Start with a 12" (30cm) length of wire. Using a pair of pliers (at least one must be the needle-nose variety), bend two loops at either end of the wire. Make sure that the loops are on the same plane, and that the marble you are using could sit comfortably in the loop. For example, our 1" (25mm) marbles worked best in a loop with an I.D. of 3/4" (19mm). Creating the loops may take a little practice; we recommend making a few on some small pieces of wire to gain some experience. We created the loops by grasping the wire with the needle-nose pliers and regular pliers right next to each other; bend slightly and then progress down the wire making successive bends. After many such iterations, a loop develops.

Once the loops are created, you need to bend them towards each other. You can use a round dowel or pipe as a bending jig around which you can form the wire. It is critical that the centers of the two loops end up in line with each other. As you are bending the wire, try to snap your marbles in between the loops; when they are firm but not tight, you have achieved the appropriate amount of tension. Experiment with different levels of tension to determine what works best.