. Aluminum is very soft, so this shouldn't be hard on your fingers. Make sure to keep the wrapped wire as close together as possible. Eventually the end you are wrapping will get shorter, and the very end will get a little ratty and beat up. Continue wrapping until there in no longer any smooth wire to wrap around the metal ring. Then you can use the nail clippers to cut off the gnarly end . I like nail clippers because they let you cut really close to where you need then and you can see exactly where you are cutting. With this step done, you should nearly have the whole loop wrapped, so you could probably guess how much more wire you need and unravel that from the spool. Remember, it's better to cut off too much wire, then not enough. This project never looks right trying to join two pieces of cut wire. Continue wrapping at the other end until you have about a centimeter of space left before the whole loop is wrapped.

Step 3: Adding the Middle Wire

Next you will need a piece of beading wire about the same size that you started with before. As long as your arms are apart. This time you can cut the wire off the spool. As you can see in the picture, place the beading wire along the metal ring, and continue wrapping the aluminium wire until the metal ring is completely in closed. When you finish, the beading wire should be sticking out. You can now use the nail clippers to cut the aluminum wire tail off.

Step 4: Weaving the Middle

Whatever direction that beading wire is pointing, fold it back in the opposite direction. Wrap it over the front of the ring, around the back, through the middle of the loop you just made, and the wire ending up in front of the wire you started with. To try to make things a little clearer, I added a picture with arrows to help show how the wire should go. Then pull it tight, once you have the beading wire where you want it, give it an extra tug so it get pulled in between the aluminum wire. This will help the piece have a more finished look, and to hold your beading wire in place. Continue with this knot the whole way around the circle.

Step 5: More Weaving

Once you have the beading wire wrapped one full circle on your loop, it is time to move inward. You are basically doing the same thing, just around the thinner wire now. Make the same knot as before, but in each little hold that you have made. It will continue like this in a spiral, and it will get trickier as the opening gets smaller. Just take your time, and remember to pull tight after each knot so it doesn't unravel. When you are between halfway and three quarters of the way done, stop.

Step 6: Time to Add the Bead!

Time to add you bead! Seed beads work really well for this, but you can buy stone ones if you would like. Just make sure it's something small enough to fit your pendant. Now you just string the bead on to the beading wire and continue to tie your knots. I try to do this at a place that has a small knot space so I can skip it. This also helps with spacing since the next round of knotting, you won't be able to put a knot where the bead is, and will have to skip to the next space there as well. This is shown in the pictures above. If you have room to put a knot with the bead, it won't hurt anything. It's a preference on what you think will look better.

Step 7: Finishing Knot

As you get to the very center, there are a few options on how to get your beading wire through the holes to tie your knots. I like to use my nail and put a bend in the wire so I can feed it through easier. You can also use a needle, or a pair or needle nose pliers, maybe even some tweezers to help get it through. No matter what your method, this part can be very tricky. When you get to the very center, it is time to tie off your knot. Since we are using wire, I feel a inverted double knot is the best way to go. I tried to illustrate this for you in paint. Do the first half of the knot like you did all the rest before this, but before you pull it tight, pull the beading wire across the front, up behind the wire you are tying it on, then back down in front of that same wire and behind the wire you just pulled across from the first knot. Then pull it all as tight as you can. Once you feel like the knot is secure and won't come undone, it's time to cut it with the nail clippers. Ta-Da! You are almost done!

Step 8: Time to Accessorize!

I had a few options with what feather charms I was going to use. I decided on fours fairly realistic silver feathers in two sizes. I attached them with jump rings. Remember, always twist jump rings open, never pull! I attached the two larger feathers first to help with the spacing and see how they would hang before adding the two smaller ones. Pay attention to how the charm and jump ring will react to gravity. If your feathers are heavy, sometimes balance can be an issue.

Step 9: Finishing Touch

Now all that is left is to add a jump ring to the top, and find a cord. This beauty is ready to wear. All the supplies can be found at your local craft store for fairly cheap. These make great gifts!