How to Make Earrings

Have you ever gone to the store looking for the perfect pair of earrings to match an outfit and just couldn’t find what you were looking for? Save yourself the headache and make your own. Earrings might seem difficult to make because the parts are so small. But with the correct tools and techniques, making earrings can be simple.

This article will teach you the foundations of earring-making. Once you master these techniques, you will be able to make any earrings your heart desires. You will learn:

There are three types of tools that you will need to make your earring-making process as smooth as possible: wire cutters, round nose pliers, and flat nose pliers. You may purchase these as a set or individually. There are many tools you can acquire if you decide to make earrings regularly, but while you’re learning, it’s best to start with the basics. 

Wire cutters are used to cut endpins and wires used for wrapping. Make sure you get either side-cutters or flush-cutters. The side end that is parallel to the handle makes clean cuts that won’t scratch when you handle the earrings. Flush-cutters also have a beveled edge that will create a V-shaped or pointed cut for a more decorative piece. To use, hold the wire in your non-dominant hand. Firmly place the wire midway into the jaws of the wire cutter. Cut the wire in one smooth motion.

Round nose pliers are used to make wire loops. They have smooth, conical jaws of different lengths and widths depending on your project. A 17 - 20 mm jaw length with a 1 mm tip is average. To use, hold your wire or endpin in your non-dominant hand. Bend it at a 45-degree angle with flat nose pliers. Clasp the wire tightly with the round nose plier jaws near the end. Roll the pliers away from you until the wire forms a loop. 

Flat nose pliers, also known as chain nose pliers, are used to bend and manipulate wires and endpins without breaking them. They have jaws that are flat on the inside and round on the outside. The flat side can be used to hold a wire in place, to open jump rings, or to bend a wire at a severe angle. The round side can be used to add a slight curve to a wire. To use, hold one side of the wire with your non-dominant hand or another set of flat nose pliers. Place the wire midway into the jaws of the pliers and grasp with moderate pressure to avoid damaging the wire. Bend the wire to the desired shape.

Findings are the pieces that make up an earring. From the endpin that you string beads onto the earring hook to the beads themselves. These are all findings. While the list of findings could be endless! This article will only focus on the most common ones. 

• French or Shepherd Hooks - these earring hooks are simple wires formed into a fishing hook shape and attached to the body of the earring.

• V-wires or Marquise Ear Wires - these earring hooks are a variation on the French hook, but, as the name implies, in a V-shape. They can support heavier findings.

• Endpins - these look like elongated pins with one wider, flattened end to stop findings like beads from falling off!

• Beads - these are the most common adornments threaded onto endpins. They can be made out of plastic, glass, felt, clay, and much more.

• Polished Stones - stones of various sizes and shapes can be drilled through to be placed on endpins or wrapped with wire and attached to French hooks.

   

When you sit down to make your first earrings, you should have more findings than you will need. Then you can mix and match and experiment to discover your unique style. Do you prefer glass beads or felt? Do you want to add tassels? Is there a singular but meaningful finding you want to use? How will you balance out the other earring to match?

While there are endless ways to make earrings, there are three common techniques that serve as an earring-making foundation: threading beads, making a wire loop, and attaching earring hooks and jump rings. Once you master these techniques, you’ll be able to make whatever kinds of earrings you can imagine!

If you want to make simple bead earrings, you’ll need to thread the beads onto an endpin for a straight dangle, and onto a V-wire or hoop wire for a circular dangle. Beads come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to lay them out and arrange them into your desired design before beginning. Make sure you have more beads than you need because some might not have holes big enough to fit on your endpin.

Once you have your beads or other findings on the endpin, V-wire, or hoop, you need to make a wire loop. The loop keeps the beads from falling off and serves as an attachment for the earring hook. To make a wire loop, bend your endpin to a 45-degree angle with flat nose pliers. Cut the extra wire to ¼” and firmly grab the tip with round nose pliers. Roll the wire away from you until it forms a loop. Try to do this in one smooth motion to avoid kinks in the wire. You can use flat nose pliers to close the loop. 

Once you have assembled the main part of the earring, you need to attach it to the earring hook. Gently grasp the open end of the loop on the earring hook with flat nose pliers. Pull the loop open enough to slip the loop you made onto it. Close the loop securely with flat nose pliers. If you want to make a few different segments to your dangling earrings, you will need to use jump rings to attach them. Open a jump ring the same way you open earring hooks or, especially if the metal is thick, you can use two flat nose pliers holding each end of the ring.

Placing beads on an endpin is an easy way to practice using wire cutters, round nose pliers, and flat nose pliers to make a wire loop and attach earring hooks and jump rings. But once you’ve gotten a hang of these methods, you should branch out and try using other materials. Materials like clay, glass, felt, leather, cloth, or even thick paper. Is there a craft you already specialize in? You might be able to make them into earrings!