This DIY necklace makes a bold statement. Bent into the shape of a hand and soldered into one solid piece, it’s one of my favorite handmade jewelry projects.
Inspired by a hand-shaped piece I spotted from Stella McCartney’s spring 2018 collection, I created a DIY hand necklace that I haven’t wanted to take off. This is also the first soldering project I’ve shared here, so if you’ve been curious about using a soldering iron for jewelry, this tutorial is a great introduction.
Below you’ll find a clear, step-by-step guide to make your own wire hand necklace: drawing and shaping the wire, soldering the wire ends, attaching chain and jump rings, plus tips that helped me get a flat, wearable piece.
Materials
- Soldering iron kit that includes solder (I used an inexpensive kit)
- Flux soldering paste
- 18-gauge non-tarnish brass wire
- Gold-plated 16–18 inch chain
- Gold jump rings
- Jewelry wire cutters and needle-nose pliers
- Small paintbrush or cotton swab (for flux)
- Tweezers
Instructions: How to Make a Hand Necklace
1. Draw the hand and prepare the wire
Start by drawing the hand on paper at the exact size you want the finished piece to be. This gives you a reliable guide while you bend the wire. Pull a length of wire straight from the spool (pulling straight helps reduce curl and kinks).
2. Trace the drawing with wire and bend into shape
Begin tracing your paper hand with the wire, starting from the wrist. Use pliers to make precise bends. Add a small loop at the tip of each finger to suggest nails—keep these loops loose at first so you can refine them later.
3. Finish shaping and flatten the form
Work through the remaining fingers and refine any details. If parts of the hand lift while you work, weigh them down with a flat object or heavy books so the design will lie flat once finished. When the shape looks right and you’ve returned to the wrist area, you’re ready to solder.
Tip: Weighting down sections as you go keeps the hand flat and makes final adjustments easier.
4. Solder the wire ends
Use a heat-safe surface (a cement dish or metal block works well). Position the two wire ends that need joining so they sit snugly together. Apply flux with a small brush to the joint to help the solder flow and bond.
Cut a very short piece of solder (about 1–2 cm) and hold it in place with tweezers where the two wire ends meet. Heat the solder with the soldering iron so it melts and flows into the joint. When it cools, the wire will be joined as a single, solid piece.
*Soldering the final wrist joint can be delicate. If it’s your first time, practice on scrap wire first and take your time to ensure a strong connection.
5. Prepare the chain and jump rings
If you use a pre-made chain with a clasp, determine where the hand will hang and cut the chain into two pieces at equal lengths. Solder a jump ring onto the end of each chain piece—avoid soldering over any opening you’ll need to use later.
As before, brush flux onto the area before soldering jump rings. A heat-safe surface and steady hands will help you place rings cleanly.
6. Attach chain to the hand
Choose two points on the hand to attach the jump-ringed chain ends—attaching to the thumb and middle finger gives a balanced look, but select the fingers that suit your design. Open the jump rings or use the soldered rings and connect each chain piece to its finger loop.
Once both sides are attached, the hand and chain will form a complete necklace ready to wear.
Project notes and styling
- This hand necklace works as a striking statement piece over simple shirts, dresses or linen tops.
- If you prefer a different finish, experiment with copper or silver wire, but be mindful of solder choice and flux compatibility.
- If you’re new to soldering, practice joints on scrap wire and always work on a heat-safe surface with proper ventilation.
Crafting: Emma Spear // Photography: Brittni Mehlhoff
What do you think of the finished necklace? Yay or nay? Share your thoughts or photos if you try this project!