How to Make Earrings
Simple Drop Style
You can learn how to make earrings in about 5 - 10 minutes! These simple drop earrings are the basis of many more complicated earrings. Once you learn this technique, the sky's the limit!
Picking out which beads to use will be the hard part. There are so many beautiful beads to choose from. They make excellent homemade gifts too!
I had planned to make a single pair of earrings, but after the first pair I just couldn't stop, so I ended up making three pair in one evening. You can make these drop earrings as short or long as you wish. Use longer earring pins, and add more beads if you like. However, the longer you make them, the stiffer they will look. If you want more fluid earrings you can use chain earring threaders instead of earring wires, or make double drop earrings. To start making earrings, gather your supplies. For these earrings you will need: - your choice of beads
- 2 head pins (flat head, decorative head, or eyepins)
- 2 fish hook ear wires
You will also need three common tools:- needle nose pliers
- round nose pliers
- wire cutters
Okay, Lets Get Busy Making Earrings!
Step 1: Thread your choice of beads onto a head pin.
Step 2: Using your wire cutters, snip off the head pin about 7mm above the last bead.
Step 3: Form a loop in the wire by first bending the wire above the beads at a right angle to the beads.
Step 4: Then using the round nose plier, grasp the tip and roll it into a loop above the top bead. You may need to release it half way, Grasp the loop once more, then continue rolling it. You may still have a gap, but don't worry about it now. You will close it later.You might want to practice this technique a couple of times first. (Practice on inexpensive wires - not sterling silver or gold filled ones!)
Step 5: You may need to straighten the loop so that it forms a straight line with the earring. To do this, grasp the loop with your needle nose pliers and gently straighten it.You're almost done. Who knew making earrings could be so easy?
Step 6: Before fully closing the loop, slip it onto the loop of an ear wire. If the loop is already closed, simply open it slightly, by grasping the side of the loop with a pair of flat nose pliers, and gently twisting it to the side. Don't try to unroll the loop as this will weaken the wire.
Step 7: Close the loop, either by finishing the loop with your round nose pliers, or by squeezing shut with flat nose pliers, if you opened it from the side.
Congratulations! You've learned how to make earrings. Isn't it fun? You might also like to learn how to make earrings with a double drop, or even a pair of chandelier earrings! The techniques are the same, just a few more steps.
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