![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXniI5MsCaWGlcAcj4sLq4ty2OUMN_DkJ4EBmIXPKH20qqTBtOqTJnIxRHWoUVFMLW27iKsTSKTNO7yFBkBvic4lRDzt73skPsNQHsOp7kXGxT-9E4gtWbsDBGEew-iSRzurkE/s400/P1050860.JPG)
On the first day of 2009 I thought I'd post a tutorial on making a tornado bead. This is a non-polymer posting but I needed these to go with some polymer beads I made recently.
I have been unable to find a tornado bead tutorial online so I figured this one out myself. Hopefully if you are looking for the same thing I was, this will serve as a starting point to making your own tornado beads.
For a one inch bead, you will need:
18" of 20-gauge wire
16" of 22 gauge wire
Various sized seed beads- 11, 8, 6.
A couple of 4mm beads
A mandrel
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpYDXCC600gQlISMXk1azIrsWmtJCIws9-XsqqOLGrC-E2fnEHUYYoqvcaun-2W7jNkC2HwdvARCY7W_oUklnrdPYffI9XwFDSUgkqFu9eVVBPLsdi90jUAPlE15khVrPOzJJ/s400/P1050839.JPG)
Beginning in the middle of the 20 gauge wire, wrap wire around a mandrel (I used a small wooden skewer) in both directions until the wrap is one inch long and there is 5"-6" of excess wire on each end. The wraps don't have to be perfectly lined up against each other.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiMyXX5mRPd7XXG7gSJ7RuhfoxXgcNjsuXFEllPi7IgXxLoPvzer9HtX2w8WXk532GCDOrqWURjFrjJ4b-4YJtA2GKN7rp-iQ6km6merI3J-jp5ujCar74cNMXTqES4aXJTuQ/s400/P1050840.JPG)
Take the right end of the excess wire and working right to left, wrap it loosely around the base in a somewhat random and disorganized fashion. This isn't about perfection, it's about a tornado!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgcOqznwVuMMpfLaMDiZfjAXpqpico8V2GhsbImfScJ7bAPlkouycBOZlbqbwctmSic1iqbfg-rR1cr_07Ws1yfbLsjFmYkV_MTJ0fAEQ_5qxxgosTdakn3ok1db5FqcAe7RJ/s400/P1050841.JPG)
Take the left end of the excess wire and wrap it around the base from left to right, again in a loose fashion and make the bead slightly fatter in the middle.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2VSlhDHTQhhyHZ7mrtGwJ59-En2tBBnHhwBiWTLYxJgW9oPhGXGFC7ajPeITjfpeIighT488TVMvHJyaTJr4SRtGURM_3Mafen2rRMBw0wNekXlhPeUf5GjonwSJsqISMH0S/s400/P1050842.JPG)
Now you are ready to add beads with the 22 gauge wire.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4R3Q-RwOx_C_NmGbl3QjFqVkXG483dPddx-M0cjoAGmGny4a_2EMw0qgzzQDOpsI-_8phtde35VFhbsCNCoJIhouMpz9rOGiSzm_bwnDOZxW1zmU3kEDTgpi7p4yF8PcQOyz/s400/P1050843.JPG)
Take 16" of the 22 gauge wire and start a wrap at one end, tucking the end under so it doesn't stick out. Add a few size 11 seed beads in the first revolution.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AguUo01eek-sKqzdegjPiv134DD2WDcVYeMmpTTJ0aT9UsR5M2OePp1L0MZ0HOKZGw4gBspTbxoOitbyq3uuRCYc_6Aoo4797aGvla8ypaUDu5H_tyx_cLQmqQf54EcD5NL1/s400/P1050845.JPG)
Start wrapping and adding larger beads to the 22 gauge wire in the gaps between the 20 gauge wire. They will stick out a little at first but become integrated when you continue with the 22 gauge wire.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQ5hHSZCOxalU5OajYpJ0b6XzgW_0rH8Id8ztQEV5Nqze4C85Pq0XxCPgHs2LL-PTlUNc6AYqEYvqGQkhBtktCSA1YdSxt8CvTckbxQ1AgFVx07H3X7IhRXLYpKdRmXfNMWl8/s400/P1050847.JPG)
Continue to wrap and add beads into the gaps, alternating sizes and colors. Take an occasional wire wrap without any beads.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglt5Yuaec6yPDoie6s94bVhF-6hvzqmJ1S5MDLPWlhaMt4_p9X8I3uHU5dhH7BRe9WxT7y13OXqNQaG2cwG5_13MgZt2EdVzhGSY8jco_GWVO1IQXl2wdgm0W7X_Gmfli-jaLE/s400/P1050848.JPG)
When you reach the other end of the tornado bead, you should have the 22 gauge wire used up. Tuck the end into the bead to conceal the wire end.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4C-qI5DmEMI1wx42zW3SSwrx02SIIiNWBNSpcBQjTY0Ceu-gzyYuaFquBatolTguw7pvHmSyyzjT0JuVbsUGlSHinLVeVREuNxmltpCnBf-6r9q7VIxkY_QClpqWYimA1eb3d/s400/P1050850.JPG)
Here is the finished bead!
11 comments:
What a great bead Tute Caren!! Very cool looking! Bet it would look great in copper wire too! ~ Cindy Lietz
Thanks, Cindy! This is my first attempt at posting a tute. It was fun. I've learned so much from other online tutes, I thought it was time to "give back".
Yes I love copper wire, will probably do some of those as the need arises!
Great tute!!
I love your beads with the faces on Flickr!
Do you sell those?
Thanks, Lynn
absolutely beautiful...thanks for the tutorial...i'm going to have a go right away!
Thanks much for your tornado bead tutorial. I too, wanted just a clue on how to make these beads. I am experienced enough that I don't need a whole book at $30. So I'm very grateful for your post. Love it. Just what I needed!
If there is a will, there is a way! Thanks for coming up with your own tornado bead tutorial! I will feature and link in a future post so others can come visit!!
www.beadinggem.com
Thanks for the tutorial! It is very helpful. Love the beads :)
this is one unique piece! I want to feature this on our blog. Thanks
Diybeadingclub.com
Diylessons.org
Handmade-Jewelry-Club.com
Thanks so much for this. I was looking for a way to make a bead similar to this and the Creative Bead Chat on facebook came through for me and pointed me to your tutorial. This is great.
This is very nice! Great tutorial :-)
very cool! do you just slide it off your dowel?
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