Now we’re going to work on making the second loop. First, string your bead, crystals, or stones onto the wire and move it all the way up next to the loop. Then bend the wire down at a 90 degree angle as in Figure 4a. You usually want to bend it parallel to the loop, though I’ve seen some cases where people want it perpendicular. Do it parallel for now.
Next, cut off all but approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the free end of wire. This is actually the most difficult part for me, because it is hard to estimate how much free wire you will need to complete a loop. If you cut too much, you won’t be able to make a big enough loop, or god forbid not even a loop at all. If you cut to little and try to make a loop, you’ll find yourself with a loop with some extra wire on the end. A few millimeters of wire can make a big difference in the size of the loop! I generally err on the side of caution and cut slightly more than I think I need.
Anyhow, now grab the end of the wire with the pliers at about the same location you did for the first loop. (Unless, you don’t want the loops to be the same size of course!) For me, again that is about 1/2 inch up the tip.
This part is again sort of difficult to describe without having someone show you directly. I should have shown my hand as well in this picture because it makes it easier to visualize. Basically, keeping a tight grasp on the pliers, you want to “roll” the wire around the plier tip. You do this by twisting your wrist away from you. Think of it like turning a key in a car, I would guess.
Once again you will probably be able to make 1/2 to 3/4 of the full loop before you can’t turn your wrist anymore. At this point, you need to remove the pliers from the loop, and reinsert them back into the loop and continue turning. Trying to think of a metaphor to describe this is difficult. It is sort of like turning a screwdriver with one hand. You turn the screw until your wrist can’t go anymore, then you readjust your grip and then repeat. Turning a loop is the same way; start making the loop by turning your wrist and when you can’t go anymore, readjust (by taking the plier out and putting it back in) and then continue.
