How to Make Your Own Heart Headpins

Oxidised copper wire heart headpins

Heart-shaped headpins are always in style, but they also happen to make a great Valentine’s Day accessory. Use ’em as the base for your next beaded project, whether it be a necklace, bracelet or anything in between.

Heart Headpins

Level: Easy

What You Need

  • 0.8mm copper wire
  • Round-nosed pliers
  • Flat-nosed pliers
  • Flush cutters
  • Steel bench block
  • Chasing hammer
  • Instructions

    1. Make a Spiral

    wire spiral

    Cut a 20 cm piece of 0.8 mm wire and turn a simple loop at one end with your round-nosed pliers.

    forming wire spiral

    Grasp this loop with your flat-nosed pliers and gently turn it to create a spiral.

    2. Make the Point

    shaping heart headpin point

    With your flat-nosed pliers, grasp the wire about 1½ cm away from the top of the spiral. Bend the wire up to create the point of your heart.

    3. Shape the Loop

    shaping heart headpin

    Using round-nosed pliers, grasp the long length of wire directly opposite the spiral and pull it firmly around your pliers. Make sure you’re using the part of your round-nosed pliers that is the same size as the spiral you created.

    4. Finish Shaping

    shaping heart headpin

    Grasp the wire with the tip of your round-nosed pliers just beneath where the base of the spiral sits.

    finishing heart headpin

    Pull the wire firmly up and through the center of your heart, leaving a small teardrop loop beneath.

    finishing headpin

    With the flat-nosed pliers, create a small bend above the center of your heart.

    5. Hammer

    heart headpin

    Using a steel bench block and a chasing hammer, hammer your heart to create a flattened look.

    6. Oxidize (Optional)

    Oxidised copper wire heart headpins

    If you want, you can oxidize your copper using liver of sulphur — just make sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.

    Now you’re ready to use this headpin for any beaded project!

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    8 Responses to “How to Make Your Own Heart Headpins”

    1. Susan Putman

      Can you create a tutorial where the heart originates from a post at the bottom (instead of the hanger at the top) so you could plant a little garden of hearts? or insert them into an already potted plant?

      Reply
      • Lyne

        What about using 2 pieces of wire. Twist it for the stake and use the top end of each piece to create the heart shape?

        Reply
    2. Nanna J

      Thank you so much for your method on how to make this heart. I absolutely love it. I am going to try it today. (13th Feb 2023) I’ve wrote a 2 page poem for my husband and hopefully I can clip together for tomorrow. 😜

      Reply
    3. Suzanne Lowry

      I was thinking I would like to link these together. Guess I have some experimenting to do.

      THANK YOU!

      Reply