Free Butterfly Wire Beading Frame Tutorial

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Butterflies inspire so many different types of jewelry designs. From beaded flutterbys to fused glass, these delicate creatures seem to delight all of us, in some way. I was inspired to create a butterfly wire beading frame which gives the feeling they are lighter than air. Link a few together to create a custom chain. Enjoy this tutorial on making butterfly-shaped wire beading frames!

Above: Butterfly Wire Beading Frames by Tammy Honaman

Related: Create a Beaded Butterfly with Brick Stitch

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Here’s a video tip on making chain with wire shapes!

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What You’ll Need for the Wire Beading Frame

• Metal shape for the center of the butterfly
• 24” 18 or 19-gauge wire
• 16″ 22 or 24-gauge wire
• Hole punch (1.8mm or 2.0mm)
• Jig for shaping the wire
• Flat- or chain-nose pliers
• Round-nose pliers
• OPTIONAL: Ball peen hammer (or similar), bench block

Instructions for the Wire Beading Fram

1. Set up your jig pegs to create the shape of your butterfly.

2. Mark, then drill or punch holes in the metal used for the center of your frame.

Note: The copper shape I used was purchased with holes on each end. If your blank doesn’t have holes, you really only need a hole on one end. I then placed two marks for drilling along the centerline that runs the length of the blank, one just a little above center and one just a little below.

3. Place the end of the wire through the top hole of the blank and bend the wire about 2” from the end. Anchor the top of the blank in the bend of the wire then begin to work the wire around the pegs for the upper right wing.

4. Put the wire through the “just above center” hole then work the wire around the pegs for the lower right wing.

Tip: I removed the form to work the wire through the holes in the copper blank. I reshaped the wire around the pegs when I placed the wire assembly back onto the jig bed.

5. Put the wire through the “just below center” hole then work the wire around the pegs for the lower left wing. Put the wire through the “just above center” hole so it’s in position for the upper left wing.

6. Work the wire around the pegs for the upper left wing. Put the wire through the top hole then bend to anchor the wire to the blank.

7. Remove the formed wire. Trim then twist the two wire ends together to secure the butterfly shape.

8. If you’d like, form a loop on each wire (below the ends) and so the formed loops match up. You can use this loop to hang the butterfly.

Optional: Place the form onto a steel block. Using a ball peen or similar hammer, strike the wire to flatten, adding some character. Try not to hit the wire in areas where it overlaps as you will cause metal fatigue quickly and run the risk of having the wire break.

9. Cut a 3-4″ length of wire. Anchor it at the joint between two wings, closest to the center of the butterfly.

10. Wrap the wire around a few times then trim the ends. Compress the ends of the wire coil using chain- or flat-nose pliers to keep the wire coil in place. The coil will give the wire beading frame some structure, as well as offering a little accent on the butterfly. Repeat for the other pair of wings and around the twist at the top.

Now that you have the pattern and instructions for this wire beading frame, you can make as many butterflies as you’d like. Embellish them or fill with fibers, beads, crystals—anything you like!

Related: Free-Form Resin Jewelry: Make Angel Wings, Fairy Wings, Leaves, Flowers, and More

Happy Beading!

Tammy Honaman
Director of Content, Interweave

Updated October 2020.

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