Introduction and Materials
Introduction and Materials
Pearl post earrings are a staple jewelry item. Almost every woman has a pair of pearl post earrings. They go with everything from an evening gown to a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. This project puts a little twist on the idea of pearl post earrings. It gives them length and adds a little sparkle too. One reason I came up with this idea to make pearl post style earrings into dangle style earrings is because I have long hair, so unless I pull my hair back, no one can see my post earrings.
With this earring design, you have the feel of the basic pearl post, but they have added length so they do not get lost in your hair.
You will need the following tools and supplies to make these Pearl Dangle Earrings:
2 - 4mm Pearl beads
2 - 4mm Clear Czech crystal beads
2 - 2 inch 24-gauge gold-tone head pins
*About 4 inches of Round 22-24 gauge gold-tone wire
2 Ear hooks
Wire cutters
Chain-nosed pliers
Round-nosed pliers
Jeweler's file
*For the gold-colored wire, you can use red brass, gold-filled, or even gold-plated wire. It is up to you.
Note: Most pearl beads have fairly small holes drilled through them. While you can make the holes larger with a bead reamer, that can take a lot of time and be a little messy. Instead, I suggest using thinner wire or head pins when you want to incorporate pearl beads int wire jewelry. That is why this project suggests using 24-gauge head pins. Most of the time, you are safe with this diameter of head pin when you are using them for pearl earrings.
Prepare the Gold-Colored Wire
1. Cut your wire in half and file all ends smooth using a jeweler's file.
2. Take one piece of your wire, and use round-nose pliers to make a loop on one end of the wire.
Wrap the Wire Loop Closed
3. Continue to hold the loop with the round-nose pliers as you wrap the wire around itself by using bent-nosed pliers to hold the wire that you are wrapping. (See my instructions for wrapped loop for additional help with this step. If you are new to making wire wrapped loops, you may want to practice on copper or inexpensive wire and make a few wrapped loops before attempting this earring project.)
Repeat Wire Wrapping
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to make a wrapped loop on the other end of your wire.
5. Repeat steps 2,3, and 4 to make a duplicate component from your other piece of wire. (Obviously, you need two of these since you need one for each earring.)
Add Pearl and Crystal Beads
6. Take a head pin, and slip on a pearl bead, and then slip on a crystal bead onto the head pin after that.
7. Use round-nose pliers to bend and then loop the head pin just past the beads you added on in the previous step.
8. Slip one end of one of your wire components that you made previously onto the loop of the head pin (which you formed in step 7).
9. Continue to hold the head pin loop with round-nose pliers, and use chain-nose pliers to wrap the rest of the head pin around itself. This will attach your beads and head pin to one of your wire pieces.
10. Repeat steps 6 through 9 for the second earring that you are making.
11. Open the ear hooks, and attach your dangles to finish both earrings.
The finished earrings have a dressy, elegant look that coordinate well with any other pearl jewelry you may already own.
If you stick with gold-colored wire and components, these also look great with a gold chain.
Pearl post earrings are a staple jewelry item. Almost every woman has a pair of pearl post earrings. They go with everything from an evening gown to a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. This project puts a little twist on the idea of pearl post earrings. It gives them length and adds a little sparkle too. One reason I came up with this idea to make pearl post style earrings into dangle style earrings is because I have long hair, so unless I pull my hair back, no one can see my post earrings.
With this earring design, you have the feel of the basic pearl post, but they have added length so they do not get lost in your hair.
You will need the following tools and supplies to make these Pearl Dangle Earrings:
2 - 4mm Pearl beads
2 - 4mm Clear Czech crystal beads
2 - 2 inch 24-gauge gold-tone head pins
*About 4 inches of Round 22-24 gauge gold-tone wire
2 Ear hooks
Wire cutters
Chain-nosed pliers
Round-nosed pliers
Jeweler's file
*For the gold-colored wire, you can use red brass, gold-filled, or even gold-plated wire. It is up to you.
Note: Most pearl beads have fairly small holes drilled through them. While you can make the holes larger with a bead reamer, that can take a lot of time and be a little messy. Instead, I suggest using thinner wire or head pins when you want to incorporate pearl beads int wire jewelry. That is why this project suggests using 24-gauge head pins. Most of the time, you are safe with this diameter of head pin when you are using them for pearl earrings.
Prepare the Gold-Colored Wire
1. Cut your wire in half and file all ends smooth using a jeweler's file.
2. Take one piece of your wire, and use round-nose pliers to make a loop on one end of the wire.
Wrap the Wire Loop Closed
3. Continue to hold the loop with the round-nose pliers as you wrap the wire around itself by using bent-nosed pliers to hold the wire that you are wrapping. (See my instructions for wrapped loop for additional help with this step. If you are new to making wire wrapped loops, you may want to practice on copper or inexpensive wire and make a few wrapped loops before attempting this earring project.)
Repeat Wire Wrapping
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to make a wrapped loop on the other end of your wire.
5. Repeat steps 2,3, and 4 to make a duplicate component from your other piece of wire. (Obviously, you need two of these since you need one for each earring.)
Add Pearl and Crystal Beads
6. Take a head pin, and slip on a pearl bead, and then slip on a crystal bead onto the head pin after that.
7. Use round-nose pliers to bend and then loop the head pin just past the beads you added on in the previous step.
8. Slip one end of one of your wire components that you made previously onto the loop of the head pin (which you formed in step 7).
9. Continue to hold the head pin loop with round-nose pliers, and use chain-nose pliers to wrap the rest of the head pin around itself. This will attach your beads and head pin to one of your wire pieces.
10. Repeat steps 6 through 9 for the second earring that you are making.
11. Open the ear hooks, and attach your dangles to finish both earrings.
The finished earrings have a dressy, elegant look that coordinate well with any other pearl jewelry you may already own.
If you stick with gold-colored wire and components, these also look great with a gold chain.
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