Basic Wire Wrapping
Step-by-Step Instructions for Headpin Charms

What is a headpin charm? It is any dangly sort of drop constructed on a headpin. Most people start making headpin charms for earrings, but they're also great for charm bracelets because you can wire wrap to securely attach them. If you were to use a jump ring or split ring on your charm bracelets - there is always the risk of the ring pulling apart unless you solder the ring. Baby bracelet makers frequently use headpin charms at the end of extender or grow chain.

Necessary tools - Flush Cutters, Round Nose Pliers, Bent Nose Pliers. See my tools page to buy.

For the charm itself - you'll need a headpin and your bead arrangement. For small charms, a 1 1/2" headpin will do. For small earring size charms, I suggest using 2" headpins, especially if you're a beginner.

The parts: a headpin (1 1/2") a bead (6mm bicone)

Put the bead on the headpin, then grip the headpin about 3mm past the end of the bead with your round nose pliers.

While firmly holding the bead at the bottom of the headpin with one hand, gently twist your other wrist (of the hand holding the the round nose pliers) to bend the headpin (at that 3mm above point) 90 degrees to form a right angle (or thereabouts).

This is how it should look after the step above. You're holding the pliers almost vertically, and the bead points down.

With the round nose plier still on the headpin at the point of the bend, use your fingers to wrap the tail of the headpin around the round nose pliers to form a full loop.

(See above)

Bring the wire tail all the way around the nose of the plier to create a nice, round loop.

Isn't it purty? If you were going to attach this to a bracelet extender, charm, or charm bracelet chain - you would slip the loop of your headpin here into the loop of where ever it is going. To keep the pictures clean, however, I'm going to leave that part to your imagination.

Now - grip the end of the loop with your bent nose or needle nose pliers (picture shows bent nose pliers). I like bent nose pliers because they enable your right hand and pliers to stay out of the way while you're wire wrapping with your left hand.

Hold the tail of the wire with your left hand, and make a coil around the wire as shown below. Be sure to keep a steady grip on the pliers to keep your work in place as you wrap. Another method - hold the tail of the wire firmly with your left hand, and rotate the loop with your right hand to create the wrap. I use both methods. Continue coiling the tail of the headpin wire around the base until the bottom coil is flush against the top of the bead.

Using your flush cutters, snip the excess tail wire. There is usually a tiny bit of wire sticking out - use your bent nose pliers to gently tuck the tail below the bottom coil.

Congratulations! Headpin charm is finished. Don't expect to get this right on the first attempt. Wire wrapping takes some practice and experimentation. Plan to burn through some headpins, and keep trying until you get it right.

More Fun With Headpins