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Links, Pins, Dangles and Wraps

with Diane Cook

Advanced beginner
Links, Pins, Dangles and Wraps: a finished piece from the class

Photo 1 of 9

When and where

  1. Wednesday, Feb 3, 2027

    8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Times are MST, the event's local time.

At a glance

Skill level
Advanced beginner. Advanced Beginner - Intermediate
Class type
Technique and project. Technique and/or project
Prerequisites
None listed
Total time
9 hours
Room
Announced closer to the event
Class size
14 students

Fees

Class fee
$290
Kit fee
$45, paid to the instructor on class day, not charged online

About this class

This class will give you the opportunity to complete a sterling silver chain necklace, maybe using the pendant made in the ‘Captured’ or ‘Drops of Jupiter’ class as the focal. Or it will be a great way to learn new techniques for attaching, wrapping or soldering at least 4 styles of links.

A beautiful hand-made focal piece deserves a beautifully hand-made chain. There are so many options, but learning the links I’ll share in class will give you the ability to say that the entire necklace was ‘hand-made’! Here are the links I will share: Ladder & Paperclip/Barbell Links, Trellis Link & Figure 8 Link, as well as wire wrapping a gemstone, bead or Navajo Pearl, and a quick pinning example.

My hope is that students will attempt to complete each link & wrap, then move on to the one that resonates with them and could be attached to the focal they made in one of my previous classes or be made into a chain necklace, which is great to layer with other necklaces.

Contact Diane Cook

Included in the kit

Covered by the kit fee.

  • Silver & Bronze Casting Grain
  • Emory Cloth
  • Handout
  • Silver Wire Solder
  • Consumables

Tools the instructor brings

Shared in class. You do not need to pack these.

  • Soldering stations = torches, fuel platform, quench bowls, towels
  • Table Protection
  • Pickle
  • LOS patina
  • Baking Soda for neutralizer
  • Dawn, paper towels, dishpans for water
  • Flex Shaft
  • Jump Ring Pliers, Water Casting Set-Ups, Charcoal Bricks & Third Hands

What to bring

Your own tools and materials for the class.

  • To try each link/wrap/pin first, please bring:
  • Sterling Silver Round Wire, Dead Soft, 16-gauge, approx. 3-4’
  • Sterling Silver Round Wire, Dead Soft, 18-gauge, approx. 3-4’
  • Sterling Silver Round Wire, Dead Soft, 22-gauge, 1’
  • Sterling Silver Round Wire, Dead Soft, 20-22gauge, approx. 1’ (or whatever gauge fits the beads brought along to wire wrap. If you buy Navajo Pearls for the class, they fit 18gauge wire.)
  • Gemstone (or other) Beads, 6-8mm, 6-12
  • Sterling Silver Round Wire, Dead Soft, 14-gauge, 2’
  • Small Solderite Board (ex. https://a.co/d/09ZlcZZd) OR Small Honeycomb Board (ex. https://a.co/d/00tZGdTJ) / to transport project to/from soldering stations & use at the soldering station.
  • Bench Pin & Clamp
  • Ball Peen, Chasing or Planishing Hammer
  • Rawhide Mallet
  • Steel Bench Block & Rubber Bench Block
  • Jewelry Files Cut #2 – flat, half-round or barrette
  • Needle Files, Set
  • Flush Cutters (fyi…my favorite: Double-flush Wire Cutters - Etsy)
  • Pliers, Chain Nose, Round Nose, Flat Nose, Flat/Half Round
  • Bail Making Pliers (I like to use my various sizes of Wubbers – (https://a.co/d/0bzZOftp & https://a.co/d/0h2VMVgc & https://a.co/d/0go7Ficj but if you’d like use just one pair, these will work also: https://a.co/d/0bnb2h9h)
  • Sanding Pads, Superfine (ex: Amazon.com: Soft Pads Sanding Sponge Sanding polishing Wet Dry Foam Washable Reusable fine grit Fast Cutting Grain Size (3 Pieces 3M 02600 softpads, Grain 1500 Microfine) : Industrial & Scientific)
  • Pumice Knife-edge wheel polisher, size medium & mandrels (Rio #332723 & #333120)
  • Pro-Polish Polishing Pads (ex. Rio #337020)
  • Utility Tweezers, Fine-Tip (ex. Rio #115053)
  • Small Solderite Board (ex. https://a.co/d/09ZlcZZd) / Small Honeycomb Board (ex. https://a.co/d/00tZGdTJ) / to transport project to/from soldering stations & use at the soldering station.
  • Solder Pick(s)
  • Soldering Tweezers, Fine Tip (ex. Rio#115222 or whatever you use at home. I use a Utility Tweezer, but don’t let it get near the flame).
  • Ruler
  • Black Sharpie Retractable Permanent Marker, Ultra Fine, (ex. https://a.co/d/070bgfRE)
  • Pencil & Paper
  • Bead Mat (ex. https://a.co/d/03fIEhgt)
  • Work Light, Rechargeable/Battery Operated (ex. https://a.co/d/0dV3LduN OR https://a.co/d/0eZqO6Cs)
  • Personal Magnification, if needed

Optional supplies

  • Gemstone, Czech or other Beads, for Wire Wrapping (between links-make sure your wire fits the hole of your chosen stone or bead)
  • Bead Scooper

Safety and preparation

Before class
Please look at class sample photos for the Link #s. This will give you an idea of the links I will demonstrate. If you know which link you’d like to continue working on in class, please note the APPROXIMATE amount of wire needed for that Link # below. - Link #1, Ladder Link: Sterling Silver Round Wire, Dead Soft, 18-gauge, 4-1/2’ - Link #2, Barbell/Paperclip Link: Sterling Silver Round Wire, Dead Soft, 16-gauge, 4-1/2’, and 18-gauge, 4-1/2’ - Link #3, Trellis Link: Sterling Silver Round Wire, Dead Soft, 16-gauge, 3’, and 18-gauge, 2’ - Link #4, Figure 8 Link: Sterling Silver Round Wire, Dead Soft, 16-gauge, 4’, and 18-gauge, 6” The instructor will have gemstones and Czech glass beads, and Campitos turquoise strands and heishi, available for purchase in class.

Your instructor

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