The earrings I’m featuring this week use materials found from different places. The chain is from an old $3 necklace I found at a thrift store, the rose pin pendants were a gift from a friend, and the green glass beads came from the Bead Factory in Tacoma. I believe by using different components to create earrings generate interest and texture.
How to make a simple chain earring:
Step One: CHAIN:
I begin by measuring 1” - 3” of the chain after considering the style of earrings I want to create.
It’s a good idea to measure how long the earring will hang when worn before cutting too much or not enough chain. I hate wasting materials. After determining the absolute length of the earring including the beads and pendants I then cut both pieces of chain.
Step two: CONNECTION:
After the chain is ready to use I choose wire to connect the components of the earrings together.
My favorite wire at the moment is this 22 gage gold wire I got from a bead festival in Seattle last December.
I begin by cutting 4” of wire, and then folding it in half to create the “o” shape. By using two small needle nose pliers I pull both sides of the wire together to create the shape. After creating this shape I pull tight to make the “o” shape smaller. Before I coil the ‘’o” I attach the chain to the wire.
To finish the “o” shape I coil the wire around the shape two times.
I then add the bead and repeat the same steps I used to start the coil.
Step Three: HOOKED:
All earrings need an earring hook to be able to wear it. This is really the easiest part of creating earrings. I use the “o” ring attached to the earring hook to attach it to the chain by opening the “o” ring and attaching it to the chain. I then finish by closing the “o” ring to secure the chain. Make sure the ring is securely closed to wear.
Step One: CHAIN:
I begin by measuring 1” - 3” of the chain after considering the style of earrings I want to create.
It’s a good idea to measure how long the earring will hang when worn before cutting too much or not enough chain. I hate wasting materials. After determining the absolute length of the earring including the beads and pendants I then cut both pieces of chain.
Step two: CONNECTION:
After the chain is ready to use I choose wire to connect the components of the earrings together.
My favorite wire at the moment is this 22 gage gold wire I got from a bead festival in Seattle last December.
I begin by cutting 4” of wire, and then folding it in half to create the “o” shape. By using two small needle nose pliers I pull both sides of the wire together to create the shape. After creating this shape I pull tight to make the “o” shape smaller. Before I coil the ‘’o” I attach the chain to the wire.
To finish the “o” shape I coil the wire around the shape two times.
I then add the bead and repeat the same steps I used to start the coil.
Step Three: HOOKED:
All earrings need an earring hook to be able to wear it. This is really the easiest part of creating earrings. I use the “o” ring attached to the earring hook to attach it to the chain by opening the “o” ring and attaching it to the chain. I then finish by closing the “o” ring to secure the chain. Make sure the ring is securely closed to wear.
After I finish the earrings I place them on a stand to double check my work.
Some other important aspects of the earrings to consider are :
1. Are the earrings the same length?
2. Are the “o” shapes the same size throughout the earrings?
3. Is the coil clean and equal?
4. Are the earrings too heavy to wear?
5. Does the style of the earring go well with the materials?
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