Hamsa Hand Tutorial

If you suffer from insomnia, this tutorial might be for you!
It's long, possibly slightly boring for a beginner, but if you
are willing to stick with it, you should end up with a sweet
little pendant than can be a suspended on a chain as a necklace,
created as a bag or key charm ... well, that's if you can make
it all the way to the end of the tutorial without falling asleep!

This hand shaped amulet is very popular throughout the Middle East 
and North Africa, and has been commonly used in jewellery and wall 
hangings for centuries. Depicting the open right hand, the image is 
recognized and used as a sign of protection in many societies throughout 
history, the hamsa is believed to provide defense against the evil eye, to 
protect the wearer from negativity ...  isn't that just what we all need 
from time to time!

Step 1

 










Begin by cutting approximately 5" of 0.8mm wire and using your
pliers, create open spirals at each end.  Push the centre of the
wire against a rounded shape to form a slight curve.

Step 2

Cut another length of 0.8mm wire - about 3" in length.
Place the tips of your round nosed pliers in the middle
and cross the wires over on either side to form a small
central loop.

Step 3

Shape the looped unit on a cylindrical mandrel, curving the
wire around (as above), keeping the link projecting at the centre.

Step 4

Your eyes are getting tired aren't they? 
Don't worry! Your eyesight hasn't gone!! It's just a blurry
photo ... Cut another length of wire, this time about 1.5"
of 0.8mm and curve it around the cylindrical mandrel
to form a smiley shape!

Step 5

For the 'fingers': cut a fourth length of wire, this time
about 5.5" of 0.8mm wire.  Place the centre around the
widest part of your round nosed pliers and straighten
the wires up on each side.

Step 6

Bend the wires back down on each side - about 20cms
up from the 'U'. Pinch them at the bend with your chain
nosed pliers so that they run parallel and straight.

Step 7

Using the widest part of your round nosed pliers,
form 2 further 'fingers' on each side, slightly shorter
than the central one.

Step 8

Using the tips of your round nosed pliers, create small links,
at 90 degrees on each of the ends of the 3 wire units that you
have just created.

Step 9

Opening up the side links, connect the unit created in Step 3
to the unit created in Step 1.

Step 10

Next, connect the curved (fuzzy, blurry) unit created in Step 4
from the curved spiraled unit (from Step 1), so that it hangs
directly below (and between) the top curve.

Step 11

Attach the 3 'fingers' onto the curve unit (from Step 1), so that
it is suspended just next to (and on the outside) of both the
other curved units.


Step 12

Using your flat nosed pliers, curl the spirals in towards
themselves on either side, to secure the overall frame.

Step 13

To create the top heart decoration: cut approximately 3" of 0.8mm
wire.  Find the centre and fold it in half.

Step 14

Create spirals on each projecting wire end, curling the wires in
towards each other to form a 'heart' shape.

Step 15

Cut a short length of 0.4mm wire and use this to bind
and secure one side of the 'heart' shape to the top of
the 'hamsa' frame.

Step 16

Cut a second short length of 0.4mm wire and attach
the other side of the 'heart', securing centrally
at the top of the frame.

Step 17

To create the beaded 'eye': cut about 4" of 0.4mm wire
and thread with small beads - enough to encircle a larger
central bead of about 6mm in diameter.

Step 18

Create a beaded loop with the smaller beads and push the
larger bead into the middle ...

Step 19

Wrap the wire over the beaded loop to secure at the opposite
end and pull to straighten the wires out on each side, so that the
larger bead is neatly framed at the centre of the beaded circle.

Step 20

Use the fine wires to attach the beaded 'eye' to the centre of
the 'hamsa' frame, binding them on each side. (Don't cut the
projecting wires off just yet!).

Step 21

This is why I didn't want you cut any projecting wires
off: as you can use any excess to create a spiral at the
top of the beaded 'eye' and flatten this against the
wrap underneath. Then, you can thread the opposite
wire with a few more chosen beads, to fill the central
'finger' space. Secure at the base of the finger. Cut off any
excess wire and neaten the end.

Step 22

*Optional: Cut 2 x 2.5" lengths of 0.8mm wire. Thread each with
small 4mm beads and spiral the ends on each side to form 'S' shapes.

Step 23

These little 'S' shapes can be connected into the side
'fingers' of the frame with some 0.4mm binding wire.
(*Alternatively, if you find that too fiddly and fancy, just
wire in some beads like the central 'finger' - just down
the middle!).

Step 24

Lastly ... if you're still awake? You can bind in a couple more
beads on either side at the top of the frame using 0.4mm wire.

Step 25

And there you have it! That's if you have made it to the end ...
It's now ready to attach to a chain, cord, ribbon, you name
it! You made it!
... and you most definitely deserve a medal if you managed to
get this far!

*HAPPY WIREWORKING!*