Crocheted Wire Earrings

September 13, 2015 · 8 Comments

The other day I wanted to crochet but I also needed to make some earrings. So it got me thinking: would it be possible to mash the two things together and crochet some earrings? Preferably earrings that are neither enormous or woolly looking.

I had a go at crocheting some fine wire and the results were not enormous or woolly!
They were rather fiddly but they are very delicate light to wear, so well worth it!

They are made by crocheting three strands of wire, adding beads as you go, then plaiting the strands together.

I have included Amazon affiliate links for the materials. If you would prefer to buy a kit for making these earrings, complete with instructions, you can do so here.

How to Make Crocheted Wire Earrings

You will need: fine craft wire (1 metre will be enough to make 1 pair of earrings), a 2 or 2.5 mm crochet hook, 2 earring wires, 2 jump rings, wire cutters or pliers (or scissors will do but not your best pair! ), 10 beads including a mixture of 6mm glass beads, 8mm glass beads, crackle glass beads and faceted beads, and a selection seed or other small beads.

1. Cut 3 pieces of wire, each measuring 15cm. Twist the ends together a couple of times. 2. Slip one of the larger beads onto the twisted end. Thread the same end through a jump ring and twist to secure.

3. Using the handle end of the crochet hook, make a loop next to the bead in one of the strands of wire and twist it a couple of times.

4. Now we’re ready to start crocheting! A word of warning first though: crocheting wire is not like crocheting wool. It sounds obvious but the lack of stretchiness took me by surprise.
Crochet a couple of chains.

5. Slip a bead onto the wire. Then crochet one chain by taking the wire from the far side of the bead.

6. Continue to crochet chains and add beads. Try to space the beads out so that when you plait the strands together at the end, the beads are evenly spaced out.

7. Repeat for the other two strands.

8. Gently plait the three strands together.
9. Using the jump ring, attach the earring wire.Repeat for the other earring.

Tips

Use a metal crochet hook because the wire will probably gouge lumps out of a bamboo one!

As wire does not stretch, the loops in the chain need to be big enough. If they are not, wiggle the loop down the crochet hook to where it is wider then back up again.

If overworked, the wire will break, so be careful when twisting. If it does break, you may be able to reattach beads using extra bits of wire.

If the strands are difficult to plait, try pulling them gently to stretch the chains a little bit.

If you would like to buy a kit to make the earrings and not have to faff about buying lots of different beads when you only need a few, you can do so here.

Linking up here:

Create, Link, Inspire

Create It Thursday

Seasons On Saturday

Skip The Housework Saturday

Wire and Bead Christmas Decorations part 2

November 23, 2014 · Leave a Comment

Following on from my last post on how to make wire and bead Christmas decorations (which you can read here), here is another tutorial for making a wire and bead decoration.

It requires the same materials and the same kind of techniques, it’s just a bit more fiddly!

Christmas Tree Christmas Decoration

You will need: beads (I used small round green beads, small faceted beads and slightly larger red beads), florists’ wire, tape, ribbon, needle and thread, round nosed pliers (optional).

1. From the florists’ wire, cut 2 pieces measuring 11 cm, 2 pieces measuring 15 cm and 2 pieces measuring 18.5 cm.

2. Take one of the pieces of wire and bend the end into a loop.

Continue to bend the rest of the wire round into a short, open spiral.

Repeat for the other pieces of wire. The overall effect of the finished ornament will be better if the spirals on the shorter pieces of wire a tighter than on the longer pieces.

4. Start threading the beads onto the wire. I used a mixture of round and faceted beads with some larger red ones to give the impression of baubles. Leave a couple of cm of wire at the top to allow for joining the pieces together.

Keep going until you have threaded beads onto all the pieces of wire.

5. This is the fiddly part! You might want to move your decoration bits onto a tray at this point. I did not and as a result ended up grovelling around under the table picking beads up off the floor when I dropped them!

Cut a piece of tape and lay it on the table sticky side up. Place the pieces of wire onto the tape so that the unbeaded ends are on the tape and close together. Wrap the tape around the ends to hold them. Bend or trim any wire protruding from the top.

6. Wrap some ribbon round the top to hide the tape. Tie in a bow.7. Sew a few stitches into the ribbon at the back of the decoration, leaving a tail several cm. Tie the ends together to make a loop.

You might need to adjust your decoration by bending the branches of tree.

It might make a nice gift for somebody. What do you think?

Wire and Bead Christmas Decorations

November 21, 2014 · 1 Comment

It’s good to have some sparkle on your Christmas tree, right? Non sparkly tree decorations are fine, but we also need some twinkly ones!

Here is 2 tutorials for making your own sparkly, twinkly Christmas decorations. They are very easy to make so get the kids on board too! They are both made in the same way. Just bend the wire into the shape you want (cookie cutters ahoy!), thread the beads on and add a loop of ribbon.

How to Make Wire and Bead Christmas Decorations

You will need: wire (I used florists’ wire), beads, ribbon or strong thread, star shaped cookie cutter (optional), round nosed pliers (optional).

Star Shaped Christmas Decoration

1. Bend a piece of wire around a star shaped cookie cutter. If you do not have one, you could either just bend it into a star, or you could draw a star shape and use that as a template. Leave some wire spare for making loops at the top of the star.

2. Thread beads onto the wire. I used a variety of larger seed beads and small faceted beads. You might need to unbend your star a little bit to get the beads round the corners.

3. When you have covered the star, make a loop at either end. If you have round nosed pliers, you could use those. Otherwise you could bend the ends round a pencil.4. Thread a piece of ribbon through the loops and tie the ends together.

Spiral Christmas Tree Decoration

1. Starting at one end of the length of wire, bend it into a loop. Leave a little bit of wire at the end.2. Keep bending the wire round so that it makes a flat spiral.

3. Take the end in the middle of the spiral. Using round nosed pliers, make a small loop. If you do not have round nosed pliers, bend the wire round a skewer or a cocktail stick. Stretch the spiral.