by Rena Klingenberg.
Rustic Foldover Pendant Tutorial by Rena Klingenberg
This rustic foldover pendant tutorial is an easy two-part project.
Here in Part 1, we’ll make a simple square pendant from copper, with a bail that’s created by folding over a piece of the pendant:
Front of the copper foldover pendant:
Then, in Part 2, we’ll use an easy homemade patina to make our pendant look like an archaeological find:
Supplies:
My finished pendant is a square that’s 2″ x 2″ (5.08 cm x 5.08 cm), plus extra for the foldover bail.
If you decide to make your pendant a different size or shape, you may need a different size piece of copper sheet.
- A piece of copper sheet – 22 or 24 gauge (I used 22 gauge), that measures at least 2″ x 3.5″ (5.08 cm x 8.89 cm).
Most jewelry suppliers that carry metalworking stuff carry sheet metal. I got mine online from Monsterslayer.com.
(If you’re going to do the rustic patina on your finished pendant, make sure your copper has NOT been varnished. Many craft-store and hardware-store metals have been varnished.) - Ruler.
- Ultra-thin Sharpie marker.
- Jeweler’s saw or tin snips (tin snips are scissors that cut metal – you can get these pretty inexpensively at a hardware or home improvement store). I used tin snips.
- #0000 steel wool – a small piece.
- Round nose pliers.
- Size 10 (metric size 6.5) knitting needle (or a pen, dowel, or other item) to use as a mandrel for folding over your pendant’s bail.
- Nylon or rawhide hammer for flattening and hammer-hardening your copper.
- Jeweler’s steel block or other smooth surface for hammering your pendant.
How to Make a Rustic Foldover Pendant:
First, get out your piece of copper sheet:
Next, use your ruler and fine-point marker to measure and mark your pendant on the copper sheet.
I’ve marked my copper for a pendant that’s 2″ x 2″ (5.08 cm x 5.08 cm), plus a built-in bail that’s 0.5″ x 1.5″ (1.27 cm x 3.81 cm):
Now use your jeweler’s saw or tin snips to cut out your pendant:
When you’re done cutting, you should have a piece of copper that looks something like this:
The corners of your pendant are really sharp, so use your tin snips or jeweler’s saw to round them off:
The edges of your pendant are also razor-sharp.
Take a small piece of steel wool, fold it over the edge of your pendant, and “sand” each edge and corner of your pendant till it’s smooth and no longer sharp.
Be careful not to cut your fingers on the metal.
Now your pendant should look like this:
It’s time to flatten and work-harden your pendant, so place it on your jeweler’s steel block and start pounding it with your nylon or rawhide hammer.
Do enough hammering on the big square part of your pendant to work-harden it and make it sturdier.
Do only a small amount of light hammering on the thin strip that’s going to become the bail. (You don’t want to work-harden it too much, or it will be hard to fold it over to form the bail.)
When you’ve finished hammering one side of the pendant, turn it over and hammer the other side:
Now we’ll start making the bail.
Use your round nose pliers to grasp the end of the thin strip on your pendant, and curve it over into a C-shape:
Now place your knitting needle (or pen, dowel, or other object) across the thin strip on your pendant, and bend the strip around it.
Keep bending till the C-shaped curve at the end of the strip touches the back of your pendant:
Now the back of your pendant should look like this:
The front of your pendant should look like this:
. . . and this:
Now head over to Part 2 of this tutorial to put a blueish or greenish patina on your copper.
(Alternatively, you could use this patina recipe instead.)
We’re going to transform your copper pendant from new and shiny to aged and rustic:
Love this Rena! I have been playing with homemade patinas and found they they send to flake off and not remain on the copper…? I use Renaissance wax to maintain the patinas I create with liver of sulpur, but really haven’t had luck with the vinegar and salt combos.
Thanks, Gretchen! For this particular pendant, I used a clear matte-finish spray-on sealant. It’s done a good job of protecting the patina – nothing flaking off so far.
I sprayed three light coats on each side of the pendant, drying each coat thoroughly before spraying the next one.
I think gently washing off all the loose flakes and crumbles first helps a lot. I don’t think anything would help the loose, flaky particles stick to the pendant. But after removing those flakes and crumbs (and then drying the pendant thoroughly), the spray-on sealant has worked well for me.
I just wanted to say thank you for always taking your time in your tutorials. You are always thoughtful of those just starting out and explain things in “English” and show us great pictures. I love working with metals and this looks like a fun project. THANK YOU!
Thanks so much for your lovely feedback, Colleen! I deeply appreciate hearing that. When I make a tutorial, I enjoy imagining people of all ages having fun creating the project – so I try to make it do-able for all.
I think you’ll enjoy making this foldover pendant – it’s fun to shape the metal and the bail, and there are lots of different directions you could take it (make a different pendant shape, stamp or etch the surface instead of doing a patina, etc.).
Hi Rena!
I always enjoy learning new ways of making jewelry. I like the use of things that can be easily available around the house….thank you!
Maria
This is beautiful, Rena!
A real piece of art!
I love the patina…. Heading over to that tutorial right now…
hugs x
Crystelle
Great tutorial! Thank you!
Absolutely beautiful! I love the technique of the folded bail – what a great tutorial!
That is a really beautiful patina – it looks almost turquoise!
Oh wow, this is beautiful. I love the patina look. Thank you for sharing at my Our Favorite Things Link Party. As always your tutorial is awesome.
I love the look of this! Beautiful patina…
What a great tutorial, and the necklace is beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing it @ Miss Information
Really beautiful–and easy to follow instructions too!
Gorgeous pendant!!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
Thanks for sharing how you made this really nice jewelry piece. I love jewelry and making it as well. I’ve not worked with metals but your tutorial is nice and easy to understand and gives me confidence to try! Have a great Thanksgiving!
Thanks for sharing this. Very cool! I love the way the finished product looks. I found you at Adorned from Above linky party.
Trendy and cute!
Beautiful! Thanks for linking up to last week’s Pin Me Party! I hope you join us again this week.
Beautiful — and a beautiful, easily understood tutorial as well! Thanks so much for linking on Busy Monday!
It looks great!
Rena, I love your easy to follow tutorials. What a beautiful necklace,,I’m looking forward to trying this patina on some of my copper pieces.
Rena, you are so inspirational. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful tutorial. Love this piece of art you’ve created.
This is just gorgeous! Love the patina, which I must try out one of these days.
Wow – beautiful necklace. Love the patina. Thanks for sharing on Thursdays Treasures.
Rena,
This is SO cool! I love that you gave the copper the patina yourself. I love the finished look of the pendant. Thanks so much for linking up to Creative Thursday. Can’t wait to see what you share this week! Have a wonderful rest of the week
Michelle
Rena this pendant is simple yet beautiful!
Thank you so much for this tutorial!
Maria
Love your metal tutorials. Would love to see more as I’m starting to work in metalsmithing. Your projects are great for beginners.
I love this, Rena! It’s simple enough, no soldering, the rustic, patina effect is awesome. I’ve used a similar technique but textured it with my hammer. I’m sharing and pinning this great tutorial!!!
Thanks so much to all for your lovely, enthusiastic comments about this project!
I wear the pendant I made in this tutorial often, and I always receive compliments on it (you can see me wearing it in my Earrings from Everyday Objects video). This pendant so simple to make, and very striking when worn.
Thanks so much for sharing and pinning this project, Zoraida!
Where did you get the metal necklace’s from in these photos?
thanks for your help
Hi Maisie,
You can get a variety of chain necklaces like the ones I’ve used here, at most jewelry suppliers and craft stores.
Thanks for the reply
what metal/finish are the necklaces? they look quite old so match the pendant so well