A crystal spider web suncatcher is a quick, striking make for the Halloween season: rows of sparkling beads strung across a wire snowflake form to form an ever-wider web that glows in a window. This guide shows you how to make one using Swarovski crystal beads in Crystal AB, whose rainbow shimmer gives the web an eerie, frosted light.
The technique is simple wire wrapping, worked in three rows from the centre outwards. Crystals made by Swarovskiยฎ keep every bead evenly faceted and consistent in size, so the finished piece sparkles from across the room. As an Authorised Swarovski Distribution Partner, we source every bead directly from Swarovski, with no minimum order. Here is everything you need, then the full method.
Project at a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate, simple wire wrapping
- Time: About 90 minutes
- Crystals used: Swarovski Crystal AB round beads in 3mm and 5mm
- Technique: Wire-wrapped beaded webs on a snowflake form
Watch the tutorial
See this project come together. Watch the full make below, then scroll down for the kit list and step-by-step instructions.
What you'll need
Quantities suit a 4.5 inch snowflake form like ours, so scale them to your form and how dense you want the web. Add the beads, wire and form to your cart from the cards below. The pliers, cutters and sorting trays are reusable across every project, so browse the full range of tools and accessories to build your kit.
Materials
- Swarovski Round Beads Crystal AB 3mm (5000)The web beads9 packs
- Swarovski Round Beads Crystal AB 5mm (5000)Prong beads3 packs
- Snowflake Wire 4.5 InchThe suncatcher form1
- Artistic Wire 28 Gauge, Non-Tarnish SilverWrapping the beads1
- ThreadHanging loop1
Tools
- Magic Sorting TraySorting the beads2
- Round Nose PliersLooping the prong tops1
- Wire CuttersTrimming the wire1
Shop this project
Everything you need for this build. Quantities are a guide, so adjust to your design.
$5.40
$6.93
$4.74
$2.38
$12.46
Not sure how many crystals you need? Use our Crystal Calculator to estimate by surface area.
How to make a crystal spider web suncatcher
Step 1: Sort your beads
To begin, pour your 3mm and 5mm beads into separate sorting trays so each size is easy to pick up as you work. Keeping them apart saves a lot of fumbling once the wire wrapping is under way.
Step 2: Pad out the centre
Cut a 25cm piece of 28-gauge wire and wrap it around the centre of your wire snowflake, crossing between each prong a few times. This fills the awkward gap in the middle so the beads sit evenly rather than slipping towards the centre.
Step 3: Start the first prong
Place 3 of your 5mm beads onto the first prong of the snowflake. Then cut a fresh piece of 28-gauge wire about 25cm long, ready to begin the first row of web between the prongs.
Step 4: Work the first web row
Wrap your wire around the first prong twice so it sits securely above the 5mm beads. Thread 6 of your 3mm beads onto the wire, place 3 more 5mm beads on the next prong, then pull the wire across and wrap it twice above those beads.
Step 5: Continue around
Thread 6 more 3mm beads onto the wire and add 3 more 5mm beads to the next prong along. Wrap the wire around that prong so it sits neatly above the beads you just placed, keeping the tension even.
Step 6: Close the first row
Repeat all the way around the snowflake. When you reach the prong you started from, do not add more beads: simply wrap the wire around it as neatly as you can above the beads, snip the excess and tuck in the end.
Step 7: Begin the second row
Now start the next row of web. Place 3 of your 5mm beads onto any prong, then cut a 30cm piece of wire this time. Make sure there is enough to reach all the way around, and wrap it twice around that first prong above the beads.
Step 8: Fill the wider gaps
Because the gap between the prongs is larger further out, thread 11 of your 3mm beads onto the wire for this row. Add 3 more 5mm beads to the next prong, then wrap the wire around twice to secure it just above those beads.
Step 9: Close the second row
Repeat the same process all the way around the snowflake. Wrap the wire neatly around the prong you started with, snip off the excess and tuck the end away so nothing catches.
Step 10: Work the final row
For the outer row, begin as before and again cut a length of wire long enough to reach all the way around. This time thread roughly 17 of your 3mm beads between each prong, adjusting slightly as the gaps vary.
Step 11: Finish the prong tops
Once you have worked around for the final time, secure the wire, snip the excess and tuck in the end. Bend the top of each prong over, trim to leave about 1cm, then use your round nose pliers to roll a small loop on each prong to lock the work in place.
Step 12: Hang your suncatcher
Thread a loop of thread through one of the prong loops and hang your suncatcher wherever it will catch the light. Congratulations, you have made a very spooky suncatcher, the perfect DIY for the Halloween season.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make a crystal spider web suncatcher?
Make a crystal spider web suncatcher by wrapping 28-gauge wire around a wire snowflake form and threading crystal beads between the prongs in rows. Start at the centre and work outwards, adding more beads to each wider row, then loop the prong tops and hang it.
What beads work best for a suncatcher?
Crystal AB round beads work best for a suncatcher because their Aurora Borealis coating throws a rainbow shimmer as the light moves. Swarovski Crystal AB beads are precisely faceted and consistent in size, so each row of the web catches and scatters daylight evenly.
What does Crystal AB mean?
Crystal AB means Aurora Borealis, a thin iridescent coating on clear crystal that reflects a rainbow of colours in the light. It gives a frosted, multicoloured sparkle that suits a suncatcher beautifully, shifting shade as you move around the finished piece.
Can I make this as a Christmas snowflake instead?
Yes. The project is built on a wire snowflake form, so the same beaded webs read as a frosted snowflake for Christmas as easily as a spooky web for Halloween. Switch Crystal AB for a cool blue or clear crystal bead for a wintry finish.
How do you hang a suncatcher in a window?
Hang a suncatcher by looping thread or fine fishing line through a loop at the top and tying it to a suction cup hook on the glass or a small hook in the frame. Position it where direct daylight will pass through the crystals for the best sparkle.
What tools do I need to make a wire suncatcher?
You need round nose pliers to roll the loops at the prong tops and wire cutters to trim the 28-gauge wire. A couple of sorting trays keep the two bead sizes separate, which makes the wrapping far quicker and tidier as you work around the form.
Make it your own
Swap the bead colours to match any season: cool blues and clear crystal make a frosted snowflake for Christmas, while deep reds and jet suit a gothic look. For more seasonal sparkle, try a beaded spider decoration or some crystal Christmas baubles, or explore the full Craft Studio for more ideas.
