Lesson 1
Cones: Finish Your Necklace With Style
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Figure 1
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Used in conjunction with a piece of 20 gauge or 22 gauge wire about 21/2” longer than the cone,
a cone hides the thread and the knot at the end of your necklace strand. This technique is
particularly useful for multi-strand necklaces.
Bend a loop in one end of the wire, wrapping the end around the stem to close the loop.
(figure 1) The loop must be larger than the small end of the cone. Securely tie the thread onto
the wire loop with a double knot. Trim the ends and glue the knot with jeweler’s cement.
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Figure 2
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Thread the straight end of your wire into the cone so that the wire loop and the knot are up
inside the cone. (figure 2)
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Figure 3
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Grasp the wire where it comes out of the narrow end of the cone with chain nose pliers. Bend the
tail away from you to form a right angle. With round nose pliers, grasp the tail just past the
bend. Pull it over the jaw with your fingers to point the other way. (figure 3)
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Figure 4
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Loosen the pliers grip enough to rotate them and continue pulling the tail around the pliers
into a round loop with the tail now perpendicular to the stem. (figure 4)
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Figure 5
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Slide your finding into the loop, then wrap the tail around the base of the loop. To keep the
loop round as you wrap the tail, grasp the loop with round nose pliers in your non-dominant hand
above the cross. (figure 5)
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Figure 6
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One wrap is sufficient to keep the loop from opening; additional wraps are decorative. (figure 6)
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Figure 7
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Clip off excess wire. Use the chain nose pliers to press the cut end against the last wrap.
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