How to make jump rings
Since posting my jump ring jewellery set I thought I would write a tutorial for making jump rings. This is a very simple method.
Jump rings are really quite easy to make using a knitting needle as a mandrel to shape them. Knitting needles are particularly useful for this purpose as you can control the diameter of the finished jump ring accurately. By making your own jump rings you can therefore have a wide variety of sizes available when you need them. For larger jump rings I would advise using 18 gauge wire and for the smaller jump rings 20 gauge wire.
In order to ensure that you get an even result it is important that you push the wire around the knitting needle with your thumb putting the greatest pressure on the wire closest to the needle itself. In other words do not try to hold the end of the wire and wind it around the knitting needle as this will produce uneven jump rings. Please see the diagram below:
When you have reached the desired length of joined jump rings remove them from the knitting needle. Then using wire cutters (I prefer top cutters) snip through each jump ring to separate them.
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Jennie Said,
March 14, 2007 @ 5:47 am
Thanks for these instructions-it seems that no matter how many different sizes I have, I always need one i don’t have. I have a whole set of knitting needles, but I don’t knit. Now i can finally put them to use!
Lucy Said,
March 14, 2007 @ 9:56 pm
Thank you for your instructions. I’m new to beading and learning every day. In trying to make a bracelet yesterday I discovered my jump rings were not strong enough to hold my pieces together. Hopefully this will help me. Again thank you.
Sincerely, Lucy
Kate Said,
March 27, 2007 @ 11:08 am
That’s so clever!!
lynnedbears Said,
October 24, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
Thanks for the explanation. Always need various sizes which I never have.
kele Said,
November 11, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
hello,
that jump-ring set is marvelous and now I can use my kniting needles to make jump-rings too…
best of luck with other projects
regards.