by Rena Klingenberg.
Mixed Metal Industrial Pendant Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg
This funky industrial pendant can be worn by guys or gals.
It costs practically nothing to make – you only need 4 washers and a small piece of wire (I used scrap wire).
Supplies:
- 4 washers (available at hardware / home improvement stores) – in a variety of sizes and metals.
- 1 piece of 16-gauge round wire, 3.75″ (9.5 cm) long (I used a piece of brass wire from my scrap pile).
- Wire cutter that’s made to handle 16-gauge wire.
- Cup bur or knife sharpening stone to smooth your wire ends.
- Round-nose pliers (don’t use your best pliers on 16-gauge wire, unless they’ve been manufactured to handle that gauge).
- Flat-nose pliers (again, use pliers that are made to handle 16-gauge wire).
- Ruler.
- Metal hammer.
- Steel jeweler’s block or other sturdy, smooth surface for hammering.
How to Make this Mixed Metal Industrial Pendant:
Cut your wire to 3.75″ (9.5 cm) long.
Use your cup bur or knife sharpening stone to smooth and round the ends of your wire:
We’re going to turn this piece of wire into an industrial-looking bail for the pendant.
Make a plain wire loop on one end of your wire (if you’re new to making loops, or had trouble making them in the past, see my 2-minute video How to Make a Plain Wire Loop).
Make the loop around the fattest part of your round nose pliers’ jaw:
Make a plain wire loop on the other end of your wire:
Now your wire should look like this:
Using your hammer and steel block, give your wire a good pounding on both sides to flatten it (your loops will come open as you hammer, but you can easily close them after you’re done hammering):
Now your wire should look like this:
Use your ruler to find the middle of your wire.
Then use your round nose pliers to fold your wire in half at that midpoint, over the fattest part of your round nose pliers’ jaw:
Now thread your biggest washer onto your wire bail:
Add your next-biggest washer on top of that:
Finally, add your smallest washer on top of the first two:
Now use your flat nose pliers to slightly bend each of your wire loops outward:
Now if you press the loops together with your flat nose pliers, the loops should be able to lie nicely together:
Use your flat nose pliers to twist open the loops on your bail, so you can add the washer “jump ring”:
Insert your final washer into the opened wire loops of your bail, and twist the loops closed again:
Add a chain or leather cord, and your mixed metal industrial pendant is ready to wear!
Ideas for Variations:
If you’re making this pendant as a gift, you might want to do some metal stamping on one or more of the washers (if you’re new to stamping, see my easy Metal Stamping Tutorial).
You could stamp:
- the name of their favorite team
- the names of their children
- a word or quote that’s meaningful to them
- a significant date
- their graduation year (for high school / college students)
I love the mixed metals and what you’ve done with them!
What a good looking piece of Unisex jewelry. You have inspired me. May I ask, what kind of chain is that?
I consider you my mentor, love everything you make and write. Thank you.
Thank you, Zoraida and Erika, for your lovely supportive comments!
Erika, the chain I used for this pendant is a ball chain. I liked the darkened, industrial look of the chain for this piece. Also, you may be able to tell from the photos that I’ve used a double strand of this chain. The washer bail is so much larger than a regular pendant bail that it made a single strand of the chain look wimpy by comparison. So I felt that a double strand looked sturdier and more in proportion.
Thanks for asking!
so beautiful! Thanks for sharing this… I’ve always shied away from making jewelry because it seemed so complicated. It’s nice to see a tutorial that is so informative; I might have to try my hand at it
really nice. so many shapes could be made into pendants for this. I could try a heart shape for valentines. thanks for sharing
You may want to mention that the washer should not be worn on bare skin.
I love this! I made a great keychain one time with a screw, nuts, and bolts–it reminds me a lot of this, actually. I’m going to dig through my hardware to see if I have any of the materials left and I may make a variation of this. Thanks for sharing! (PS–the keychain was a gift with a note that said, “I’m Nuts About You”–I thought it was cute!)
So cool. It is beautiful and you gave us a great tutorial with wonderful pics. Going to have to try this. Thank you for sharing.
Cindy
Very pretty. It is a nice mix of metals. Pendants are always pretty. I love the stamping idea. Thanks for linking up with us at “Inspiration in Progress”….shout out via Facebook sent!
I love this, super cute. Funny, I just did a post a post recently about mixing metal finishes in a bathroom so I had to check out this pendant. I’m really into this look. Thanks for the great tutorial!
What an awesome idea. Ireally love the mixed metals!! stopping in from 5 days 5 ways
So beautiful! I love the combo of the metals.
Love this! Thanks for sharing at Pinworthy Projects.
I love your tutorials! They are so wonderfully illustrated! Nice job. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Such a wonderful tutorial!!! Thank you very much!!
Great post!! I included it in my post.
Have a great week!!
Thanks for linking up at A Humble Creation. This is a very unique and pretty piece. I also like that it’s one my young children can’t break!
Loved seeing your metal jewelry pendant. Love creating jewelry so appreciate the uniqueness of this piece. Beautifully created.
I love industrial jewelry! Very modern and cool.
Great idea, I’m always looking for ways to use mixed metals in my jewelry projects. I like the modern look of this pendant.
Thanks so much for linking up at Two Girls and a Party!
We hope to see you back every Wednesday to link up and check our featured blogs!
The different metals look great together! thank you for sharing at TTF.
What a great tutorial and a great necklace, thanks so much for linking up to I Freakin’ did it Friday
I keep seeing this project in all the linky parties I’m joining so I had to stop by your blog and check it out. I love this, so simple, but doesn’t look it.
I’m now following you and I look forward to seeing your other ideas
I love every detail of this piece ~ the mix of metals is awesome and the loop adds the perfect touch.
Thanks so much for linking up this week to Cupcakes and Crinoline.
Have a fabulously creative week!
Just stopping by to let you know that you were featured today. Thanks for sharing your jewelry with us!
Such a pretty piece. I love the different metals you used! Thanks for sharing!
What a unique piece of jewelry! I can see my daughter making one of these, and painting the washers different colors. Thank you so much for sharing with Saturday Spotlight. Have a great week and come back soon!
This is awesome! You are so talented. Thanks so much for sharing this at my Link Party
Wow, how pretty!
I love this! Thanks for sharing!
Very pretty! Thanks for linking up at my Pin Me Linky Party.
Great tutorial – love the design of this – Just might give it a try!!
This is really cool. It gives me some inspiration to make my own.
So glad you shared this at my weekend link party last weekend!
Hope to see you link up again this week
Thank you for linking up your awesome project! We’ve already got our next Showcase up, so come stop by and link up another project!
Have a great week!
Susie@bowdabra
Hardware looking high end. Love it.
Thanks for sharing.
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This is gorgeous! Love the industrial look.. and what a beautiful tutorial!
Thanks so much for sharing with the Pink Hippo Party~
xoxo
Amie @ Pinkapotamus