One-dimensional semiconductor nanowires (NWs) have many unique optical and electronic properties that make them desirable for use in new sensing, electronic, and photonic devices. For practical NW application to these uses, synthesis techniques must be manipulated to allow large numbers of uniform NWs to be produced. Our paper is motivated by the desire to improve the control of NW growth, and to better understand the mechanism of NW formation. We discuss the formation of Te NWs from CdTe nanoparticles (NPs) using a modification of current techniques involving stabilizer depleted CdTe NPs in a growth solution of DMSO and deoxygenated water. The length and tortuosity of these Te NWs are controlled by the addition of CdSe NPs to the growth solution.