Copyright 2004 Eni Oken www.enioken.com Page: 1

Tutorial: Herringbone Weave By ENI OKEN - www.JEWELRYLESSONS.com Please do not distribute, lend or copy. Copyright 2004 ENI OKEN

This pretty and simple weave (lashing) can easily be done over almost any kind of wrapped bead, forming a "diamond" shape. Notice how the front is different than the back, caused by the regular lashing. This technique is not my invention, it is based on french beaded flower techniques and also in basketry. Materials for each link: 1 round bead 2-1/2 feet 26 ga round soft wire 4 20ga round wire (soft or half-hard).

Step 1: Create a wrapped link Create a simple wrapped bead using a medium gauge wire (for this example, 20 gauge wire was used with a 3/4 inch bead).

Make the wrap longer than you would normally and try to make both sides identical. It helps to count how many times you have coiled around the eye. For this example, each side was coiled 9 times.

Step 2: Attach thin wire

Attach a length of thinner wire to the base of the top eye by coiling twice. This example used 2.5 feet of 26 gauge wire, but you can use other gauges with good results.

Copyright 2004 Eni Oken www.enioken.com Page: 2

Step 3: Form one half frame Trim the wire tail at the top and take the longer length of wire to the bottom eye and loop once. It's important to always loop over the coils, to form the herringbone weave.

Step 4: Complete one full frame

Take the wire to the top once more and wrap it over the base of the eye again. This will form ONE complete frame around the bead. Right now, the frame is rounded, but soon it will acquire its typical "diamond" shape.

Step 5: Complete two full frames

Take the wire down and up again (steps 3 and 4), forming another frame around the bead. This procedure will be repeated as many times as needed to form the diamond shape.

Copyright 2004 Eni Oken www.enioken.com Page: 3

Step 6: Complete all frames After repeating the frame for about 3 or 4 times, the diamond shape and the herringbone pattern starts to show.

Step 7: Finish off the wraps

When you can no longer wrap, secure the wire at the top by coiling twice around the base of the eye. Trim very closely. This example shows the wire wrapped around the bead 7 times.

Notice how the wire is smoothly laid on the

sides of the bead. This is done by taking care with the placement of the framing wire. Alternative: if you eliminate the bottom eye, by just folding the wire instead of rounding it, you can make a pendant I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. For comments or questions, please go to JewelryLessons.com

Please do not distribute, lend or copy. Do not mass produce. Copyrights 2004 ENI OKEN